June 23 - Submitting to God’s Instruction

When God sets out to teach, He chooses His students on the basis of their character—not on their intellectual abilities, academic degrees, or social standing. He looks for an inner attitude of the heart toward Himself, an attitude of reverent submission and respect. Furthermore, God sets the curriculum. He teaches such individuals “in the way that he [God] shall choose” (Psalm 25:12 KJV). Often, the way God chooses is not the way that we would choose for ourselves. We might incline toward themes of prophecy or revelation that seem profound, whereas God’s curriculum might focus on what is humble and down-to-earth: service, sacrifice, and faithfulness.

For those who submit to God’s instruction, there is a wonderful reward: “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him” (Psalm 25:14 KJV). In human relationships, we share our secrets only with those whom we trust. Likewise, when God shares His secrets with us, it is proof that we have earned His trust. It is our certificate of graduation from His school.

This truth is illustrated beautifully in the relationship of Jesus to His disciples. After He had put them through three years of rigorous discipline, He told them, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15 NIV). First, Jesus Himself learned from the Father through perfect submission to Him. Then, Jesus, in turn, passed on all He had learned from the Father to those who submitted in like manner to Him.

God still chooses His students on this basis. Neither His requirements nor His curriculum have changed.

prayer-response (SPEAK OUT LOUD)
Thank You, Jesus, that You have redeemed me. I proclaim my desire to submit completely to the Lord’s instruction and thereby to become His friend, for I am a friend of Christ. Amen.

THE NON-CONTRADICTIONS OF THE BIBLE. PART FIVE.  

#ObjectionDebunked #WordFromTheLord  

Was Ahaziah 22 or 42 when he began to rule over Jerusalem? 

22 years - 2 Kings 8:26 - Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

42 years - 2 Chronicles 22:2 - Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

SHORT ANSWER - A simple copyist error. 

IN DEPTH ANSWER - Because we are dealing with accounts which were written thousands of years ago, we would not expect to have the originals in our possession today, as they would have disintegrated long ago. We are therefore dependent on the copies taken from copies of those originals, which were in turn continually copied out over a period of centuries. Those who did the copying were prone to making two types of scribal errors. One concerned the spelling of proper names, and the other had to do with numbers.

The two examples of numerical discrepancy here have to do with a decade in the number given. Ahaziah is said to have been 22 in 2 Kings 8:26; while in 2 Chronicles 22:2 Ahaziah is said to have been 42. Fortunately there is enough additional information in the Biblical text to show that the correct number is 22. Earlier in 2 Kings 8:17 the author mentions that Ahaziah’s father Joram ben Ahab was 32 when he became King, and he died eight years later, at the age of 40. Therefore Ahaziah could not have been 42 at the time of his father’s death at age 40! Such scribal errors do not change Jewish or Christian beliefs in the least. In such a case, another portion of scripture often corrects the mistake (2 Kings 8:26 in this instance). We must also remember that the scribes who were responsible for the copies were meticulously honest in handling Biblical texts. They delivered them as they received them, without changing even obvious mistakes, which are few indeed.

Please refer to tomorrow's non-contradiction for a more in-depth presentation on how scribes could misconstrue numbers within manuscripts. 

May the peace of Christ be with you all.  


Christ is Life. John. 3:16. 

Yes Muhammad copied this story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kaz61Nu17Y

100% debunk it - https://t.me/ChristIS/947

LET'S PRAY

As Jesus Is Today, So Are You!

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

1 John 4:17

It is wonderful to know that God does not measure and judge you based on your performance today. Instead, He looks at Jesus, and as Jesus is, that is how He sees you. His Word declares that “love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”

As new covenant believers, we do not have to fear the day of judgment simply because all our sins have been completely judged at the cross, and as Jesus is, so are we! Notice that it does not say that “as Jesus was on earth, so are we in this world.” That would have been amazing enough because during Jesus’ ministry on earth, healing, blessings and abundance followed Him everywhere He went.

Yet, that is not what the Word says. What it says is, “as Jesus is” (notice the use of the present tense). In other words, as He is right now, so are we in this world.

What a powerful revelation! Just consider where Jesus is today. The Bible tells us:

He [God] raised Him [Jesus] from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

—Ephesians 1:20–23
Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand today, in a position of power and authority. If I were you, I would take some time to meditate on this passage because the Bible tells us that as Jesus is, so are we right now, in this world.

Meditate on how as Jesus is “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named,” so are we! See it in God’s Word for yourself. See yourself as Jesus is, far above every principality and power, far above every disease and physical condition, far above every kind of fear, depression and addiction, and begin to reign over every negative situation in your life today!

MUST WATCH..
https://youtu.be/4HXzG8wig7s

A STEP TO VICTORY

Every accusation, mockery or persecution set against the righteous in heart is a stepping stone into a position of greatness and glory, for the LORD protects the righteous in heart and defends the just in all his ways.

PRAYER: Dear LORD Jehovah Nisi, thank you for your protective banner over us, your children, which keeps us save and protected from every accusations and manipulations of the wicked, may your name be praised forevermore amen.

https://thefountainoflifegospelministry.blogspot.com/2022/06/a-step-to-victory.html

Can God be tempted? James 1:13 says no, which contradicts Exodus 17:2; Deuteronomy 6:16; Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12; and Acts 15:10.

Equivocation fallacy. The word “tempted” is used in two different ways in Scripture. It can mean (1) to be tested or (2) to be enticed by lust. God can be tested (though it is wrong for us to test Him by any standard other than His own). But God cannot be enticed by lust. Context makes clear that the sense of “tempted” in James 1:13 is to be “enticed by lust” because the very next verse says just that! What a pity the critic didn’t read verse 14. So, God cannot be enticed by lust because His nature is perfectly Holy. But God can be tempted in the sense of being tested — people trying His patience (Exodus 17:2; Deuteronomy 6:16; Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12; Acts 15:10). Note that Jesus was tempted in the sense of tested, and yet was never enticed to sin (Hebrews 4:15). Context makes all the difference, doesn’t it?

Find Restoration in the Church

Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Psalm 92:13–15

I received this praise report from a couple who attends our Grace Revolution Church in Dallas, Texas. It’s a beautiful example of how we walk in His protection and restoration as we are planted in the house of God.

This couple shared with me how their marriage had gone through a very challenging period, and how the church and the pastoral leadership had helped them through that difficult time.

It took us some time to realize that we needed to focus more on Christ rather than on ourselves and on our problems. What ultimately saved our relationship was focusing vertically on our Lord Jesus and not horizontally on each other.

We were declaring, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus,” which gave us a sense of how much God loves us and wants us blessed. Knowing that we are the righteousness of God through Christ is what healed our broken marriage.

Being able to rest in all that Jesus has done, and being able to hear and meditate on the Word, has been the best thing for us. He truly is the vine and we are the branches. We now know that in every situation and circumstance, Christ is supplying our every need. He is the vine that will keep us supplied and where we need to be.

Knowing that “if it matters to me, it matters to God” was the last piece of the puzzle. We learned that there is no matter too small or too inconsequential to the Lord. Neither is there anything too big for Him to tackle for us.

My friend, can you see how important it is to be planted in a local church? In this couple’s case, being in a church that preached the truth of the gospel and having the wise counsel of leaders who walked the journey with them saved their marriage.

And can you sense their joy in knowing that the Lord Jesus is their vine who supplies their every need, and to whom nothing is too big or too small for them to bring? Read today’s verses from Psalm 92. Bearing fruit in old age speaks of preservation, protection, and long life.

God wants you not only to have long life, but to have quality of life and still be strong, healthy, and fruitful in your old age. And the way to have all of that is to be planted in the house of the Lord.

Beloved, if you are not regularly attending a local church, I want to encourage you to be planted in one. As you do so, may you, your career, your marriage, and your household flourish in every way!

FREEDOM AND DIRECT ACCESS TO THE FATHER

The death and resorection of Jesus Christ brought redemption from sin to all and grants everyone who worship the LORD in truth and in spirit direct access to the Father.
Also the Temple's vail that was torn signifies the breaking of the barrier that separates man from God, which is basically the lust of the flesh, thereby granting us, His faithfuls, direct access to the Father through His Son Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord Jesus Christ, for redeeming us from the bondage of sin and death on the cross at Calvary, which grants us, His faithfuls, the enabling grace to be closer to the Father through you, may your name be glorified forevermore amen.

https://thefountainoflifegospelministry.blogspot.com/2022/06/freedom-and-direct-access-to-father.html