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A Major, Spiritual Step to Understanding the Complete Bible: The Walk - (Read it)
X. Keys to the Scriptures: A Prayer for Faith
The other day, I was praying for faith and the understanding of it and a few days later an e-mail came from my friend Dick Hodge. I want to share it with you.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word. Of course the Word is Jesus. In reading Galatians Paul says that we live by the faith of Christ.
In other words it is Christ in us which is the faith, as everything is measured by how much of us is still in this vessel and how much of Christ, more Christ and less Dick until there is only Christ.
As Paul said, “I die daily.” The more of us, (my self) that dies, the more there is of Christ. Therefore: more faith, more love, more mercy, more joy, etc.
Read the last few verses of John chapter 14:31 - where it says: “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.” Notice He says, Let “us”, us, us go hence. We have to be crucified with Him to die to self. Notice also He says that the World may know that I love the Father. The world is the body that you (or I) live in.
This is a beautiful promise that you and I will know or experience; the same love that Jesus feels for the Father. WOW, do I look forward to that experience. An to think it is ever lasting.
God gave us Jesus and in doing so He gave us faith and much, much more. Thank you Dick Hodge.
An addition to his insite: I prayed for FAITH so as to, "Work the works" and Jesus told me that I had all the FAITH I needed. To expand on that, He reminded me that His Holy Spirit resides in me and that His Spirit has all the componants that He has and/or had when He walked the earth. Read Eph. 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Now if He gives us "every" Spiritual blessing, and we are co-heirs and equal to Him then how much more is there?
Quit wishing and realize who you are in Jesus and get to work. Invest His gifts or "Words" into others. He is the head, you are part of His body and everything is under His feet. Therefore every Earthly thing is under your feet.
Amen
IX. Keys to the Scriptures: The Reason for the Season
It’s all about Him. From page one to the last page the Scriptures are about Jesus. They either tell of his coming or describe when, where, how, why and whatfore.
Dick Hodge reminded me of His name: "I AM". The name is very fitting in that He is the: Father, Son, Emmanuel, Healer, Counselor, Teacher, Comforter, Friend, Companion, Great Physician, Light, Promise. . . You name it and He is, "I AM".
It seems that life deals us such questionable and sometimes daily frustrations and hardships, that we can only wonder: Why? Why me? How can such a loving God . . . ? (Fill it in.) Chastisements to us are like spankings to a child? Given by a loving parent will help in the long run. That is why He says to, "Give thanks in all things." Believe it or not chastisement is good for us.
Preachers guess anywhere from 4,000 to 7,500 promises He makes us in the Word. His Believers are Sons and are given all the promises that He gave Abraham. Starting with and explained best in Deut. 28. The promises are explained in detail Through the Bible. How much you read, understand and believe them determine how much faith you have. In the past I asked for Faith to know and understand, but as I grew He explained that I have all the Faith that He will ever give me.
Look at it this way: As a believer He gives me the Spirit of Jesus and I inherit all that is His. He is the "I AM". Therefore I have all the Faith that Jesus had/has in me already. . . ALL, All, all.
He said that the Kingdom of God is with-in you. He is in His Kingdom; therefore, He (His Spirit) is within you.
A neat thing, while I’m on the subject is: He said that He would not eat or drink, as in the Last Supper, until He was again in His Kingdom. So when you take communion you are sharing it with Him, because he's in you. That is why He is so strict in describing your condition, when you take communion. He can't forgive you if you can't forgive your transgressors.
He is such a Loving God and what’s great is; as part of His body we are part of the "I AM"
VIII. Keys to the Scriptures: THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS
No man can look upon God and live, because of the old man, in us, is of sin. The Spirit of God is the double-edged sword that burns or separates the sin from the man that is seeking God. The double-edge sword cut away the sin (the old man) the old man dies. The new man is of Jesus and the Jesus in you can look upon God. (Therefore the statement is talking about man before he is born again.)
You can not even see God unless He calls you. Until you are born again, as a Son of God, you can not look upon God and live.
A bunch of back ground material:
Mat. 16:27 - "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
28 - "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
Mat. 17:1 - Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
2 - and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
3 - And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4 - Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5 - While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
6 - And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
7 - But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid."
8 - When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Mat. 12:17 - that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
18 - "Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
Mat. 3:16 - When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
17 - And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Mk. 9:27 - "But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God."
28 - Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
29 - As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.
30 - And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
31 - who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 - But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.
33 - Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"; not knowing what he said.
34 - While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.
35 - And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"
36 - When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.
Rom. 12: 12:1 - 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 (body and a renewed spirit), that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 - For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Before all this happens you could not have look upon God (or look in Gods face) and live, because the old man of Satan, that was in you, has died and the new man that is of Jesus, that is in you lives.
You could not see Gods Glory, until all this has happened, you could not look God in the face and lived. the gifts of the Spirit will have allowed you to come boldly before the throne. God wants his sons to come before him and reason out their disagreements. He also wants His sons to remind him of His promises when they pray for anything. (I don't think He's forgetful. I think He wants you to be familiar with His Word.) Isaiah 43:25,26
When Jesus was transfigured, He was showing us that God’s Glory was fulfilled in Him. He was showing us that the law of Moses and the prophesies of Elijah were full filled and He was there as the fulfiller, or the final step of God's plan.
That is why Moses and Elijah disappeared and Jesus was left. The law or knowledge of good and evil, that gave man a way to be as righteous as God was gone/fullfilled. The law, that no man could follow, was replaced/fullfilled in Jesus.
Quite a mouth full but worth reading two or three times.
VII. Keys to the Scriptures: Your House on the Sand
Jesus is the rock. He is solid and does not disappear when times get tough. The meanings (keys) of this parable were given to me by my
Brother in Christ Dick Hodge.
Matthew 7:24 - Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house
upon the rock,
25 - and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and if fell not: for it was founded
upon the rock.
26 - And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house
upon the sand:
27 - and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall
thereof.
The main jest of this parable is the sand vs. the rock. The rock of course is Jesus. When you build your house, temple or beliefs on Jesus you
are building it on the TRUTH of the Word. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is the Way. Jesus is the Light. Jesus is God in flesh. Jesus is the I AM. You think
of it and He is: healing, discernment, miracles, prosperity; Jesus is everything and God has given Him to us. He is God's gift to mankind. His
Spirit lives in the hearts of those that believe that He is the prophesied Son of the one true God.
Now the Word has many truths and they can be divided up into bits and pieces. Example: God is no respecter of individuals. (Bits and pieces
almost always out of context.) Usually when this happens, bits and pieces of man's thinking are added into their stories. Prov. 14:12 - There
is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. The Truth is the complete Bible with out mans interpretations.
Each grain of sand is a small rock, a small piece of the truth. If your house/temple is built on a whole lot of bits and pieces of the truth
then your house will fall when earthly or fleshly traumas surround you. Too many preachers preach bits and pieces of the truth and their
parishioners go home with a brain full of "sand", not a heart full of truth.
The main point of this brief example is that you must read the whole book and do so with the counseling and teachings of the Spirit of Jesus that lives in you.
VI. Keys to the Scriptures: Let the Spirit Teach You
The Holy Spirit feeds God's Word to us. So when you read the Scriptures always ask for the Spirit to teach and guide you, to the fullest understanding. You will never see the intent of the Word when reading it on your own. Since Jesus liked to use parables to explain things, I will too.
The woodcutter's view as determined by the reader - most popular. Let's say the Word is a forest and the reader is harvesting it, to understand and preach it.
The non-spirit led cutter approaches forest finds a tree, that fits his need, and starts cutting. The tree is perfect for his needs and is used to it's fullest. He uses the trunk for the support beams and walls. The branches are used for smaller projects. He makes the most of the tree.
Then he goes to the next and then the next, as each one fits the needs of the present project. The woodcutter's view when the Spirit is asked - most productive.
The cutter asks the Spirit to show him the best way to harvest the trees. The Spirit then takes him back and up to a view above the forest and around the forest. He shows him where the oaks, maple, pine and hickory trees are located. He shows him where and when to harvest the tall trees and thick trees. He helps him determine the right wood for the job and where to cut so the forest grows and seeds it's self. The cutter can plan the harvest because he knows where the trees that he needs are located. He understands the forest.
Your job is to know the complete Bible so you can understand how it works, in the lives of God's creation. Then you can see each individual part, in it's relation to the rest of the parts.
The Bible is similar. If you know the whole thing, the parts fit together perfectly. Just ask and trust it to happen. In other words have faith in the Teacher/Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:13 - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Mat. 7:7 - "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
8 - For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Mark 11: 25 - And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Let the Spirit guide you and don't harvest one tree at a time.
V. Keys to The Scriptures: God's Will for Jesus, You and Us Fullfilled
God’s will for Jesus:
Isa. 53:4 - Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
5 - But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.
Jesus’ prayer against God’s will:
Luke 22:42 - "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done."
God’s will for us:
Isa. 10:27 - And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
Isa. 61:1 - The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners;
2 - to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
John 6:37 - Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away;
38 - for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
39 - And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
40 - This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day."
I Thes. 5:16 - Rejoice always,
17 - pray without ceasing,
18 - give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
The will fulfilled:
Luke 4:17 - And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 - The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 - To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Gal. 3:13 - Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 - That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
John 14:13 - And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 - If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Mt. 21:21 - Jesus answered them, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done.
22 - Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive."
Mk. 11:22 - Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.
23 - Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.
24 - So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
25 - "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."
Luke 11:9 - "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
10 - For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 - Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?
12 - Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?
13 - If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Other Blessings promised:
Deut. 28:1-14
Ps. 37:1-40
Your Father in Heaven is a giving God. He just wants to love you. Your faith is trusting in His Word.
IV. Keys to the Scriptures: Lucifer vs. Satan
Most preachers are convinced that they are the same person. Just for the sake of correction; they are not.
Lucifer was in the story, the same person as was Adam. Lucifer as Adam (and the Prodigal Son) lost the anointing of God and all of God's protection, promises and family rights when they forsake God's kingdom, wanting to be equal with God through the law.
I've collected some verses below to illustrate some of the differences. Even though they referred to Lucifer as Satan, they did so because he had the spirit of Satan.
All men have the spirit of Satan until they are born again. We could be of Satan and called Satan up until we are born again.
All men are made up of three parts: 1. physical, 2. Mental (the soul) and spiritual.
All men when born again: Their spirit is "made new" and their mentality and their physical body are "renewed".
Knowing this it is easy to understand that Lucifer and Satan are two different entities. Satan just occupies a place in his victims until they are blessed with Jesus' salvation.
Lucifer:
Isa 14:12 - "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
Ezek 28:12 - "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
Ezek 28:13 - You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Rev 12:9 - The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Satan:
John 8:44 - "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
John 12:31 - Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Eph 2:2 - in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
Eph 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
LET'S TALK.
III. Keys to the Scritures: PRAYING AS THE BIBLE SAYS:
A born again Christian will pray in spirit and in truth.
Follow your prayer by praying in tongues. (This is the Spirit praying for you.) Then you follow these prayers with, “In Jesus’ name I pray.”.
The following verses will explain why I say that this method of prayer will make for a complete prayer session.
John 4:21 - Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
22 - You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23 - But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him.
24 - God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
Luke 12:30 - For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. (The Spirit prays in the tongues you utter.)
1 Cor. 14:9 - So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 - There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound.
11 - If then I do not know the meaning of a sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
12 - So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts (tongues), strive to excel in them for building up the church.
13 - Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.
14 - For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive.
15 - What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also.
John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 - If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
John 16:23 - On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
God hears the prayers of His children, like any loving father, but as a child grows older he/she speaks with the authority of an adult. His/her speech is more a comand then a request. As your faith grows so does your belief in how and what you say;
Mat. 17:20 - He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."
II. Keys to the Scriptures: SHOULD WOMEN BE PREACHERS?
The question of: Should women be preachers, has plagued the church for centuries.
I have met too many females that are born again and preach the scriptures with the enthusiasm of saints to believe that women should not be on the pulpit.
I wondered about the meaning of Paul’s statement, in Timothy, “If you lack wisdom just ask.” so I did.
The scriptures opened up like a fogged up mirror that was wiped clean. Paul’s statement/prophesy in 1 Tim. 2:8 – 15, is based on the Old Testament, the law. Likewise Tit. 2:3 – 5 is based on women that are under the law. Women that are born again are Sons of God and are under grace not the law.
Therefore they are not the individuals, whom God does not respect; instead they are a part of the body of Christ Jesus, not individuals. Individuals are the fallen angels that are full of self/pride and want to be equal to God. They become individuals of the flesh that have names other than Jesus. If we are part of the body then we are not individuals. We are one with God, all having the name of Jesus.
1 Tim. 2:8 - I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy
hands without anger or argument;
9 - also that the women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable
clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes,
10 - but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God.
11 - Let a woman learn in silence with full submission.
12 - I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent.
Tit. 2:3 - Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good,
4 - so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 - to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.
Why are most explanations wrong?
Heb.13:8 - Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.
(They lack knowledge because they do not ask.)
Who can we ask?
Isa. 1:18 - Come now, let us argue it out (or reason together) (or discuss it), says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Who wrote the Bible?
1 Thess. 1:6 - And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,
2 Tim. 2:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Why shouldn’t women or for that matter Blacks, Mexicans, Russians, etc. preach or teach?
Acts 10:34 - Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Rom. 2:11 - For there is no respect of persons with God.
Eph. 6:9 - And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Col. 3:25 - But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong, which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
James 2:9 - But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
1 Peter 1:17 - And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
Who should teach and preach?
1 Cor. 12:12 - For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
Gal. 3:28 - There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (Sons.)
If we be one in Jesus, we are children
Matt. 13:35 - That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Matt. 15:26 - But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs.
Believing in Christ Jesus as the prophesied Son of God entitles you to be Sons of God. Being a Son of God makes you a part of the body, not an individual. So if a women, black man, Mexican, Russian, etc. goes to the pulpit as an individual: women, black man, Mexican, Russian, etc. then they are there promoting their individual status, not the body of Christ Jesus, and Paul’s statement will ring true.
Never, never, never go to the pulpit as an individual, go as a part, as a Son.
Women Preachers?
1 Cor. 14:34 - Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1 Tim 2:11 - Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
1 Tim 2:12 - But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
1 Cor 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Gal 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Col 3:11 - Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Eph 6:9 - And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Col 3:25 - But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
1 Pet 1:17 - And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
Do I hear an Amen or at least a sigh of relief?
I. Keys to the Scriptures: SPEAKING IN TONGUES (some of this is repeat)
There are many reasons to pray in tongues.
The following passages set-up and explain the most important reason for speaking in tongues. Because God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24.
John 4:21 - Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 - Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 - But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 - God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus says that we should pray to the Father in His name. (truth)
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:13 - And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 - If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Jesus says that we must worship in the Spirit. (tongues)
Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
1 Cor. 14:2 - For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1 Cor. 14:14 - For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
The point is that as a born again Christian (part of the body of Christ Jesus) you must worship the Father in the truth and spirit. The truth is in Jesus’ name the spirit is in tongues.
It’s great how Jesus talks to us. I was praying one day and ended “in Jesus name I pray. I then proceeded to pray in tongues. After I finished I told Jesus that I didn’t know what I was praying when I prayed in tongues. I asked Him to tell me what I was praying. His Spirits answer was, “Remember what you pray in your language. Well your prayer in tongues was the same plus I prayed for what you forgot and what I knew you needed. He then verified this as follows: he brought to mind,
Mat. 6: 8 - Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Mat. 13:35 - That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
1 Cor. 1:5 - That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
1 Cor. 14:9 - So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
2 Cor. 12:4 - How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Eph. 6:18 - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 - And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Praise God that He will give us to know all things.
Mat. 21:22 - And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
James 1:5 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Amen
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