Matt 16:24-26
24 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. 25 Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. 26 What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

As Christians we’re His disciples too so this is to us as well!

Matt 16:17
17 Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am.

Matt 16:6
Jesus said to them, "Keep a sharp eye out for Pharisee-Sadducee yeast."

We don’t have Pharisees and Sadducees anymore but we do have the same kind of yeast! Watch out for it!

Matt 15:8-9
8 These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it. 9 They act like they're worshiping me, but they don't mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy.

This sounds like Churches…

Matt 14:29-30
Peter walked on the water to Jesus. 30 But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"

He had faith for awhile but the circumstances around him got to him. Be careful not to let the circumstances around you get to you.

Matt 14:23
23 With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.

Alone and praying late into the night…

Matt 13:44-52
44 "God's kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidently found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic — what a find! — and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.
45 "Or, God's kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. 46 Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.
47 "Or, God's kingdom is like a fishnet cast into the sea, catching all kinds of fish. 48 When it is full, it is hauled onto the beach. The good fish are picked out and put in a tub; those unfit to eat are thrown away. 49 That's how it will be when the curtain comes down on history. The angels will come and cull the bad fish 50 and throw them in the garbage. There will be a lot of desperate complaining, but it won't do any good."
51 Jesus asked, "Are you starting to get a handle on all this?"
They answered, "Yes."
52 He said, "Then you see how every student well-trained in God's kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it."

Matt 13:37-43
The farmer who sows the pure seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of the Devil, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain of history. The harvest hands are angels.
40 "The picture of thistles pulled up and burned is a scene from the final act. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, weed out the thistles from his kingdom, 42 pitch them in the trash, and be done with them. They are going to complain to high heaven, but nobody is going to listen. 43 At the same time, ripe, holy lives will mature and adorn the kingdom of their Father.

Matt 13:31-33
"God's kingdom is like a pine nut that a farmer plants. 32 It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years it grows into a huge pine tree, and eagles build nests in it."
33 Another story. "God's kingdom is like yeast that a woman works into the dough for dozens of loaves of barley bread — and waits while the dough rises."

Matt 13:24-30
"God's kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. 26 When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.
27 "The farmhands came to the farmer and said, 'Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn't it? Where did these thistles come from?'
28 "He answered, 'Some enemy did this.'
"The farmhands asked, 'Should we weed out the thistles?'
29 "He said, 'No, if you weed the thistles, you'll pull up the wheat, too. 30 Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I'll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.'"

Matt 13:18-23
"Study this story of the farmer planting seed. 19 When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
20 "The seed cast in the gravel — this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. 21 But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
22 "The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
23 "The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams."

Matt 12:45
"That's what this generation is like: You may think you have cleaned out the junk from your lives and gotten ready for God, but you weren't hospitable to my kingdom message, and now all the devils are moving back in."

You may think you have cleaned out the junk from your lives…

Matt 12:40
40 Like Jonah, three days and nights in the fish's belly, the Son of Man will be gone three days and nights in a deep grave.

Matt 12:36
Words are powerful; take them seriously.

Matt 12:34
It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words.

It’s your heart, not the things you do or who you are to this world that given meaning to your words. And God knows your heart.

Matt 12:30
30 This is war, and there is no neutral ground.

In a war can you decide when it is convenient to defend or attack? NO! That is why I write about God every single day!

Matt 12:30
30 This is war, and there is no neutral ground.

Matt 12:14
14 The Pharisees walked out furious, sputtering about how they were going to ruin Jesus.

Matt 11:25-26
Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. 26 Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

And from the experts.

Matt 11:12
12 For a long time now people have tried to force themselves into God's kingdom.

And they still are doing this and unfortunately they use money to do it but God is not impressed.

Matt 10:38-39
If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. 39 If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me.

Matt 10:34
Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut

If everything was just fine then Jesus wouldn’t have come to the Earth.

Matt 10:32
Stand up for me against world opinion and I'll stand up for you before my Father in heaven.

Against world opinion…

Matt 10:28
Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life — body and soul — in his hands.

Matt 10:26-27
26 Don't be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. 27 So don't hesitate to go public now.

Go public for God, NOT YOU!

Matt 10:26-27
26 Don't be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. 27 So don't hesitate to go public now.

Matt 10:24-25
24 A student doesn't get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn't make more money than his boss. 25 Be content — pleased, even — when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, 'Dungface,' what can the workers expect?

This is a crystal clear picture for us of what kind of thing we can expect.

Matt 10:23
23 It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors!

Matt 10:16
You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves.

As real Christians we’re like sheep running through a wolf pack and we’re not to call attention to ourselves.

Matt 10:5-10
5 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:
"Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. 6 Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. 7 Tell them that the kingdom is here. 8 Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.
9 "Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. 10 You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment.”

You are the equipment

Matt 9:25
25 But when Jesus had gotten rid of the crowd, he went in, took the girl's hand, and pulled her to her feet — alive.

When Jesus had gotten rid of the crowd…this was not to make an appearance.

Matt 9:15
15 Jesus told them, When you're celebrating a wedding

Is it whether or not you monetarily support a physical Church body or is it Kingdom come?

Matt 9:12
Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick?

This is for Churches today!

Matt 8:33
They told everyone back in town what had happened to the madmen and the pigs.

They had no faith. For them everything was just about what they could see and they were not nice.

Matt 8:22
22 Jesus refused. "First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life."

As Christians OUR business is life and not death.

Matt 8:16-17
16 That evening a lot of demon-afflicted people were brought to him. He relieved the inwardly tormented. He cured the bodily ill. 17 He fulfilled Isaiah's well-known sermon

Isaiah is in the Old Testament and Jesus still has power even though He isn’t here.

Matt 8:12
those who grew up 'in the faith' but had no faith

It is possible to be in the faith but have no faith. Your heart tells the story not your circumstances.

Matt 8:1-4

Jesus came down the mountain with the cheers of the crowd still ringing in his ears. 2 Then a leper appeared and went to his knees before Jesus, praying, "Master, if you want to, you can heal my body."

3 Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there, all signs of the leprosy were gone. 4 Jesus said, "Don't talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed body to the priest, along with the appropriate expressions of thanks to God.

the appropriate expressions of thanks to God

As I read the Bible it becomes incredibly clear how MUCH God loves me, how important I am to Him and that I have an incredible future. As far as this world goes, I am nothing or even a minus but as far as God goes I am wonderfully created and worth very much to Him and I feel very good.

I learned so much today and it was not about me, it was about God. In reading through the beginning of Matthew about the lilies of the field I am realizing that although most of them are never seen, God makes sure that they are very very beautiful and that I am worth much more to God than the lilies of the field so while other can’t see it I am very very beautiful to God, in fact, overall I am more beautiful to God than the lilies of the field! I have faith because although no one can see it, God does!

Matt 7:21-23
21 "Knowing the correct password — saying 'Master, Master,' for instance — isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience — doing what my Father wills. 22 I can see it now — at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' 23 And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'

Matt 7:14
14 The way to life — to God! — is vigorous and requires total attention.

Matt 7:12
12 Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.

Matt 6:24
You can't worship God and Money both.

Matt 6:18
8 God doesn't require attention-getting devices.

Matt 6:5
And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

Matt 6:3-4
3 When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. 4 Just do it — quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.

Jesus ALWAYS acted this way so you should too.

Matt 6:1
Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding.

Matt 5:48
48 In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

Matt 5:37
When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

Matt 5:34
You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace.

Matt 5:32
You can't use legal cover to mask a moral failure.

Matt 5:27-28
You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.' 28 But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices — they also corrupt.

Eye candy and leering looks are the same thing.

Matt 5:22
The simple moral fact is that words kill.

Matt 5:14
Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

Light for others not something for yourselves.

Matt 5:13
Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.

This is why you were born.

Matt 5:10
10 You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

Matt 5:9
You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

Compete…

Matt 5:8
You're blessed when you get your inside world — your mind and heart — put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

And it WILL be different than what you saw before.

Matt 5:7
7 You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for.

Matt 5:6
6 You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

Matt 5:5
5 You're blessed when you're content with just who you are — no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

With just who you are… As God made you, not what some college teaches you.

Matt 5:4
4 You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

but He must be most dear to you or else you will just miss what you lost.

Matt 5:3
You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

His rule not anyone else’s rule.

Matt 4:23
God's kingdom was his theme

As part of Christ’s body, God’s kingdom must be our theme too.

Matt 4:19
19 Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass."

Nothing has changed today, God is not interested in what we do, He will teach us how to catch men and women.

Matt 4:14
14 This move completed Isaiah's sermon

Matt 4:10
10 Jesus' refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan!" He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness."

Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.

Matt 4:5-6
5 For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, 6 "Since you are God's Son, jump." The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91

Psalm 91 is in the Old Testament.

Matt 4:4
4 Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth."

Deuteronomy is in the Old Testament.

Matt 3:7-10
7 When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? 8 It's your life that must change, not your skin! 9 And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. 10 What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.

Matt 3:4
4 John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey.

Socially acceptable? NO!

Matt 3:3
3 John and his message were authorized by Isaiah's prophecy:
Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God's arrival! Make the road smooth and straight!

Matt 2:17-18
17 That's when Jeremiah's sermon was fulfilled: 18 A sound was heard in Ramah, weeping and much lament. Rachel weeping for her children, Rachel refusing all solace, Her children gone, dead and buried.

Again, Jeremiah is in the Old Testament.

Matt 2:15
15 They lived in Egypt until Herod's death. This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: "I called my son out of Egypt."

Hmm, Hosea is in the Old Testament.

The 3 wise men that traveled from the east to see Jesus were an example of how people, no matter where they are can come to God.

Matt 1:1
1:1 The family tree of Jesus Christ, David's son, Abraham's son:

David’s son, Abraham’s son…there is obviously more than sex here…

Mal 2:15
15 GOD, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that's what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you.

What does God want from marriage? Children of God, not satisfying sexual or personal relationsips!

Mal 2:15
15 GOD, not you, made marriage.

Zech 12:8
I'll look after everyone who lives in Jerusalem so that the lowliest, weakest person will be as glorious as David and the family of David itself will be godlike, like the Angel of GOD leading the people.

The lowliest and weakest person…

Zech 11:4-5
GOD commanded me, "Shepherd the sheep that are soon to be slaughtered. 5 The people who buy them will butcher them for quick and easy money. What's worse, they'll get away with it.

Zech 10:2
Religious experts spout rubbish.

Zech 9:9
a humble king riding a donkey, a mere colt of a donkey.

Jesus did this!

Zeph 1:11
Moneymaking has had its day. The god Money is dead.

Hab 2:5
Note well: Money deceives.

Nah 1:12
Even though you're on top of the world, With all the applause and all the votes, you'll be mowed down flat.

Mic 6:8
don't take yourself too seriously — take God seriously.

Mic 5:13
No more taking control of the world, worshiping what you do or make.

Mic 5:2-4
2 But you, Bethlehem, David's country, the runt of the litter — From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel. He'll be no upstart, no pretender. His family tree is ancient and distinguished. 3 Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes until the birth pangs are over and the child is born, And the scattered brothers come back home to the family of Israel. 4 He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by GOD's strength, centered in the majesty of GOD-Revealed. And the people will have a good and safe home, for the whole world will hold him in respect — Peacemaker of the world!

This is about Jesus!

Jonah 1:17
17 Then GOD assigned a huge fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was in the fish's belly three days and nights.

Even though this is the Old Testament, this was a pre-sign of Jesus and Jesus even mentioned this!

Jonah 1:15-16
15 They took Jonah and threw him overboard. Immediately the sea was quieted down.
16 The sailors were impressed, no longer terrified by the sea, but in awe of GOD. They worshiped GOD, offered a sacrifice, and made vows.

This is just like Hosea. God’s purpose was met and He was honored. Bad for Jonah but good for God.

Amos 5:20
20 At GOD's coming we face hard reality, not fantasy

Amos 5:8
A world God wakes up each morning and puts to bed each night.

Joel 1:2-3
2 Attention, elder statesmen! Listen closely, everyone, whoever and wherever you are!Have you ever heard of anything like this? Has anything like this ever happened before — ever? 3 Make sure you tell your children, and your children tell their children, And their children their children. Don't let this message die out.

Hos 13:2
Religion customized to taste. Professionals see to it: Anything you want in a god you can get.

Hos 6:6
6 I'm after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know GOD, not go to more prayer meetings.

Hos 4:12
They've replaced their God with their genitals.

Hos 1:2-3
The first time GOD spoke to Hosea he said: "Find a whore and marry her. Make this whore the mother of your children. And here's why: This whole country has become a whorehouse, unfaithful to me, GOD." 3 Hosea did it. He picked Gomer daughter of Diblaim.

To marry a whore was not a good thing to do nor was it socially acceptable but God said to do it and Hosea did it! A key thing to learn here is that our plans and God’s plans are not the same. Our plans are for life on this Earth but God’s plans are for an eternity. He is our creator and His plans are much more important.

Dan 4:17
God rules human kingdoms.

Ezek 34:31
31 You are my dear flock, the flock of my pasture, my human flock, And I am your God. Decree of GOD, the Master.'"

Ezek 33:31
They flatter you with compliments, but all they care about is making money and getting ahead.

Ezek 28:8
your self-made pedestal

Ezek 20:9
I acted out of who I was, not by how I felt.

This means A LOT to me because if not then I would be dead.

Ezek 18:3-4
3 "As sure as I'm the living God, you're not going to repeat this saying in Israel any longer. 4 Every soul — man, woman, child — belongs to me, parent and child alike. You die for your own sin, not another's.

God says
Ezek 11:12
Instead of following my ways, you've sunk to the level of the laws of the nations around you.

Ezek 7:19
They tripped on money and fell into sin.

Ezek 5:13
I'm a jealous God and not to be trifled with.

Whether or not you listen to me doesn’t matter because it’s it is my job to say it.

Ezek 4:10
eat it on schedule.

Ezek 4:11
drink it on schedule.

I don’t get hungry or thirsty, I just eat and drink on schedule.

Ezek 3:17-19
Whenever you hear me say something, warn them for me. 18 If I say to the wicked, 'You are going to die,' and you don't sound the alarm warning them that it's a matter of life or death, they will die and it will be your fault. I'll hold you responsible. 19 But if you warn the wicked and they keep right on sinning anyway, they'll most certainly die for their sin, but you won't die. You'll have saved your life.

Our job is to tell people the truth as God says it NOT to convince them OR make them happy.

Ezek 3:14
I didn't want to go. But GOD had me in his grip.

Where you go AND what you do is God’s choice which makes sense because this is His work.

Ezek 3:8
I'll make you as hard in your way as they are in theirs.

God can do anything no matter who you or they are!

Ezek 1:20
20 Wherever the spirit went

Wherever the spirit goes, we should go.

Ezek 1:12
Wherever the spirit went, they went.

Us too!

Lam 3:57
57 You came close when I called out. You said, 'It's going to be all right.'

Lam 3:40
40 Let's take a good look at the way we're living and reorder our lives under GOD.

Lam 3:28-29
28 When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. 29 Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions.

Jer 49:16
16 You think you're so great — strutting across the stage of history,

Jer 32:27
I am GOD, the God of everything living.

Jer 32:2-3
Jeremiah was shut up in jail in the royal palace. 3 Zedekiah, king of Judah, had locked him up, complaining, "How dare you preach, saying, 'GOD says, I'm warning you: I will hand this city over to the king of Babylon and he will take it over.

People are not going to like hearing about God.

Jer 25:30-31
GOD roars like a lion from high heaven; thunder rolls out from his holy dwelling — Ear-splitting bellows against his people, shouting hurrahs like workers in harvest. 31 The noise reverberates all over the earth; everyone everywhere hears it. GOD makes his case against the godless nations. He's about to put the human race on trial. For the wicked the verdict is clear-cut: death by the sword. GOD's Decree.

Jer 10:23
23 I know, GOD, that mere mortals can't run their own lives, That men and women don't have what it takes to take charge of life.

Jer 7:32
They'll call the place what it is: Murder Meadow

The place where Judas Iscariot handed himself and died was called Murder Meadow.

Jer 6:13
Everyone's after the dishonest dollar

Jer 1:4-8
4 This is what GOD said: 5 "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations — that's what I had in mind for you." 6 But I said, "Hold it, Master GOD! Look at me. I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!" 7 GOD told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.' I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there. I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it. 8 Don't be afraid of a soul. I'll be right there, looking after you." GOD's Decree.

Isa 66:16
16 For it's by fire that GOD brings judgment, a death sentence on the human race.

Isa 66:2
GOD's Decree.
"But there is something I'm looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say.

Isa 55:1
Buy without money — everything's free!

Isa 53:2-54:1
2 The servant grew up before God — a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. 3 He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. 4 But the fact is, it was our pains he carried — our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. 5 But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him — our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. 6 We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And GOD has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him, on him. 7 He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn't say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. 8 Justice miscarried, and he was led off — and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. 9 They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he'd never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true.
10 Still, it's what GOD had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he'd see life come from it — life, life, and more life. And GOD's plan will deeply prosper through him.
11 Out of that terrible travail of soul, he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it. Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many "righteous ones, "as he himself carries the burden of their sins. 12 Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly — the best of everything, the highest honors — Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest. He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

This is about Jesus and He wasn’t even born yet!

Isa 51:15-16
15 For I am GOD, your very own God, who stirs up the sea and whips up the waves, named GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. 16 I teach you how to talk, word by word, and personally watch over you, Even while I'm unfurling the skies, setting earth on solid foundations, and greeting Zion: 'Welcome, my people!'"

Isa 43:21
people custom-made to praise me.

this iswhy we're here.

Isa 35:6
6 Lame men and women will leap like deer,

I can wait for this!

Isa 34:16
16 Get and read GOD's book: None of this is going away!

Isa 33:15-16
Live right, speak the truth, despise exploitation, refuse bribes, reject violence, avoid evil amusements. 16 This is how you raise your standard of living! A safe and stable way to live. A nourishing, satisfying way to live.

Isa 17:10-11
And why? Because you have forgotten God-Your-Salvation, not remembered your Rock-of-Refuge. and so, even though you are very religious, planting all sorts of bushes and herbs and trees to honor and influence your fertility gods, 11 And even though you make them grow so well, bursting with buds and sprouts and blossoms, Nothing will come of them. Instead of a harvest

even though you are very religious…

Isa 9:10
10 "Things aren't that bad. We can handle anything that comes. If our buildings are knocked down, we'll rebuild them bigger and finer. If our forests are cut down, we'll replant them with finer trees."

This sounds like society today.

Isa 9:6-7
6 For a child has been born — for us! the gift of a son — for us! He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. 7 His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He'll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom. He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going With fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always. The zeal of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies will do all this.

This is about Jesus!

Isa 9:1
international Galilee

How is it possible that Galilee could be international?

Isa 8:19-20
19 When people tell you, "Try out the fortunetellers. Consult the spiritualists. Why not tap into the spirit-world, get in touch with the dead?" 20 Tell them, "No, we're going to study the Scriptures."

Isa 7:14-15
the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She'll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us). 15 By the time the child is twelve years old, able to make moral decisions

Isa 5:7
7 Do you get it? The vineyard of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies is the country of Israel.

It is very good that I read this because I’ve never heard it.

Eccl 7:29
God made men and women true and upright; we're the ones who've made a mess of things.

Eccl 7:20
There's not one totally good person on earth, Not one who is truly pure and sinless.

Eccl 7:18
A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it.

Eccl 5:10
10 The one who loves money is never satisfied with money

Eccl 5:2
God's in charge, not you — the less you speak, the better.

Prov 29:25
25 The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in GOD protects you from that.

Prov 25:2
2 God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things.

Prov 21:4
4 Arrogance and pride — distinguishing marks in the wicked — are just plain sin.

Prov 20:27
27 GOD is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out.

Prov 20:15
15 Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.

Prov 20:12
Ears that hear and eyes that see — we get our basic equipment from GOD!

Prov 19:21
21 We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but GOD's purpose prevails.

Prov 16:20
20 It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in GOD.

Prov 16:2
2 Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; GOD probes for what is good.

Prov 15:14
fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.

Prov 15:11
11 Even hell holds no secrets from GOD — do you think he can't read human hearts?

Prov 15:3
3 GOD doesn't miss a thing — he's alert to good and evil alike.

Prov 13:13
13 Ignore the Word and suffer; honor God's commands and grow rich.

Prov 5:21
21 Mark well that GOD doesn't miss a move you make; he's aware of every step you take.

Prov 3:5-7
5 Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. 6 Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. 7 Don't assume that you know it all. Run to GOD! Run from evil!

Prov 1:7
Start with GOD — the first step in learning is bowing down to GOD

Colleges don’t teach this!

Ps 146:3
3 Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life.

People will tell you that they do but ask God!

Ps 146:2
2 All my life long I'll praise GOD, singing songs to my God as long as I live.

My faith and works are not just a TODAY thing, we’re talking about as long as I live!

Ps 144:3-4
3 I wonder why you care, GOD — why do you bother with us at all? 4 All we are is a puff of air; we're like shadows in a campfire.

He cares because He creates us!

Ps 139:15-16
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. 16 Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

Did He know that I would live in a wheelchair now? Oh yes!

Ps 139:13
13 God you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.

Most generally people forget this!

Ps 139:4
4 God you know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence.

Ps 139:2
2 I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.

Ps 138:6
GOD, high above, sees far below; no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.

Ps 122:4
To give thanks to the name of GOD — this is what it means to be Israel.

Are you Israel?

Ps 121:5
5 GOD's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you —

Ps 119:36
36 Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot.

He does and that’s why all my books are free on LULU.COM!

Ps 119:14
14 I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches.

Ps 119:9
9 How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word.

NOTE that it doesn’t say: by going to college and/or by making something of yourself.

Ps 118:17
17 I didn't die. I lived! And now I'm telling the world what GOD did.

Ps 118:9
9 Far better to take refuge in GOD than trust in celebrities.

Ps 118:8
8 Far better to take refuge in GOD than trust in people

Ps 118:6
6 GOD's now at my side and I'm not afraid

Ps 116:1-6
I love GOD because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy. 2 He listened so intently as I laid out my case before him. 3 Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels. Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn; 4 then I called out to GOD for help: "Please, GOD!" I cried out. "Save my life!" 5 GOD is gracious — it is he who makes things right, our most compassionate God. 6 GOD takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me.

Ps 108:12
human help is worthless.

Ps 107:15
15 So thank GOD for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves

Ps 94:17
17 If GOD hadn't been there for me, I never would have made it.

Ps 90:17
the work that we do!

Is the work that you do for God or for you?

Ps 89:18
18 All we are and have we owe to GOD

Ps 84:10
I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.

This shows us that everything isn’t there to make us happy. Happiness comes from being a GUEST in the palace of sin but as Christians we are here to scrub floors in the house of God.

Ps 84:10
I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.

Ps 74:7
7 They burned your holy place to the ground

This actually did happen but it was years after the writer, David.

Ps 62:11
11 God said this once and for all; how many times Have I heard it repeated? "Strength comes straight from God."

Ps 53:3
Sheep, taking turns pretending to be Shepherd.

Ps 49:7
There's no such thing as self-rescue, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.

Ps 40:6
6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you — that's not what you're after. Being religious, acting pious — that's not what you're asking for.

Ps 40:4
4 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to GOD, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships

Ps 33:20-21
20 We're depending on GOD; he's everything we need. 21 What's more, our hearts brim with joy since we've taken for our own his holy name.

Ps 31:23
23 Love GOD, all you saints; GOD takes care of all who stay close to him

Ps 31:6
6 I hate all this silly religion, but you, GOD, I trust.

Ps 26:1
I've thrown in my lot with you, GOD, and I'm not budging.

The Bible says that the road to eternal life is
narrow and only a few will find it so I’ve
dedicated my time to finding out why.
Why only a few?
I first identified a few groups but the problem
continued to grow which meant that the few just
get larger and larger. And as this happens I read
God’s Word (the Bible) and the answer is more
clear.
We humans are created by God but we start our
lives out the wrong way. We are taught from
birth that we have to become something.
1
The Bible says that God wrote down all the days
of our lives before we were born and that He
forms us in our mother’s womb so we have to
become something? Becoming something states
that there was a problem with God’s initial
formation of us not to mention a mistake in the
writing of all of the days of our lives before we
were born!
A good example of this was the children of
Israel. It’s in the Bible. They were slaves to
Egypt (and we are slaves to sin). God freed
them (we’ve been freed too) and then God tried
to lead them to Canaan which He was giving to
them like He promised to do (we’ve been
promised eternal life in Heaven) but they were
unhappy with what they could see and they
2
always wanted something better (we too are
unhappy with what we can see so we try to
become something better). So we don’t hope
for what He’s promised instead we imagine and
hope for something better. So the road is
narrow and few find it.
The miracle for the children of Israel is: 1. That
they were freed from slavery in Egypt and 2.
they crossed the Red Sea on dry land. The
miracle for us is: 1. We have been freed from
slavery to sin and 2. Given eternal life in
Heaven which is much better than an Earthly
life in Canaan!
The big question is whether all your efforts will
be on what people like or what God wants.
3
What people like will reward you on Earth but
what God wants will reward you in Heaven.
Too many people want their rewards on Earth
but the only rewards that will matter will come
in Heaven.
The children of Israel were interested in what
they could see even though everything they got
came from God who they couldn’t see. So if
you’re more interested in what you can see then
life will be good for you on this Earth.
What you can see will make you happy on Earth
and what you can’t see will make you happy in
Heaven. The choice is yours.
4

Ps 17:4
4 I'm not trying to get my way in the world's way. I'm trying to get your way, your Word's way.

Ps 16:8
8 Day and night I'll stick with GOD; I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go.

Ps 14:3
Sheep, taking turns pretending to be Shepherd.

Ps 4:8
you, GOD, have put my life back together.

Ps 4:6-7
6 Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say. "More, more." I have God's more-than-enough, 7 More joy in one ordinary day

Ps 4:4
Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.

Ps 3:8
8 Real help comes from GOD.

Job 35:7
7 Even if you're good, what would God get out of that? Do you think he's dependent on your accomplishments?

Job 33:12
God is far greater than any human.

Regardless of human degrees or celebrity status!

Job 33:4
4 The Spirit of God made me what I am, the breath of God Almighty gave me life!

Job 31:24-25
Did I set my heart on making big money or worship at the bank? 25 Did I boast about my wealth, show off because I was well-off?

Job 28:12-13
12 "But where, oh where, will they find Wisdom? Where does Insight hide? 13 Mortals don't have a clue, haven't the slightest idea where to look.

Mortals THINK that wisdom comes from colleges!

Job 27:3-4
as long as God breathes life into me, 4 I refuse to say one word that isn't true.

Job 26:12
12 By his power he stills sea storms

Jesus did this!

Job 20:6
6 The evil might become world famous

Job 12:16
16 Strength and success belong to God

Job 7:12
12 Are you going to put a muzzle on me, the way you quiet the sea and still the storm?

Jesus quieted the sea and stilled the storm.

Job 4:17
How can humans be purer than their Creator?

Regarding death:
Job 3:19
19 The small and the great are equals in that place, and slaves are free from their masters.

But alive because of Christ we are all equals and free!

Job 3:16
16 Why wasn't I stillborn and buried with all the babies who never saw light?

I had 2 stillborn siblings after my sister and before me but I lived and was born.

Job 3:11
11 Why didn't I die at birth?

I honestly know the answer to this.

Job 2:9-10
9 His wife said, "Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and be done with it!"
10 He told her, "You're talking like an empty-headed fool. We take the good days from God — why not also the bad days?"

Be careful because humans ONLY expect good things but God gives everyone good AND bad.

Job 1:8
8 GOD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him — honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil."

Est 1:22
Every man is master of his own house; whatever he says, goes.

This doesn’t sound like: “Happy wife, happy life”.

Neh 9:36
36 And here we are, slaves again today

Neh 6:9
I prayed, "Give me strength."

Note that he didn’t say: I wish that this would stop, NO! he said: give me the strength. Wishing that things were perfect is ok but knowing that they won’t be and asking for strength is much better.

Ezra 9:12
Don't cultivate their good opinion; don't make over them and get them to like you so you can make a lot of money and build up a tidy estate to hand down to your children.

2 Chron 25:2
But he wasn't wholeheartedly devoted to God.

God can tell!

2 Chron 21:11
He brazenly led Jerusalem away from God, seducing the whole country.

Seducing the whole country…

2 Chron 16:9
9 GOD is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him.

2 Chron 15:2
If you look for God he will let himself be found; but if you leave him he'll leave you.

2 Chron 12:8
they'll learn the difference between serving me and serving human beings."

There is a huge difference but society still has not learned anything.

1 Chron 29:1
this is not just a place for people to meet each other, but a house for GOD to meet us

this is a description of Church buildings.

1 Chron 22:19
19 your part is to give yourselves, heart and soul, to praying to your GOD. So get moving

1 Chron 22:13
13 That's what will make you successful, following the directions and doing the things that GOD commanded

Not what you make of yourself but following the directions and doing the things that GOD commanded.

1 Chron 21:24
I'm not going to offer GOD sacrifices that are no sacrifice

This is the way that I feel.

1 Chron 17:26
26 GOD, being the God you are

No being specifically thankful for any one thing, just being thankful for who He is.

1 Chron 17:16-18

16 King David went in, took his place before GOD, and prayed:
Who am I, my Master GOD, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? 17 But that's nothing compared to what's coming, for you've also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow and looked on me, Master GOD, as a Somebody. 18 What's left for David to say to this — to your honoring your servant, even though you know me, just as I am?

“…you know me, just as I am”, this is why I’m not worried as I am.

1 Chron 16:8
8 Thank GOD! Call out his Name! Tell the whole world who he is and what he's done!

1 Chron 14:16
16 David did exactly as God commanded

2 Kings 17:7
The children of Israel sinned against GOD, their God, who had delivered them from Egypt and the brutal oppression of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

I never knew that this was in the Bible!

2 Kings 6:6
He cut off a branch and tossed it at the spot. The axhead floated up.

Ax heads don’t float on water.

2 Kings 5:26-27
26 Elisha said, "Didn't you know I was with you in spirit when that man stepped down from his chariot to greet you? Tell me, is this a time to look after yourself, lining your pockets with gifts? 27 Naaman's skin disease will now infect you and your family, with no relief in sight."

2 Kings 5:11
11 Naaman lost his temper. He turned on his heel saying, "I thought he'd personally come out and meet me, call on the name of GOD, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease.”

People expect God to do things THEIR way!

2 Kings 4:42-44
Elisha said, "Pass it around to the people to eat."
43 His servant said, "For a hundred men? There's not nearly enough!"
Elisha said, "Just go ahead and do it. GOD says there's plenty."
44 And sure enough, there was. He passed around what he had — they not only ate, but had leftovers.

This is what happened when Jesus fed people.

1 Kings 13:33
anyone who wanted to could be a priest

1 Kings 11:11
11 GOD said to Solomon, "Since this is the way it is with you, that you have no intention of keeping faith with me and doing what I have commanded, I'm going to rip the kingdom from you and hand it over to someone else.”

1 Kings 9:6-7
But if you or your sons betray me, ignoring my guidance and judgments, taking up with alien gods by serving and worshiping them, 7 then the guarantee is off


God told Soloman this but Soloman did it anyway, would you?

1 Kings 8:61
61 And you, your lives must be totally obedient to GOD

1 Kings 8:57-58
57 May GOD, our very own God, continue to be with us just as he was with our ancestors — may he never give up and walk out on us. 58 May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors.

1 Kings 8:23
O GOD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in the skies above or on the earth below who unswervingly keeps covenant with his servants and relentlessly loves them as they sincerely live in obedience to your way.

1 Kings 6:11-12
11 The word of GOD came to Solomon saying, 12 "About this Temple you are building — what's important is that you live the way I've set out for you and do what I tell you

God didn’t say: “keep doing this work”, NO He said “About this Temple you are building — what's important is that you live the way I've set out for you and do what I tell you” and He says the same thing to us.

2 Sam 24:24
I'm not going to offer GOD, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice.

Neither am I.

1 Sam 26:19
If GOD has stirred you up against me, then I gladly offer my life as a sacrifice.

This is what Jesus did and it’s what we should do too!

1 Sam 18:8-9
"They credit David with 'ten thousands' and me with only 'thousands.' Before you know it they'll be giving him the kingdom!" 9 From that moment on, Saul kept his eye on David.

Saul saw this as a human competition.

1 Sam 17:56
56 The king said, "Well, find out the lineage of this raw youth."

The king assumed that the victory was David’s but the victory was God’s.

1 Sam 17:47
GOD doesn't save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to GOD

God doesn’t save by anything that humans have. He created everything by Himself.

1 Sam 16:7
GOD judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; GOD looks into the heart.

This is for ALL HUMANS to learn.

1 Sam 15:24
I cared more about pleasing the people

1 Sam 15:22-23
Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices — empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. 3 Not doing what GOD tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around GOD is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors.

1 Sam 2:9
No one makes it in this life by sheer muscle!

1 Sam 2:7
7 GOD brings poverty and GOD brings wealth

1 Sam 2:6
6 GOD brings death and GOD brings life

Judg 2:10
Then another generation grew up that didn't know anything of GOD or the work he had done for Israel.

Josh 22:5
Love GOD, your God, walk in all his ways, do what he's commanded, embrace him, serve him with everything you are and have.

Deut 30:11-14
This commandment that I'm commanding you today isn't too much for you, it's not out of your reach. 12 It's not on a high mountain — you don't have to get mountaineers to climb the peak and bring it down to your level and explain it before you can live it. 13 And it's not across the ocean — you don't have to send sailors out to get it, bring it back, and then explain it before you can live it. 14 No. The word is right here and now — as near as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest. Just do it!

you don't have to go to college!

Deut 30:2
obey him with your whole heart and soul

this is in the Bible repeatedly for a good reason. You want eternal life? DO IT!

Deut 29:29
29 GOD, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business.

The revealed things are our business.

Deut 13:4
You are to follow only GOD, your God, hold him in deep reverence, keep his commandments, listen obediently to what he says, serve him — hold on to him for dear life!

Deut 11:13
love GOD, your God, and serve him with everything you have within you

Deut 5:32
be very careful to act exactly as GOD commands you. Don't veer off to the right or the left.

Deut 4:39
GOD is in Heaven above; GOD is on Earth below.

Deut 4:1-2
4:1 Now listen, Israel, listen carefully to the rules and regulations that I am teaching you to follow so that you may live and enter and take possession of the land that GOD, the God-of-Your-Fathers, is giving to you. 2 Don't add a word to what I command you, and don't remove a word from it. Keep the commands of GOD, your God, that I am commanding you.

This was to the children of Israel then but it’s to us now.

Deut 3:22
22 Don't be afraid. GOD, your God, — he's fighting for you.

Humans have the strong need to be in total control of everything but God has total control and humans can or can’t just trust that He does.

Deut 1:35-36
35 "Not a single person of this evil generation is going to get so much as a look at the good land that I promised to give to your parents. Not one — 36 except for Caleb son of Jephunneh. He'll see it. I'll give him and his descendants the land he walked on because he was all for following GOD, heart and soul."

because he was all for following GOD, heart and soul…

Num 26:65
GOD had said of them, "They'll die, die in the wilderness — not one of them will be left except for Caleb son of Jephunneh, and Joshua son of Nun."

2 of several thousand? They were the few and I don’t want this to happen to you on Earth.

Num 22:13-14
13 The next morning Balaam got up and told Balak's nobles, "Go back home; GOD refuses to give me permission to go with you."
14 So the Moabite nobles left, came back to Balak, and said, "Balaam wouldn't come with us.”

They didn’t say why, just that he wouldn’t come because it was all about what they could see.

Num 21:8-9
8 GOD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it on a flagpole: Whoever is bitten and looks at it will live."
9 So Moses made a snake of fiery copper and put it on top of a flagpole. Anyone bitten by a snake who then looked at the copper snake lived.

This is a preview for us of Jesus.

Num 21:5
"Why did you drag us out of Egypt to die in this godforsaken country? No decent food; no water — we can't stomach this stuff any longer."

The children of Israel said this a number of times! This is in the Bible to show us that it’s not OK to doubt God. Things are more than we can see and feel.

Num 20:11
Moses raised his arm and slammed his staff against the rock — once, twice. Water poured out. Congregation and cattle drank.

God told him to “speak to the rock”.

Ex 32:1

When the people realized that Moses was taking forever in coming down off the mountain, they rallied around Aaron and said, "Do something. Make gods for us who will lead us. That Moses, the man who got us out of Egypt — who knows what's happened to him?"
That Moses, the man who got us out of Egypt — who knows what's happened to him?

Moses didn’t get them out of Egypt, God did.

Ex 19:13
"A long blast from the horn will signal that it's safe to climb the mountain."

As Christians when Jesus comes we will hear a blast and go to Heaven.

Ex 17:3
3 But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses, "Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here with our children and animals to die of thirst?"

Moses didn’t take them out of Egypt.

Ex 16:23
Then set aside the leftovers until morning.

Picture this: several thousand people and no refrigeration and they did it and it was fine to eat.

Ex 16:2
2 The whole company of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron there in the wilderness.

Why would they do this? God had already rescued them from slavery? I worry that we’ll do the same thing. God has already rescued us from slavery, do wish things were the old way?

Ex 14:11-12
11 They told Moses, "Weren't the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? 12 Back in Egypt didn't we tell you this would happen? Didn't we tell you, 'Leave us alone here in Egypt — we're better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.'"

The Israelites only saw Moses and not God because they could see Moses and they could not see God. We have to be careful that we don’t do the same thing because those who did didn’t make it to the promised land.

When God hit Egypt with the first 2 plagues the Egyptians tried “me versus God” techniques as most humans do.

Ex 7:7
7 Moses was eighty and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.

TIME is not something that concerns God.

Ex 5:3
Let us take a three-day journey

Hmm, Jesus was raised to life after 3 days…

Ex 4:26
"bridegroom of blood"

Because of Jesus’ crucifixion we are the bridegroom of the blood!

Ex 4:10-11
10 Moses raised another objection to GOD: "Master, please, I don't talk well. I've never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer."
11 GOD said, "And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn't it I, GOD?

At first Moses had a hard time because even though he knew that he was talking to God he thought that reality was only what he could see but God is an unseen reality.

Ex 3:19-22
19 "I know that the king of Egypt won't let you go unless forced to, 20 so I'll intervene and hit Egypt where it hurts — oh, my miracles will send them reeling! — after which they'll be glad to send you off. 21 I'll see to it that this people get a hearty send-off by the Egyptians — when you leave, you won't leave empty-handed! 22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and any guests in her house for objects of silver and gold, for jewelry and extra clothes; you'll put them on your sons and daughters. Oh, you'll clean the Egyptians out!”

Gen 47:20-21
Every Egyptian sold his land — the famine was that bad. That's how Pharaoh ended up owning all the land 21 and the people ended up slaves
The beginning of the children of Israel…

Gen 42:25
That was all done for them.

God doesn’t need anything from us…

Gen 41:15-16
15 "I dreamed a dream," Pharaoh told Joseph. "Nobody can interpret it. But I've heard that just by hearing a dream you can interpret it."
16 Joseph answered, "Not I, but God.”

To say this is uncommon among humans. Most generally a human would say: “Of course I can!”

Gen 16:2
Abram agreed to do what Sarai said.

He took Sarai’s opinion over what God had told him…

Gen 15:6
6 And he believed! Believed GOD! God declared him "Set-Right-with-God."

He couldn’t see what he believed but he believed anyway! What he believed was not what he could see.

Gen 13:18
There he built an altar to GOD.

Good things that he could see happened to Abram but he didn’t say: I have done this!, no he thanked God.

Gen 12:16
16 Because of her, Abram got along very well: he accumulated sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, men and women servants, and camels.

The things that he could see increased but is that all there is?

Gen 12:7
7 GOD appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your children."

HELLO! Abram had no children!

Gen 12:1-5
GOD told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your father's home for a land that I will show you. 2 I'll make you a great nation and bless you. I'll make you famous; you'll be a blessing. 3 I'll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I'll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you."
4 So Abram left just as GOD said, and Lot left with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot with him, along with all the possessions and people they had gotten in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan and arrived safe and sound.

This is what having faith means: he left his homeland with his barren wife.

Gen 5:1
This is the family tree of the human race: When God created the human race, he made it godlike, with a nature akin to God.

So did God miss something so that the human race needs colleges?

Gen 9:17
17 And God said, "This rainbow is the sign of the covenant that I've set up between me and everything living on the Earth."

Few will find the road to Heaven? On the entire Earth only Noah, his wife and His sons wives were saved. This brings new and tangible meaning to: Few will find it.

Gen 6:17-21 God told Noah:
17 "I'm going to bring a flood on the Earth that will destroy everything alive under Heaven. Total destruction.
18 "But I'm going to establish a covenant with you: You'll board the ship, and your sons, your wife and your sons' wives will come on board with you. 19 You are also to take two of each living creature, a male and a female, on board the ship, to preserve their lives with you: 20 two of every species of bird, mammal, and reptile — two of everything so as to preserve their lives along with yours. 21 Also get all the food you'll need and store it up for you and them."

Gen 3:23-24
23 So GOD expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. 24 He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life.

God is not impressed with opinions!

Gen 3:13
"The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."

She gave her opinion too.

Gen 3:12
The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it."

Since opinions were so much more important to him, he gave his opinion to God.

Gen 3:6
6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it — she'd know everything! — she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.

I see an ongoing theme here… She valued someone’s opinion over God’s words.

Gen 3:4-5
4 The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. 5 God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."

The first opinion in the Bible.

Gen 2:16-17
16 GOD commanded the Man, "You can eat from any tree in the garden, 17 except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don't eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you're dead."

This was the first thing that Satan gave his opposing opinion on.

Gen 1:1
First this: God created the Heavens and Earth — all you see, all you don't see.

This is the very first verse in the Bible yet we have things like mother nature. If God could do this then He can do things now.

Being a Christian is NOT the same as taking a test because you may get the answers correct but how you live your life is what says that you really are a Christian. The Bible says that God made the Heavens and the Earth and it also says that the road to Heaven will be narrow and FEW will find it and God is OMNI so He knows but I don’t hear that being talked about by anyone.

Rev 2:23
every church will know that appearances don't impress me. I x-ray every motive and make sure you get what's coming to you.

1 John 4:4
the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world.

1 John 4:1
My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.

1 John 3:20
For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

1 John 2:15-17
Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. 16 Practically everything that goes on in the world — wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important — has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. 17 The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out — but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

1 John 2:15
15 Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.

1 John 2:6
6 Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.

1 Peter 5:5
God has had it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain people.

1 Peter 4:1
Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like him.

1 Peter 3:9
that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

1 Peter 3:3-4
3 What matters is not your outer appearance — the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes — 4 but your inner disposition.

1 Peter 3:3-4
3 What matters is not your outer appearance — the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes — 4 but your inner disposition.

1 Peter 2:11
11 Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it.

James 4:12
12 God is in charge of deciding human destiny.

James 3:13
It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts.

James 2:5
Isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world's down-and-out as the kingdom's first citizens, with full rights and privileges.

James 1:10
Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it.

James 1:2
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.

Heb 11:3
3 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see

Heb 11:1-2
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. 2 The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

It's our handle on what we can't see.

2 Tim 4:1
God is looking over your shoulder.

So don’t let anything cause you to change your ways! Pray!

2 Tim 3:12
12 Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there's no getting around it.

1 Tim 6:20-21
Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. 21 People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith.

1 Tim 6:6-8
6 A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. 7 Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, 8 if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.

1 Tim 6:5
They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.

1 Tim 1:7
Set themselves up as experts on religious issues

2 Thess 3:2
I'm finding that not all "believers" are believers.

2 Thess 1:12
12 If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you.

1 Thess 5:16-18
16 Be cheerful no matter what; 17 pray all the time; 18 thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

Col 3:11
11 Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing.

Col 2:11
11 Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It's not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you're already in — insiders — not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin.

Col 2:9-10
9 Everything of God gets expressed in Christ, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. 10 When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

You don’t need…

Col 2:5
5 I'm a long way off, true, and you may never lay eyes on me, but believe me, I'm on your side, right beside you.

Col 2:5
5 I'm a long way off, true, and you may never lay eyes on me, but believe me, I'm on your side, right beside you.

Phil 4:11-13
Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. 12 I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. 13 Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

Phil 4:6-7
6 Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 7 Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Phil 2:3
Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.

This is hard to do, especially in our culture.

Eph 6:17
God's Word is an indispensable weapon.

Eph 6:12
12 This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Eph 4:17
And so I insist — and God backs me up on this — that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd.

The way of the world…

Eph 4:1-6
I want you to get out there and walk — better yet, run! — on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. 2 And mark that you do this with humility and discipline — not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, 3 alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
4 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. 5 You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.

Running doesn’t allow for other priorites.

Eph 3:20
20 God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Eph 2:7-10
7 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. 8 Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! 9 We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! 10 No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.