To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Acts 26:18
God sent His Son to save us. Those who have believed the Gospel and called upon the Lord for salvation have a common purpose as directed by the Word of God. We are here to shine with the Light of Christ before a blind, lost, and sin bound world. We remain for a time that the Gospel may go forth and be perpetuated through our lives in what we say and do. Beloved, our agenda does not intersect with the plans of this world.
If a body is alive and functioning correctly, it will demonstrate certain qualities that can express the state of that bodies health. If a Christian is walking in the Spirit, there will be good fruit and an expression of Christ in their life.
The Apostle Paul was a mature, healthy, and fruitful Christian. His explanation to Agrippa of his purpose and direction in life demonstrates a fulfilled life in the calling of Christ. This purpose did not come naturally to Paul. You cannot learn this or develop it as some type of skill. Paul had an encounter with God that supernaturally changed his life forever. God filled him with the Holy Spirit and gave Him guidance by other mature believers to help him arrive at that place where he could stand before all people and clearly proclaim his state and have a life to back up what he said.
Encounters with God:
Change us ( We receive the Gospel and get saved)
We no longer seek the things of this world, the resources, or the methods this world uses to achieve worldly goals.
Equip us (We receive the Holy Spirit and grow)
We seek God, the things of God, the character of God, and the resources to achieve Godly goals.
Any work of God comes directly from seeking God.
Luke 10
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
This may sound selfish and self serving, but get alone with God as long as you can and as much as you can. If it is worship, then worship; praying, pray; but above all, stay in His Word. Beloved, if you see something drying in your Christian walk you need to ask if I am seeking the presence of God the way I ought to be or is my focus on what I perceive to be successful?
The perception of victory:
When Jesus was judged, beaten, and hung on the cross; His followers and His enemies believed it was over. What ever we had going, what ever momentum we had has ended. Only with the eyes of the Spirit could you have seen the victory claimed by what Jesus did on that cross. After 3 years of walking with Jesus and seeing Him again many times after His resurrection, the disciples were still not on board with the program.
Jesus had one last time with them ( John 21 ) before they finally put the nets to rest. After which, there is no record of them turning back to any practice they knew before their time with Jesus. However, they still did not have the mind of God until they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
An incorrect premise and a correction. His followers still had a worldly mindset. They were looking for an earthly kingdom to be established. What Jesus said in that eighth verse of Acts 1 is satisfied in Paul’s Spirit led life as he expresses in Acts 26:18. The world shows the way to a throne, the Spirit will show you the way to the cross. The world cannot understand the victory achieved at Calvary. The world would have said do not associate yourself with Jesus, but a Spirit filled Peter stood up in Acts 2 and said I am a follower of Him in front of thousands. The result was that those thousands were saved and added to the Church.
After being filled with the Holy Spirit in that upper room, the Apostles had clear direction from the Holy Spirit and the power to walk in it. Every believer needs to have this same experience. The Book of Acts is salted with various examples of believers receiving the in-filling of the Holy Spirit. This was not an end in itself, but it was a result of earnestly seeking God. Jesus was limited in the quantity of His works, but a group of believers filled with that same Spirit could move out and cover more ground.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
When Jesus went to His Father, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) was released to infill every believer.
Acts 19
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
There are several videos available on youtube covering this issue. We have reached a critical time in in the United States: small groups with specific interest have taken strategic positions and have been able to slip error into several states. Do not expect the liberal press to allow you to hear words other than belief or personal opinion. This is an all out assault from the depths of hell on the families of this country and an attempt to weaken us by positioning us in a place of opposition to Gods Will. If you thought the battle was in Iraq or across the Pacific, you were wrong: the battle is on our own soil, right at our front door.
Miss Prejean did not have or take the opportunity to share Gods Word in her responses, but her values are directed by His Word. Here are the scriptures specific to this issue from the Bible.
Genesis 1 & 2 God creates male and female. When in doubt, go back to the original design.
Genesis 18 & 19 Sodom and other cities are judged for homosexaulity and other sexually based sins.
Leviticus 18 & 20 Rules of sexual relations
Matthew 19 Quoted from the Lord Jesus
1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Romans 1
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
I received an e-mail from someone watching my videos asking for counsel. Here’s an extraction of all the Biblical references of men taling their own lives in the Bible. (message still under construction – no video yet)
Suicide – The act of taking one’s own life. (Webster)
Suicide – An erroneous solution for facing overwhelming odds without the counsel of God. (Donny)
The greatest rebellion against the will of God.
I Samuel 31
3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
II Samuel 17:23
And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
Matthew 27
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Four accounts in the scriptures of men taking their own lives. Why did they do it? Any similarities?
They looked over their circumstances and determined in their own counsel that the situation around them was greater than their ability to overcome. And they were right. In their own strength, they could not overcome. But God made us over-comers in Jesus. They did not look to God, so all they could do was look for a way to escape the situation they were in under their own power. Even at the cost of taking their own lives. But what did they escape to?
Without the counsel of God’s Word you have no hope, there is no reliable information to conclude that one would be better off dead by their own hand versus living under what they consider to be intolerable conditions. This is a great deception by Satan to lure people into the ultimate rebellion against God: Taking one’s own life.
God’s desire is to give men eternal life.
John 3:16
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.
What other act besides suicide could be the greatest rebellion against the plan of God? God is the Author of life. We are formed in His Image and He has breathed the breath of life into us.
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
God is eternal. Everything about Him is life. The enemy, Satan, one who is opposite of God is all about death. Satan is the author of all lies and the greatest is suicide. Those who do not know God or have His Word are easy prey for Satan’s deception.
Daniel 7:14 & 27
John 18:36
Jesus showed us many examples in His Word relating spiritual things to earthly things. We can see natural behavior which reflects the spiritual state of our lives. The fruits and desires demonstrated in our lives by what we do and say tell us what work the Holy Spirit has done in us. Jesus said you will know them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:20)
In reading the scriptures, you can find many places where the Holy Spirit likens the intake of food to the natural man with the reception of doctrine and Godly instruction by the spiritual man.
Revelation 10
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Jude
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
John 6
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
Did you eat today? Will you eat again tomorrow? Can your body live without a continous supply of nurishment?
I Corinthians 2
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Let me put it this way. If I hold up a bag of small pebbles and invite you to eat them, you may dare to do it and not receive much damage. But it would not be good to do so because there is no benefit. You could not receive any nutritional or medicinal value from the exercise. To sustain life, our body needs certain foods that it can process and energize itself from. The same applies to the spiritual world. A blood bought child of God can receive and requires the inspired Word of God to thrive. The natural man can read the Word but he cannot make use of it any more than you could live off of eating rocks.
My son’s gecko eats live crickets. I have no desire for live crickets, I like pizza. Our desire is based on what we are. The same applies to the saved and un-saved. If you do not have a desire for God’s Word, you need to examine the state of your soul.
A prime example is seen here where the Apostle Paul explains how the Word was given to the Jews, they ate it, but they did not digest/receive it.
Romans 10
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
I Peter 2
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Matthew 4
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Deuteronomy 8
3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Try fasting for about 32 hours or so. It will not take long before you want food. Around your second missed meal of the day is usually my most difficult. My personal experience has it’s highs and lows. The point is you can feel the impact. Consider the impact of missing time with God and His Word. Is there some observable experience in you?
John 6
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
The Pharasees had the Word of God but no life with it. The Word was of no effect with them, they did not know God or they would have received Jesus.
The same conditions applied to Adam at the beginning of creation. Adam was created and designed to eat from the tree of life. It would have sustained him for eternity. The tree of knowledge of good and evil was not poison, when God said eat of it and you die, He did not mean punishment, it meant that you cannot live off of it. It had no ability to sustain life (spiritual life), it was food of the natural man. God said
Genesis 3
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Beloved, if your desire is not to the Word of God, you need to be concerned. You are in a dangerous position and do not even comprehend it. Even worse, you may not be saved. How can it be? Someone could have convinced you with a manipulative message, a watered down gospel, and a one minute sinners prayer. A true conversion experience will see you hungering and thirsting for the Word of God.
Revelation 22
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Access to the Tree of Life and eating from it is available. Beloved, Jesus is that tree, He is the bread of life we are to eat from. Do what God said…
Matthew 17
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Psalm 119
1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Looking forward to going through the Bible with all the material left to us by Brother / Dr. J. Vernon McGee. The website allows you to serve their files (unchanged and free) from any server you can use.
These Notes and Outlines on each book of the Bible were prepared by Dr. McGee to assist listeners who wanted an even deeper and more thorough understanding of the Word as they followed along with his 5-year radio program. Please feel free to copy and distribute these Notes and Outlines to others who seek to broaden their understanding of God’s Word.
If you have any questions about how these free materials may be used, please read our Copyright Policy before contacting us.
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They also provide the 5 year study on mp3. I’m happy to see all this material available to supplement the study of God’s Word. I will have the files available soon.
Jesus was the complete expression of God’s character and being. He was the full manifestation of God on this earth.
John 14
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
John 1:18
No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Genesis 1
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
”His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21
So, what are the few things and what are the many things that we have responsibility for?
Lets make the easy list that everyone seems to like.
Prayer
Bible Study
Church Attendance
Tithing
Brethern, please do not look upon this as a to do list. Look at it as the colors of a believer.
How I memorize scripture. Well, the first thing that helps the most is that I like to read the inspired Word of God. That should be the common factor between all those who are saved by the grace of God through Jesus. With that in mind, it is easy to give priority to what is most important.
0) Pray over the Word as you are about to study.
I usually remember the Psalm – Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wonderous things out of thy law. Psalms 119:18
1) Read several times a day. You eat several meals every day. You drink through out the day. What goes for the body in the natural can be likened to your spirit in the supernatural.
2) Set goals. Do 1 verse a day and build on that.
3) Get someone to spot you while you read long portions to keep yourself in check.
4) Listen to it on a cd or mp3 player while driving or other single focus activity.
The Tower Of Babel approaches….. (this time a good thing)
Through new tools on the Internet, this blog can now be translated via google translation service among others. Click on the flag for your country.
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:14
Praise God ! for His love and mercy to allow us hope. Jesus finished the work to set all things back in order. I’d like to welcome all the new believers and seekers who will now have access to this blog and many others. I pray that you are filled with the knowledge of God as you inquire at His Word.
The love of the Father is so great and so unknown. Satan casts lies from hell but God the Father stands ready to forgive the moment you are ready top turn to Him.
1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
(not to get bread,fish, or healing; but to hear His teaching)
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
(Note: religion is upset when the attention is not on them.) see verse 28-30
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
(mans resources are finite) we can save a lot, but it has a limit to how long it can last
mans abilities has boundaries
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
( conviction, the Holy Spirit has revealed his state to him and he has received understanding of his error)
( God’s provision is infinite ) God’s abilities have no limit
Lev 24:2 & Zech 4 continous flow of oil to keep lamps buring
Jesus said out of your bellies will be rivers of living water, you do not see things that have measure when we talk about God’s supply it is immesaurable
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
( confession, the determined intention to recognize his sin and to ask forgivness) ( humility, not requesting a return to his status of son ship but to be received as a servant) compare back to verse 12) GIVE ME what I have coming to me
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
( Father was looking and waiting for his return)
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
( Carries through with his intentions)
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
( Satan wants you to believe that God has rejected you, that you have hit the limit on forgivness and God is looking for a reason to dump you) Bigest lie from hell that satan has planted in the minds of God’s children.
Robe is covering, look back at Genesis 3 and see that God made Adam & Eve skins of an animal to replace their man made covering that was not acceptable.
Ring on his hand, authority, dominion restored, symbol of family used as a seal to demonstrate membership
Shoes on his feet, has work for him to do
The character of God is to restore and you can see this through all the scriptures.
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
(understand when we talk about life and death here it is a spiritual state) this is what people do not understand about the concept of original sin ( in Adam all are dead but in Christ all are alive) I Cor 15:22
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
( This older brother is presenting an arguement of how he has served (religious works) Eph 2:8-9, he is making a comparision to his brother (bad boy vs good boy) note: it is all called gifts, Gifts of the Spirit : Not rewards of the Spirit)
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
