SET CAPTIVES FREE

SET CAPTIVES FREE                                                                                                                                      
When I was younger The LORD gave me this scripture,
LUKE 4:18 THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME BECAUSE HE HATH ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR, HE HATH SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PREACH DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERING OF THE SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THEM THAT ARE BRUISED,                            
So I knew that The LORD gave me this Scripture for my Ministry. I immediately set out to find ways, of using this WORD.
I thought that It meant for me to go to the women in prisons. I applied to the local jail but was never accepted. I just could not believe that they wouldn't ever call or notify me. Every door was shut. I knew GOD had told me to preach HIS WORD. What was wrong? Did I misunderstand HIM? It has been years since I received HIS calling. I finally slowed down my haste, and my eagerness to do something for the GOSPEL. I thought I had missed my "CHANCE" and that I had messed it all up, and GOD would never be able to use me again. This statement shows the immaturity of my Spiritual walk with the LORD. 

First of all, there is no "CHANCE" with GOD. HE chose me and gave me HIS HOLY SPIRIT.

 ACTS 22:14 AND HE SAID, THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS HATH CHOSEN THEE, THAT THOU SHOULDEST KNOW HIS WILL AND SEE THAT JUST ONE, AND SHOULDEST HEAR THE VOICE OF HIS MOUTH.

JOHN 14:17 EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH; WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE BECAUSE IT SEETH HIM NOT, NEITHER KNOWETH HIM: BUT YE KNOW HIM; FOR HE DWELLETH WITH YOU, AND SHALL BE IN YOU.

JOHN16:13&14 HOWBEIT WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: FOR HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF, BUT WHATSOEVER HE SHALL HEAR, THAT SHALL HE SPEAK: AND HE WILL SHEW YOU THINGS TO COME. HE SHALL GLORIFY ME: FOR HE SHALL SHEW IT UNTO YOU.

I JOHN 2:20&21 BUT YOU HAVE AN UNCTION FROM THE HOLY ONE, AND YE KNOW ALL THING. I HAVE NOT WRITTEN UNTO YOU BECAUSE YE KNOW NOT THE TRUTH, BUT BECAUSE YE KNOW IT, AND NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH.

The Scripture is my calling, but I am not able to set captives free, JESUS IS. I am called to Preach The Gospel, to the poor and the brokenhearted, but it is not for me to set them free, but, to tell them all how JESUS WILL. JESUS came to set all captives free, not just the lost of this world, but to set the Christian free, that is in such bondage, trying in their "own" might to do the works of the Gospel.  Those people think they have to do this or you cannot do that. They want to be the best Christian ever, why not, don't you? They are not relying on HIM and HIS HOLY SPIRIT, to do the work. They are not realizing that they are HIS workmanship. He will do all the work, through them, all they have to do is yield all their members to HIM. Our eyes, our ears, our feet, our hands, to GOD. We have already yielded our, minds, bodies, and souls to HIM, at Salvation.

ROMANS 6:13 NEITHER YIELD YE YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO SIN: BUT YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD, AS THOSE THAT ARE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD, AND YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO GOD.

WHY I CALL MY MINISTRY, THE GOSPEL OF PEACE

I call my Ministry The Gospel Of Peace because I want everyone to know, The Peace that Jesus brought from GOD to man. There is no more enmity between GOD and man, because of Jesus Christ and His Perfect Sacrifice. We are no longer enemies of GOD. WE ARE HIS CHILDREN! JESUS MADE THIS POSSIBLE! HE RESTORED, RECONCILED, us back into the relationship Adam had with GOD, before his sin. We now have Peace and can call HIM our GOD!!! Our FATHER!!! 

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:13-14,16 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. [14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us ; [16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 5:16-19 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. [17] For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) [18] Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. [19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Jesus is The Free Gift, that made us Righteous!!!

Judgment came because of Adam's offense, but our Justification came by The Free Gift, Jesus Christ!!!

Adam sinned which made us sinners, Jesus is Righteous, and our Faith in Him makes us Righteous!!!

Adam made us condemned, Jesus set us free of condemnation. 

Jesus brought Peace to us from GOD!!!

Adam's sin, made us bound by sin, Jesus set us free!

Romans 6:18,20,22-23 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. [20] For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. [22] But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We have been made freed from sin, now we are servants of Righteousness!!!

 WE NOW HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!!! NOT THE WAGES OF SIN, WHICH IS DEATH!!! WE HAVE LIFE!!!

Romans 6:1&2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 

How can you sin if you are dead to sin? We no longer live in sin, because we are dead to sin!!!

Romans 6:3-7 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. [7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.

We were Baptized and buried into His death, so we can walk in the newness of LIFE!!!

OUR OLD MAN IS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM!!! Our "Adam" self is put to death!!!

We are freed from sin, not bound by it anymore!!!

Romans 6 8-11 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: [9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. [10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. [11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are dead with Christ, to sin, and Alive unto GOD, through Jesus Christ our LORD!!!

Likewise, reckon yourself dead to sin!!! Reckon yourself ALIVE UNTO GOD!!!

Romans 6 12:13&14 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. [13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. [14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law but under grace. 

Sin has no more reign over us, we are not under its authority!!!

We are to yield ourselves to GOD, as though we are Alive!!! Don't yield yourself or thoughts to sin anymore!!!

Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

WE WERE A TO SERVANTS TO SIN, BUT WE HAVE BELIEVED, "OBEYED" THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST,  AS THE PERFECT FREE GIFT!!!

Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 10:2-3,10,14,18-20,22-23 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. [3] But in those sacrifices, there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 

We are not to have any more conscience of sin!!! 

We are to NEVER think of sin again!!!

EPHESIANS 2:10 FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.

PHILIPPIANS I:6 BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING, THAT HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFORM IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS.

So you are not too young, nor are you too old, for GOD to do HIS work in you. You have not messed everything up, for HE will accomplish HIS good work, that HE ordained you to walk in, until THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST, our LORD. AMEN!!!
 NOW, WE CAN PRAISE THE LORD WITH A LIFTED HEART!!! HE still loves you!!! ps. HE ALWAYS WILL.                                                                                                                                      
GALATIANS 4:3-11, EVEN SO, WE, WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, WERE IN BONDAGE UNDER THE ELEMENTS OF THE WORLD: BUT WHEN FULNESS OF TIME WAS COME, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON MADE OF A WOMAN, MADE UNDER THE LAW, TO REDEEM THEM THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS, AND BECAUSE YE ARE SONS GOD HATH SENT FORTH THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO YOUR HEARTS, CRYING ABBA, FATHER. WHEREFORE THOU ART NO MORE A SERVANT, BUT A SON, AND IF A SON, THEN HEIR OF GOD THROUGH CHRIST. HOWBEIT THEN, WHEN YE KNEW NOT GOD, YE DID SERVICE UNTO THEM WHICH BY NATURE ARE NO GODS. BUT NOW YE HAVE KNOWN GOD, OR RATHER ARE KNOWN OF GOD, HOW TURN YE AGAIN TO THE WEAK AND BEGGARLY ELEMENTS, WHEREUNTO YE DESIRE AGAIN TO BE IN BONDAGE? YE OBSERVE DAYS, AND MONTHS, AND TIMES, AND YEARS. I AM AFRAID OF YOU, LEST I HAVE BESTOWED UPON YOU LABOR IN VAIN.

ROMANS 14:5&6 ONE MAN ESTEEMETH ONE DAY ABOVE ANOTHER: ANOTHER ESTEEMETH EVERY DAY ALIKE, LET EVERY MAN BE FULLY PERSUADED IN HIS OWN MIND, HE THAT REGARDETH THE DAY, REGAREDETH IT UNTO THE LORD, AND HE THAT REGARDETH  NOT THE DAY, TO THE LORD. HE THAT EATETH, EATETH TO THE LORD, FOR HE GIVETH GOD THANKS, AND HE THAT EATETH NOT, HE EATETH NOT, AND GIVETH GOD THANKS.

COLOSSIANS 2:16 LET NO MAN THEREFORE JUDGE YOU IN MEAT, OR IN DRINK, OR IN RESPECT OF AN HOLYDAY, OR OF THE NEW MOON, OR OF THE SABBATH DAYS.

JESUS CAME OF A WOMAN BECAUSE SHE WAS UNDER THE LAW, THEREFORE HE WAS UNDER THE LAW TO FULFILL IT, AND HE DID.

COLOSSIANS 2:14 BLOTTING OUT THE HANDWRITING OF ORDINANCES THAT WAS AGAINST THE US, WHICH WAS CONTRARY TO US, AND TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS.

MATTHEW 27:51a AND BEHOLD THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE WAS RENT IN TWAIN FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM, 

JESUS TORE DOWN THE VEIL THAT WAS DIVIDING US FROM GOD.

SO NOW WE HAVE THE PEACE WITH GOD THAT JESUS GAVE HIS BLOOD TO BUY, FOR US. HE SHED HIS BLOOD ON THE ALTAR, TO COVER THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PAST, NOW, AND FUTURE.
THIS IS MY MINISTRY TO SHARE JESUS, ONLY HE CAN SET CAPTIVES FREE, AND IF YOU ARE SAVED THEN, YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE CAPTIVES THAT, HE SET FREE!!!

LIVE IN THE FREEDOM, THEN YOU CAN BE SHARE THE GOSPEL OF FREEDOM!!!

Donna Purifoy

Originally Posted 
8/6/2019

Updated

10/16/2021

WHERE IS JESUS

Where Is Jesus?

Where do you think Jesus is?
Some say HE is walking beside you.
Some say HE is with us.
Some say HE is walking before you.
Some say HE will keep you under HIS wing.
Some say HE is guiding us with HIS eye?
Let's look and see just what the BIBLE says.

MARK 16:9 SO THEN AFTER THE LORD HAD SPOKEN UNTO THEM, HE WAS RECEIVED UP INTO THE HEAVEN, AND SAT ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.

Let's look again at what the BIBLE says

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ROMANS 8:9 & 11 BUT YE ARE NOT OF THE FLESH, BUT IN THE SPIRIT, IF SO THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELL IN YOU. NOW IF ANY MAN HAVE NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST,  HE IS NONE OF HIS. BUT IF THE SPIRIT OF HIM THAT RAISED UP JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELL IN YOU, HE THAT HATH RAISED UP CHRIST FROM THE DEAD SHALL ALSO QUICKEN YOUR MORTAL BODIES BY HIS SPIRIT THAT DWELL IN YOU.

JOHN 14:17 EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, BECAUSE IT SEETH HIM NOT, NEITHER KNOWETH HIM: BUT YE KNOW HIM: FOR HE DWELLETH WITH YOU, AND SHALL BE IN YOU. I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS: I WILL COME TO YOU. YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND THE WORLD SEETH ME NO MORE:  BUT YE SEE ME: BECAUSE I LIVE, YE SHALL LIVE ALSO. AND AT THAT DAY YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM IN MY FATHER, AND YE ARE IN ME, AND I IN YOU

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EPHESIANS 1:13 -14 IN WHOM YE ALSO TRUSTED, AFTER THAT YE HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION: IN WHOM ALSO AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, WHICH IS THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION, UNTO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY.

ROMANS 6:17, 18, 20 & 22 BUT GOD BE THANKED, THAT YE WERE THE SERVANTS OF SIN, BUT YE HAVE OBEYED FROM THE HEART THAT FORM OF DOCTRINE WHICH WAS DELIVERED YOU. BEING THEN MADE FREE FROM SIN, YE BECAME THE SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. FOR YE WERE THE SERVANTS OF SIN, YE WERE FREE FROM RIGHTEOUSNESS. BUT NOW BEING MADE FREE FROM SIN, AND BECAME SERVANTS OF GOD, YE HAVE YOUR FRUIT  UNTO HOLINESS, AND THE END EVERLASTING LIFE.
EPHESIANS 2: 10 FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.

JOHN 19:27-29 MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME. AND I GIVE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE. AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND. MY FATHER WHICH GAVE THEM ME, IS GREATER THAN ALL, AND NO MAN IS ABLE TO  PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER'S HAND. 

EPHESIANS 6:10-17 FINALLY, MY BRETHEREN, BE STRONG IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT. PUT ON THEREFORE THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD,  THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AND AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST  SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES. THEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL TO STAND. STAND THEREFORE, HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH, AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND YOUR FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. AND ABOVE ALL, TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREIN YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL OF THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED. AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.

So we found Jesus is sitting on the right hand of GOD.
HE sent us HIS SPIRIT.
We are now SPIRIT because The SPIRIT OF CHRIST dwells in us, we are sealed, until the day of Redemption. 

JOHN 16:13 HOWBEIT, WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH:  FOR HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF: BUT WHATSOEVER HE SHALL HEAR, THAT SHALL HE SPEAK: AND HE WILL SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME.
"The Armour" IS CHRIST JESUS. TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, FAITH, SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, THE WORD OF GOD.

JOHN 14:6 JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.

ROMANS 3: 22 EVEN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD WHICH IS BY FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST UNTO ALL AND UPON ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE: THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.

JOHN 14:27 PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU: NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH, GIVE I UNTO YOU, LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID.

II CORINTHIANS 13:5 EXAMINE YOURSELVES, WHETHER YE BE IN THE FAITH: PROVE YOUR SELVES. KNOW YE NOT YOUR OWN SELVES, HOW JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU, EXCEPT YE BE REPROBATES.

JOHN 1:14 AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US, (AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER,) FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.

TO SUM UP
WE ARE IN HIM AND HE IS IN US, AND WE ALL ARE IN HIS FATHER. AMEN

I'M SAD

                                               I'M SAD

I'm sad today because,
The church is no longer seeking and speaking the TRUTH of GOD'S WORD
The church is so immersed in arguing over what "denomination" they should be. They even fight over the Immersion or dipping. I ask does the "denomination" make you HOLY? Does dipping or immersion make you more SAVED?  One church says you have to be reBaptized every time you sin. They struggle just to BE Saved, so they are in no Spiritual position at all help to others! They have absolutely NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHO JESUS THE CHRIST IS or what HIS SACRIFICE MEANS!!! Some say the churches of today, Christ has one Church, one Bride,

EPHESIANS 4:4-6 THERE IS ONE BODY, AND ONE SPIRIT, EVEN AS YE ARE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING; ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS ABOVE ALL, AND THROUGH ALL, AND IN YOU ALL.

Some say you have to be baptized in The NAME OF JESUS ONLY to be correctly baptized. With such infighting, anger amongst the church of today, they cannot see that they don't have The "LOVE" it takes to have compassion for this lost world. But they are thinking that their building will fill up with people because there is a "label" in front of their "pretty" building. Never once have they stopped to seek GOD, and ask HIM why their building is empty in the first place. The building is to assemble ourselves, even more as we see the day approaching, but you are to gain strength from fellow believers and strengthen them. To learn from. To tell them to be strong in the LORD and the POWER OF HIS MIGHT, when they are persecuted. Coming inside a building is not going to church, WE ARE THE CHURCH. Some believe that Scripture means we are to assemble ourselves more, but it means to exhort {strongly encourage} each other more and more as we see the day approaching.

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HEBREWS 10:25 NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER, AS THE MANNER OF SOME IS, BUT EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER: AND SO MUCH MORE AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING.

MATTHEW 18: 20 FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM.

The church is wondering, what their church should offer. What kind of music will fill our chairs? The old songs are outdated the new ones repeat too much and are too long. The old Sacred Hymns, or the New music of Praise and Worship? Yes, the fight is on! What about the Preacher, what should he look like? Should he be old, so he will look like he has more Knowledge of The WORD, Or maybe he should be young, hip, and cool? He must have charisma, the more he says "PRAISE GOD" the better. The church is wondering should we have one service, or should we have three a week? Not too many because the church has too much other stuff to do.  The church is wondering how many windows will make the difference in the empty chairs? Should we have a light show, when the preacher comes out, for his twenty minutes? Should the church have a red carpet or a purple? Should they have carpet? What time should their service be, too early no-one will come, too late you will interfere, with the lunch in the oven, the football game, or my medicine I take. What kind of chairs should we have, the ole Holy pews, or new cool chairs? How do we get our buildings full? Should there be a coffee shop in the vestibule? Hey! Should there be a vestibule? We can offer a food pantry, but how much money should we pay for the groceries? How many families will we give the food to, how many will be enough, to see if they will come for church service? How many times should you give food to a family? What if you are giving to those drug addicts with their tattoos, smelling of cigarettes, or just lazy people? DEFINITELY NOT MORE THAN ONCE! Anyway, we need to think just who will get the groceries and give them out in the first place? That will require a commitment from you, every time you have to be there. Well, put that on the back burner for a while, but we will definitely try to get a committee together for that. Clothes Closet??? {oops too much!?}
Some of the church says they should go after the older people, they have more money, others say forget the old people, for they have lost their worth. The older people like small churches, so they can be in charge. Some say the church should offer Vacation Bible school, but there is no one to teach them. We should try to appeal to the young though, we can have a pizza party, or how about a skating party, anything to get the kid interested in coming, then you will have more of a chance to get the parent too. Maybe the church should try to get the young adult, we will offer children's church, we can offer sitters so the parent won't have to deal with a bored squirming child. It's amazing how the old folks had two, three, or more kids and weren't bothered by them...js 
The church should be entertaining, have singing groups come to sing. Have television Preachers come when our Preacher is somewhere else, maybe on television, no matter they haven't seen him for months.
Oh!  Talk about mean, may I mention the business meetings, that are nothing short of an out-in-out brawl, just mention a sick or out of work-family that is in need, people that could use and would truly be thankful for just a "FEW" dollars, of the thousands of dollars, that are hoarded for when the church is severely persecuted, by the air conditioner going out. Meanwhile the needy are going without food, housing, medicine, or just personal needs. Maybe you can give them the air conditioner box to live in, when or if you ever get it.
Now can you see why there are empty chairs in the buildings? They are not making disciples, they are doing their duty of being there.
Hum, seems like to me, the church is making the building more important than it is supposed to be.

MATTHEW 28:19 GO YE THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.

MARK 16:15 GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE!!!

JOHN 13:34&35 A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU, THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YE ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.

LUKE 18:8 I TELL YOU THAT HE WILL AVENGE THEM SPEEDILY, NEVERTHELESS  
WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH, SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?

SINCE WE ARE THE CHURCH, WE ARE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, I HAVE TO ASK, WHERE IS THE FAITH? 

WHERE IS THE LOVE, THAT JESUS was talking about, the LOVE that OTHERS WILL KNOW US BY? 

IF I'M SAD, JUST WHAT DOES JESUS THINK?

LACK WISDOM?

                                           L ACK WISDOM

JAMES 1:5 IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM, LET HIM ASK OF GOD, THAT GIVETH TO ALL MEN LIBERALLY, AND UPBRAIDETH NOT; AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN HIM.

JAMES 1:6 BUT LET HIM ASK IN FAITH, NOTHING WAVERING. FOR HE THAT WAVERTH IS LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA DRIVEN WITH THE WIND AND TOSSED

LUKE 8:10 AND HE SAID, UNTO YOU IT IS GIVEN TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD: BUT TO OTHERS IN PARABLES; SEEING THEY MIGHT NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND.

LUKE 8:5-8 A SOWER WENT TO OUT TO SOW HIS SEED: AND AS HE SOWED SOME FELL BY THE WAYSIDE, AND IT WAS TRODDEN DOWN, AND THE FOWLS OF THE AIR DEVOURED IT. AND SOME FELL UPON THE ROCK; AND AS SOON AS IT WAS SPRUNG UP, IT WITHERED AWAY, BECAUSE IT LACKED MOISTURE. AND SOME FELL AMONG THE THORNS; AND SPRANG UP WITH IT, AND CHOKED IT AND OTHER FELL ON GOOD GROUND, AND SPRANG UP, AND BARE FRUIT AN HUNDREDFOLD.

 AND WHEN HE SAID THESE THINGS, HE CRIED,
HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR.

LUKE 8:11 NOW THE PARABLE IS THIS: THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD.

LUKE 8:12-15 THOSE BY THE WAY SIDE ARE THEY THAT HEAR; THE COMETH THE DEVIL, AND AND TAKETH AWAY THE WORD OUT OF THEIR HEARTS, LEST THEY SHOULD BELIEVE AND BE SAVED. THEY ON THE ROCK ARE THEY, WHICH, WHEN THEY HEAR, RECEIVE THE WORD WITH JOY; AND THESE HAVE NO ROOT, WHICH FOR A WHILE BELIEVE, AND IN TIME TEMPTATION FALL AWAY. AND THAT WHICH FELL AMONG THE THORNS ARE THEY, WHICH, WHEN THEY HEARD, GO FORTH, AND ARE CHOKED WITH CARES AND RICHES AND PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE, AND BRING FORTH NO FRUIT TO PERFECTION. BUT THAT ON THE GOOD GROUND ARE THEY, WHICH IN AN HONEST AND GOOD HEART, HAVING HEARD THE WORD, KEEP IT, AND BRING FORTH FRUIT WITH PATIENCE.

MATTHEW 13:4-8

 AND HE SPAKE MANY THINGS UNTO THEM IN PARABLES, SAYING, BEHOLD, A SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOW; AND WHEN HE SOWED, SOME SEEDS FELL BY THE WAYSIDE, AND THE FOWLS CAME AND DEVOURED THEM UP: SOME FELL UPON STONY PLACES, THERE THEY SPRUNG UP, BECAUSE THEY HAD NO DEEPNESS OF EARTH: AND WHEN THE SUN WAS UP, THEY WERE SCORCHED; AND BECAUSE THEY HAD NO ROOT, THEY WITHERED AWAY. AND SOME FELL AMONG THE THORNS; AND THE THORNS SPRUNG UP AND CHOKED THEM: BUT OTHER FELL ONTO GOOD GROUND, AND BROUGHT FORTH FRUIT, SOME AN HUNDREDFOLD, SOME SIXTYFOLD, SOME THIRTYFOLD.

MATTHEW 13:9 WHO HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR.

MATTHEW 13:11 HE ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM,
BECAUSE IT IS GIVEN UNTO YOU TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT UNTO THEM IT IS NOT GIVEN.

MATTHEW 13:16 BUT BLESSED ARE YOUR EYES, FOR THEY SEE: AND YOUR  EARS, FOR THEY, HEAR.

MATTHEW 18 HEAR YE THEREFORE THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

MATTHEW 13:19-23 WHEN ANY ONE HEARETH THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM, AND UNDERSTANDETH IT NOT, THEN COMETH THE WICKED ONE, AND CATCHETH AWAY THAT WHICH WAS SOWN IN HIS HEART. THIS IS HE WHICH RECEIVED SEED BY THE WAYSIDE. BUT HE THAT RECEIVED THE SEED INTO STONY PLACES, THE SAME IS HE THAT HEARETH THE WORD, AND ANON WITH JOY RECEIVETH IT; YET HATH NOT ROOT IN HIMSELF, BUT DURETH FOR A WHILE: FOR WHEN TRIBULATION OR PERSECUTION ARISETH BECAUSE OF THE WORD, AND BY HE IS OFFENDED. HE ALSO THAT RECEIVED SEED AMONG THORNS IS HE THAT HEARETH THE WORD, AND THE CARE OF THIS WORLD AND THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES CHOKE THE WORD, AND HE BECOMETH UNFRUITFUL. BUT HE THAT RECEIVED THE WORD INTO THE GOOD GROUND IS HE THAT HEARETH THE WORD, AND UNDERSTANDETH IT; WHICH ALSO BEARETH FRUIT, AND BRINGETH FORTH, SOME AN HUNDREDFOLD, SOME SIXTY, SOME THIRTY.

THE POWER AND AUTHORITY

THE POWER AND AUTHORITY

ACTS 15:24
FORASMUCH AS WE HAVE HEARD, THAT CERTAIN WHICH WENT OUT FROM US HAVE TROUBLED YOU WITH WORDS, SUBVERTING YOUR SOULS, SAYING, YE MUST BE CIRCUMCISED, AND KEEP THE LAW: TO WHOM WE GAVE NO SUCH COMMANDMENT:
SUBVERT: TO UNDERMIND THE POWER AND AUTHORITY
TO OVERTHROW
TO OVERTURN

GALATIANS 3: 24 - 27
FOR THE LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US UNTO CHRIST, THAT WE MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH.
BUT AFTER THAT FAITH IS COME, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER A SCHOOLMASTER.
 FOR YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS,
FOR AS MANY HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST.

GALATIANS 4: 1 - 7
NOW I SAY, THAT THE HEIR, AS LONG AS HE IS A CHILD, DIFFERETH NOTHING FROM A SERVANT, THOUGH HE BE LORD OF ALL,
BUT UNDER TUTORS AND GOVERNORS UNTIL THE TIME APPOINTED OF THE FATHER,
EVEN SO, WE, WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, WERE IN BONDAGE UNDER THE ELEMENTS OF THE WORLD:
BUT WHEN THE FULNESS OF THE TIME WAS COME, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON, MADE OF A  WOMAN, MADE UNDER THE LAW,
TO REDEEM THEM THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS,
AND BECAUSE YE ARE SONS, GOD SENT FORTH THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO YOUR HEARTS, CRYING ABBA FATHER.
WHEREFORE THOU ART NO MORE A SERVANT, BUT A SON; AND IF A SON, THEN AN HEIR OF GOD.

GALATIANS 5: 1
STAND FAST THEREFORE IN THE LIBERTY WHEREWITH CHRIST HATH MADE US FREE, AND BE NOT ENTANGLED AGAIN WITH THE YOKE OF BONDAGE.

GALATIANS 5: 4

CHRIST IS BECOME OF NO EFFECT UNTO YOU, WHOSOEVER OF YOU ARE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW, YE ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE.

GALATIANS 5:24 & 25
 AND THEY THAT ARE CHRIST'S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS AND LUSTS.
IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT LET US ALSO WALK  IN THE SPIRIT.

GALATIANS 6: 13a
FOR NEITHER THEY THEMSELVES WHO ARE CIRCUMCISED KEEP THE LAW; 

EPHESIANS 1: 13
IN WHOM YE ALSO TRUSTED, AFTER THAT YE HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION: IN WHOM ALSO AFTER YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.

EPHESIANS 2: 13 - 18
BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS YE WHO  SOMETIMES  WERE FAR OFF ARE NOW MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
FOR HE IS OUR PEACE, WHO HATH MADE BOTH ONE, AND HATH BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL OF PARTITION BETWEEN US;
HAVING ABOLISHED IN HIS FLESH THE ENMITY, EVEN THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS CONTAINED IN ORDINANCES; FOR TO MAKE IN HIMSELF OF TWAIN ONE NEW MAN SO MAKING PEACE.
AND THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD IN ONE BODY BY THE CROSS, HAVING SLAIN THE ENMITY THEREBY:
AND CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHICH WERE FAR OFF, AND TO THEM THAT WERE NIGH.
FOR THROUGH HIM WE BOTH HAVE ACCESS BY ONE SPIRIT UNTO THE FATHER.

EPHESIANS 6: 10- 17
FINALLY, MY BRETHREN, BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL.

EPHESIAN 6: 19
[PRAY] AND FOR ME, THAT UTTERANCE MAY BE GIVEN UNTO ME, THAT I MAY OPEN MY MOUTH BOLDLY, TO MAKE KNOWN THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL.

PHILIPPIANS 3:9
AND BE FOUND IN HIM, NOT MY OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH IS OF THE LAW, BUT THAT WHICH IS THROUGH THE FAITH OF CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF GOD BY FAITH.
JESUS ASKED WOULD HE FIND FAITH WHEN HE RETURNS.

LUKE 18: 8
I TELL YOU THAT HE WILL AVENGE THEM  SPEEDILY. NEVERTHELESS WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH, SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?

COLOSSIANS 2: 10
AND YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, WHICH IS THE HEAD OF ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER.

COLOSSIANS 3: 3
FOR YE ARE DEAD, AND YOUR LIFE IS HID IN CHRIST IN GOD.

ROMANS 8: 3 & 4
FOR WHAT THE LAW COULD NOT DO, IN THAT IT WAS WEAK THROUGH THE FLESH, GOD SENDING HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, AND FOR SIN, CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH.
THAT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT

ROMANS 8: 6
FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH, BUT TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE.

ROMANS 8 : 9 & 10
BUT YE ARE NOT IN THE FLESH,  BUT IN THE SPIRIT, IF SO BE THE THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELL IN YOU. NOW IF ANY MAN HAVE NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NONE OF HIS.
AND IF CHRIST BE IN YOU, THE BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN, BUT THE SPIRIT IS LIFE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

ROMANS 8: 

FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD.
1 CORINTHIANS 6: 11
AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU: BUT YE ARE WASHED, BUT YE ARE SANCTIFIED, BUT YE ARE JUSTIFIED, IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, AND BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD.

1 CORINTHIANS 15: 17
AND IF CHRIST BE NOT RAISED, YOUR FAITH IS VAIN, YE ARE ARE YET IN YOUR SINS.

ROMANS 6 : 17 & 18
BUT GOD BE THANKED, THAT YE WERE THE SERVANTS OF SIN, BUT YE HAVE OBEYED FROM THE HEART THAT FORM OF DOCTRINE FROM THE HEART WHICH WAS DELIVERED YOU.
BEING THEN MADE FREE FROM SIN, YE BECAME THE SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

ROMANS 7: 4a
WHEREFORE MY BRETHREN YE ALSO BECOME DEAD TO THE LAW BY THE BODY OF CHRIST.

ROMANS 7: 6
BUT NOW WE ARE DELIVERED FROM THE LAW THAT BEING DEAD WHEREIN WE WERE HELD; THAT WE SHOULD SERVE IN NEWNESS OF SPIRIT, AND NOT OLDNESS OF LETTER.

1 CORINTHIANS 15: 34
AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND SIN NOT FOR SOME HAVE NOT THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD: I SPEAK THIS TO YOUR SHAME.

EXCUSES

EXCUSES

Have you ever just started your day and you felt the need to buy something? It does not matter what, just something. It's funny because you wake up feeling good, better than you have in a long time. You start thinking about what do I need?  You don't need anything, so you start on, what do I want? I haven't bought anything in so long, I deserve something. Everyone around me has bought what they wanted, why not me?  True enough I have everything thing I need. I have a car, home, clothes, and food. This feeling is just overwhelming though. So you get up, get ready, and your off. To where, you have no idea, but you head to the store because after all, that's where all the stuff is. So you look at the things you like and can afford, but that is not quite what you are wanting. Moving on to other places, things that are still within your financial comfort, but stretching it somewhat. Moving on. Still haven't seen anything, so you go elsewhere, finally, you find something or things you really want, oh no it is not in your reach, you can't pay for it, out comes the credit card. Guilt starts showing its head just a little but you ignore it because you want this. It won't hurt to get this, you think, I'll just pay it off when the bill comes in. Oh, look! YAY! There is something that goes with this! Well, I'll get this too. I can't buy one without the other. I cannot wait to buy it. You get to your car, can't wait to look at it. You hold it examining it, then the how am I going tell my husband I charged this. OH I know, I will just tell him of the great bargain I got, after all, it was on sale. True I didn't need this, true I had to charge this. I deserve this. I hardly ever get something this nice. It's not my fault we don't make enough money, I work too, I should be able to buy whatever I want. I don't need to justify this to anyone. So on you go with new energy, with a new resolve. You start looking for other things to buy. You were supposed to be saving for maybe a car, home, or for the kids, but then you get angry, you start blaming everything and everyone for your purchase. You think, What does it matter anyway?  We owe so much on that credit card, we will be paying on it forever, am I supposed to never get anything ever again. Then you start thinking, If my husband would have taken that better job, he was offered, I wouldn't need to charge anything. He gets what he wants. He bought some tools for his job. They were expensive. I haven't spent what he did. Then comes the thinking, I should just hide it for a while. I pay the bills he will never know.

When you woke up this morning you did not Praise The LORD. So the good feeling you had at the beginning of your day has turned into your feeling of inadequacy and of unhappiness. The LORD has Blessed you in every way, you have forgotten that. You started looking at the things you don't have instead of the things you do. You blame your shortcomings, your faults on others. You don't even realize that you were being tested this morning and you failed. The spirit of the lust of the eye has caught you in its power. It had you were looking at the things of this world. We are to exercise the SPIRITUAL eyes of The LORD.  Just like everything we are to know that it should Spiritually be discerned. We are now a Spiritual being. We are no longer of the flesh. Get your heart and mind on the SPIRITUAL instead of your eyes on the world. Remember you are a Child of GOD, you are not a child of this world anymore. Don't wake to a feeling of the need to buy. 

Awake to RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!

Donna
1/3/2018