Thursday, August 28, 2014

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Spiritually Minded

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Spiritually Minded: Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. NKJV John 13:8-9 Peter said to Him, &...

Spiritually Minded

Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
NKJV
John 13:8-9
Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" NKJV
2 Corinthians 5:5
"Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee."
NKJV

Revelation 3:17New King James Version (NKJV)

17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

Romans 8:6New King James Version (NKJV)

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Note: here I am showing you the NIV as well so you can understand more fully what is meant in this verse.

Romans 8:6 New International Version (NIV)

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Galatians 6:1New King James Version (NKJV)

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Note: here again I am showing you the comparison.

 Galatians 6:1 New International Version (NIV)

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Matthew 12:18New International Version (NIV)

18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

Ezekiel 36:27New King James Version (NKJV)

27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Luke 9:55-56New King James Version (NKJV)

55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them. And they went to another village.

John 4:24New King James Version (NKJV)

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 14:16-17New King James Version (NKJV)

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Romans 8:9-16New King James Version (NKJV)

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Note: I am including the NIV as well as it shows what is meant by the Sonship. Of which we are when we accept Jesus as our savior.

Romans 8:9-16New International Version (NIV)

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[b] his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Note: Romans 8:15 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture
My Comments: When Christ calls us out of the world, out of the way we are living to a new life, He is calling us to be more than we ever imagined. Not only does He remove our sin by taking it on Himself, He is making it so God the Father our Living God can and will adopt us as His Children and will fill us with His Spirit. If we realize this we can go spiritually with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Many want to think they are spiritually minded. One comment I hear often is, “I’m a spiritual person.” Many are filled with evil deceiving spirits that will lead them down the path to perdition and death. They fool themselves into believing because they do certain things or do not do certain things that they are good people and are “spiritual” yet nothing could be further from the truth.
Christ came to give life everlasting and more abundantly to those who would accept Him as their savior and follow His Commands. Love God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself because on these two hang all the Law and the Prophets. These are His Commands and they are an easy yolk for those who truly accept Him as King. Then when one is His Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to fill them and that is being spiritually minded because one is filled mind, body and soul with the Holy Spirit the teacher.
He teaches us how to live by faith and in the truth. He fills us with the wisdom from above and gives us knowledge of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He guides us in all righteousness and opens our heart to the love of God so we can give that love freely to others. Being spiritually minded is being one with God. One can only be one with God the Father by accepting His Son Jesus and then being filled with the Holy Spirit. Other “religions” have a false spirituality that leads them away from the one true God. It is all about a relationship with God and we have one when we are truly His through His Son.
When we come to Jesus, confess our sin and accept His free gift of the sacrifice on the Cross to save us then our lives change. They change because of His Spirit living in us. Yet there are times when we stumble and even fall and some start to walk away from Him. When a Brother or Sister is starting down the wrong road we gently and with much love, not judgment, bring them back to the truth and to what they had when they accepted the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice and love. The Spirit will guide you. But it is not for us to lead others to Christ other than we give them the Gospel and it us up to them if they want the righteousness of Christ Jesus and the Spirit of God within them. God only asks us to share the Gospel of Jesus. Then the person decides on whether they accept the gift or reject it. The Spirit within us will guide us and we will share and love. We can do not more than our Lord who never forces anyone to accept His gift.
Abba Father, open eyes, bend necks, and pierce hearts so the scales with fall away and truth with be heard in stopped ears. May hearts call out to You and may many accept Your Sons sacrifice and be Born Again so they may be Yours and filled with the Holy Spirit of life., and truly know a life that is spiritually minded because it is Yours.
In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.

Rebishka

Monday, August 25, 2014

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Holy Spirit Study 6

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Holy Spirit Study 6: This study in the Holy Spirit will encompass four verses. Ponder them well and please study the verses before and after to grasp the full ...

Sunday, August 24, 2014

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Holy Spirit study 5

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Holy Spirit study 5: John 20:22, American Standard Version (ASV) 22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy ...

Saturday, August 23, 2014

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Jesus is the Cornerstone and foundation.

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Jesus is the Cornerstone and foundation.:   1 Peter 1:19-23  New King James Version (NKJV) 19  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and withou...

Jesus is the Cornerstone and foundation.


 1 Peter 1:19-23 New King James Version (NKJV)

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit[a] in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

1 Peter 2:4-8 (NKJV)

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
[a]
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

1 Peter 1:3-9 (NKJV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Colossians 1:13-23 (NKJV)

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Ephesians 2:20 (NKJV)

20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

Ezekiel 36:23 (NKJV)

23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.

John 17:17-19 (NKJV)

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
My Comments: When one looks at a building being made from the foundation up we know that there is a corner or cornerstone that the rest goes from. If we did not make a building correctly it would eventually fall or even collapse in on itself or others. Especially if a building is made from stone there is the main stone called the Cornerstone and when God the Father sent His Son to earth to die for us and take on our sin Abba sent Jesus to be the Cornerstone that we the body are built on.
Those who do not build on the true Jesus, God the Son, are not building on the Chief Cornerstone that helps us to stay strong and persevere in life. Many religions profess things like Jesus is an angel or a good man or the brother of Lucifer and many claim He is not God. They are in error and the truth is not in them. Many will come in His name and He will say, “I knew you not.”
He is God the Son, fully man and fully God. If He was a “good man,” then when He said He was “I Am” which is proclaiming Himself to be God, then He would have been a liar and “good men” do not lie. A deceiver is not a “good man.”  If he was a prophet then He still was not telling the truth by calling Himself, “I Am.” That is why reading the Scripture daily is so important in order to know when untruth is being taught and to flee it. I am well aware of how untruth can be listened to as I was for many years in a cult and by the grace of Jesus I was saved and left the cult with my husband and children.
In the Old Testament we see many places where the foretelling of Jesus is shared. The Prophets of old told how He would come, live and die and the New Testament is the fulfilling of the prophecies. Jesus is the fulfillment of them. He came to save us and redeem us by His precious blood and sacrifice as only God could atone for the sins of the whole world past, present and future. The blood of animals could never do what He did for us. Our own blood could never do it for ourselves or even another person let alone the world past, present and future. Jesus is the Cornerstone on which the Church is built not an Apostle like some who have people believe. He is the only way to God the Father and until we accept confess our sin, accept Jesus and follow Him we will not know truth or redemption or be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Abba Father I pray through Your Son Jesus the Christ who You sent to redeem us, for the people who read Your words and turn to You. May they be broken and open to Your leading. May they know You alone love them and call to them with open arms and that when they come to You through Your Son Jesus they will be Your Children and they will be as pure as clean falling snow.
Fill us Lord Jesus with Your very presence. Thank Your for Your Sacrifice and for loving us so much You willingly allowed Yourself to be beaten, mocked, nailed to a Cross. Thank You for Your Resurrection so we may one day be with You and for now may know all You taught was true. Send Your Holy Spirit to fill us with understanding, wisdom, knowledge and truth.
Give us peace and guidance Holy Spirit and fill our souls with the Joy of Heaven even when we go through trials and the cares of this world knock us down. Lift us up and may we be true to the calling of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
Rebishka

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Resurrection Truth

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Resurrection Truth: 1 Corinthians 15:3/4 (NASB) 3  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins accord...

Friday, August 15, 2014

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Called Out Ones

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Called Out Ones: 1 Peter 2:5 "you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices a...

Called Out Ones

1 Peter 2:5
"you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
NKJV

Matthew 20:16 (NKJV)

16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:30 (NKJV)

30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

1 John 3:1 (NKJV)

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Philippians 1:29 (NKJV)

29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

John 1:12 (NKJV)

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
My Comments: There are many verses that show us the Body as one and those who accept Jesus as Savior and King become Children of the one true God and thereby follow Jesus and go through Him to the Father as He is the Way the Truth and the Life. Any wishing to go to the Father must go through Jesus as God has set it up that way.
I know the Lord is merciful and those who do not know Him yet desire to know the true God will be brought to the knowledge of Jesus eventually.
When I was young and raised in a very traditional Church I desired God and all my life I wanted to be close to Him. God honored that desire of my heart and eventually brought me to Him through His Son Jesus just before 911. What joy to know Him more fully than I ever imagined or thought possible because once I accepted the gift He had outstretched to me, I was filled with the Holy Spirit and have been filled with a desire to be closer and know Him more fully everyday.
Only God can plant that desire in ones heart and He will only do it for those who truly desire to know Him even when they are in a part of the world that denies His existence or tries to kill people to stop the knowledge of Him. Still He makes Himself known.
There was a tribe in a remote place that were discovered who when told of the One True God and Jesus said, “That is His name” they had been worshipping Him but did not know the name of Him was Jesus. God does not need permission for people to learn about Him and He will thwart all governments that try to stop His knowledge from being shared. The body of Christ is the Church and the Church are the people who follow and believe on Jesus as Savior. The body are the called out ones who God calls out of falsehood to truth and to follow Jesus the Christ. The Father set Him above all to rule and if we are truly His we will rule with Him. If we are the called out ones who follow The Way of the Lord, then our lives, actions, words will reflect Jesus. If we are not doing so then we need to check ourselves and see if we are truly saved or are leaving the One True God for untruth.
It is not about what we want to believe is true or we would be god. It is not about what others tell us we should do or believe or they would be god. It is not about what a government decrees we should believe or they chose to be god. All with a little “g.” Because only God can be God and He tells us what to believe in His Word that always proves true as He is true. In faith we believe. In faith we trust Him and show Him in all we say and do and in our works. Search the Scripture, call on the Holy Spirit and trust God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost to bring you through whatever is happening in your life to the one truth. Jesus came to save ALL, He died and rose again on the third day so ALL may have life everlasting.
Abba Father, thank you for Your persistence with us and for being so gracious, for Your loving kindness and mercy, for giving us Your Word to guide us to You and for the Sacrifice of Your only begotten Son, Jesus. May we always show His face to the world, have His Heart for a broken and lost world and people, His eyes to see others needs before our own with His Love, and His ears to hear what they ask so we can give them Your Word that they may come to know You through Your Son and be Born Again through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray with the Holy Spirit. Amen

Rebishka

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Do Not Be Led Astray

JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Do Not Be Led Astray: Exodus 3:14 -15   The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by   Thomas Nelson, Inc. (NKJV)  (NKJV) 14  And God said to ...

Do Not Be Led Astray

Exodus 3:14-15  The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. (NKJV)

 (NKJV)

14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’
Matthew 6:9 (NKJV)
 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Acts 4:10-12 (NKJV)

10                 Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’[Psalm 118:22] 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Isaiah 63:16 (NKJV)

16 Doubtless You are our Father, though Abraham was ignorant of us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O Lord, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.

Revelation 14:1 (NKJV)

14 Then I looked, and behold, a[a] Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having[b] His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

Matthew 18:12 (NKJV)

12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?

1 Peter 2:25 (NKJV)

25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer[a] of your souls.

John 1:1-5 (NKJV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend[a] it.

John 1:9-14 (NKJV)

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.[a]
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own,[b] and His own[c] did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 8:58 (NKJV)

58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

John 10:30 (NKJV)

30 I and My Father are one.”

Matthew 24:5 (NKJV)

For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
My Comments: This week in our body of the Church we are putting  on our very first Vacation Bible School or VBS and it is a Spy Academy one showing that the Lord God is one and is three persons in One God. Before, in this blog, I have done a partial study of some of the names of God that He calls Himself and that He was called in the Bible. This study is rather a study in part, showing that He is one, who He calls Himself and to not be led astray by those who call themselves god.
There are many religions that claim to have a god. They have many names for the god or gods they have yet God the Father says He is the One True God. When we study the Bible or His Word we see throughout the Bible where He shows Himself to be three persons in the One True God., God the Father, God the Son or Jesus the Christ, and God the Holy Spirit.
I have always believed these truths yet did not fully understand the persons of God the Son or God the Holy Spirit. From my earliest recollections I remember talking to and knowing God the Father was real and close by. It was a comforting thought and feeling through the pain and trials of my early years and first marriage which would have been a too heavy burden had I not known Him. Do not get me wrong. I knew who Jesus was and I even knew who the Holy Spirit was or let me say I knew what they were, a part of the Three in One or a part of God. At least that is the way I understood the concept. And concept is what it was in my mind. Because of that I was led astray.
I joined a Catholic Cult (it was out of the mainstream of that religion) that believed in automatic writing and we believed that Jesus, Mary and Angels wrote through a women’s pen. We believed in praying to and through Mary, Angels and people who had died like saints and loved ones. We believed in infant Baptism and praying in front of statues and icons similar to the way I was raised in the Russian Greek Orthodox Church . We read the Douay Rheims version of the Bible which has 8 books added that should not be added. So with all of that I was going further astray from the true Word of God.
It was through the love of God that I learned the truth of the Word of God and while still in the Cult, Soldiers of the Eucharist, I heard about being Born Again (John 3:3), as Christ told Nicodemus in John 3:5 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God and That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” I accepted Jesus then and there as my Savior and Redeemer and accepted the Sacrifice of His Blood on the Cross to redeem me from my sin and right then and there became a Child of God. Having done this I was filled with the Holy Spirit who is the third person of God and my life has been changed forevermore.
I pray it may be so for all who study His Word and read this blog.
Abba Father, give understanding to all who read Your Word and desire knowledge even if they are reading a version of the word that is not true. Take away the untruths and replace them with Your Truth. Open their hearts to Your and Your Word. Lead them to the Lord Jesus and when they accept His Sacrifice fill them with Your Holy Spirit so they will come to know, glorify and understand who You are knowing we will never totally understand all there is to know about You. In Jesus precious and Holy name in union with the Holy Spirit I pray. Amen

Rebishka