Christine

'Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? ' (Heb 12:9) Hello there, I have had to reconsider my understanding of the words, 'the Father of spirits', for I thought that it refered to God as 'the Father' of spirits, or the 'author' of spirits, being the Creator of all things. However, I was not taking into consideration the context. Now I realise that it is the spirit of one who is born from above which is being referred to. Our earthly parents (who gave birth to us) discipline our earthy bodies which have a limited life-span, and will ultimately die; and we give them the subjection due to them. Should we not therefore be in subjection to the Father of our spirits, which have an eternal life expectation. Praise God! In Christ Jesus Chris

'Then the LORD said unto Moses, .. "Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, .... Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, ...... Let My People go, that they may serve me. For if thou refuse to let them go, .. and wilt hold them still, .... Behold, the hand of the LORD ...... is upon thy cattle which is in the field, ........ upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, .......... upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: ............ there shall be a very grievous murrain. And the LORD shall sever .. between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: .... and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel." And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, .. "To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land." And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, .. and all the cattle of Egypt died: .... but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, .. there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. .... And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, ...... and he did not let the people go.' (Exodus 9:1-7) Praise God!

'And the LORD said unto Moses, .." Rise up early in the morning, .... and stand before Pharaoh; ...... lo, he cometh forth to the water; .......... and say unto him, "Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, .. that they may serve me. .... Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, ...... behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, ........ and upon thy servants, .......... and upon thy people, ............ and into thy houses: .............. and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, ................ and also the ground whereon they are. And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, .. in which my people dwell, .... that no swarms of flies shall be there; ...... to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD ........ in the midst of the earth. (Exodus 8:20-22) Praise God!

Hello there, I have just returned home from visiting family members. One talked of his favourite musicians, of his life and death, having been addicted to drink and drugs and finally taking his own life. Into my mind came a verse which has often come into my mind during this last year (1 Peter 2:11-12). 'Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12) 'That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.' (Ephesians 4:22-24) * I thank God that I was able to share this with him: for these fleshly lusts are 'deceitful lusts' which war against the soul: or the whole man, the body energized by the spirit of life making a living soul. * These lusts at their worst can become addictions, in which the body is deceived into dependence upon them: such as drink, drugs, and other cravings of the flesh best left unspoken. Leading to depravity or death. * As these verses show, we who are saved by grace, are to put on the new man, by faith: by reckoning on the total sufficiency of the finished work of Christ and His all-sufficent sacrifice for sin. For we have been identified with Christ in His death, burial, quickening, resurrection and ascension to God's right hand: this is the Spirit's baptism: so have died with Christ to the flesh and all it's claims, and been raised to newness of life before the Father, in Him. We are dead unto sin and alive unto God. Believe it! Rejoice in it! For the righteousness of God has been imputed to us, in Christ Jesus our Saviour, Lord and Head. Praise His Holy Name. In Christ Jesus Chris

'And the LORD spake unto Moses, .. "Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, .... Thus saith the LORD, ...... Let my people go, ........ that they may serve me. And if thou refuse to let them go, .. behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs: And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, .. which shall go up and come into thine house, .... and into thy bedchamber, ...... and upon thy bed, ........ and into the house of thy servants, .......... and upon thy people, ............ and into thine ovens, .............. and into thy kneadingtroughs: ................ And the frogs shall come up both on thee, .................. and upon thy people, .................... and upon all thy servants.' (Exodus 8:1-4) Praise God!

'This know also, .. that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, .. covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, .... disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ...... Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, ........ incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, .......... Traitors, heady, highminded, ............ lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; .............. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: ................ from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, .. and lead captive silly women laden with sins, .... led away with divers lusts, ...... ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, .. so do these also resist the truth: .... men of corrupt minds, ...... reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: .. for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, .... as theirs also was.' (2 Timothy 3:1-9) Praise God! For His foreknowledge and forewarning of this counterfeit.

'And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: .. but they hearkened not unto Moses .... for anguish of spirit, ...... and for cruel bondage. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, .. "Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, .... that he let the children of Israel go out of his land." And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, .. "Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; .... how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?" And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, .. and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, .... and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, ...... to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.' (Exodus 6:9-13) Praise God!

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.' (Ephesians 2:12-13) Hello Jacob, This is the second of your entries that I have read, and I have loved the detail you have given, and the comparisons you have made. Yet I find myself at odds with you too. For as a member of the Church which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all, I am not a part of Israel as a nation, but have been brought nigh unto God, in Christ. The promises which are mine in Christ are 'all spiritual blessings', and not the promises of 'basket and store' that Israel was blessed with, or the millennial blessings yet to come. The place where my inheritance, in Christ, with be enjoyed is far above all heavens, in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and not in the New Jerusalem which will come down from heaven to the new earth. The calling, hope and blessings associated with the Church which is the Body of Christ are unique, and distinct from that of Israel, as can be seen by a reading of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. The epistles written concerning the fellowship of the mystery revealed by God to Paul, following Israel's departure into blindness (temporarily) at the end of the Acts period. Within the love of Christ our Saviour, our risen Lord and Head. Chris

'And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. .. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, .... and cut off the foreskin of her son, ...... and cast it at his feet, and said, ........ "Surely a bloody husband art thou to me." So He let him go: then she said, .. "A bloody husband thou art, .... because of the circumcision."' (Exodus 4:24-26) Praise God! For He is a Holy God. (Genesis 17:9-13) "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31)

'By faith Moses, when he was come to years, .. refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; .... Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, ...... than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: .. for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, .. not fearing the wrath of the king: .... for he endured, ...... as seeing Him who is invisible.' (Hebrews 11:24-27) Praise God! 'For He (God) saith to Moses, .. "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, .... and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." So then it is not of him that willeth, .. nor of him that runneth, .... but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, .. "Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, .... that I might shew My power in thee, ....... and that My Name might be declared throughout all the earth." Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, .. and whom He will He hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, .. "Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?" Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? .. Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, .... "Why hast thou made me thus?"' (Romans 9:15-20) Praise His Holy Name!

'And the LORD said unto Moses, .. "When thou goest to return into Egypt, .... see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, ...... which I have put in thine hand: ........ but I will harden his heart, .......... that he shall not let the people go." And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, .. "Thus saith the LORD, .... Israel is my son, ...... even my firstborn: ........ And I say unto thee, .......... Let my son go, ............ that he may serve me: .............. and if thou refuse to let him go, ................ behold, I will slay thy son, .................. even thy firstborn."' (Exodus 4:21-23) Praise God!

'And Moses went .. and returned to Jethro his father in law, .... and said unto him, ...... "Let me go, I pray thee, ........ and return unto my brethren .......... which are in Egypt, ............ and see whether they be yet alive." And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace." And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, .. "Go, return into Egypt: .... for all the men are dead ...... which sought thy life." And Moses took his wife and his sons, .. and set them upon an ass, .... and he returned to the land of Egypt: ...... and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.' (Exodus 4:18-20) Praise God!

'And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: .. and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, .... and thou shalt be to him instead of God. ...... And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, ........ wherewith thou shalt do signs.' (Exodus 4:16-17) Praise God! For His lovingkindness, His mercy and His grace

'And Moses answered and said, .. "But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: .... for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee." And the LORD said unto him, "What is that in thine hand?" And he said, "A rod." And he said, "Cast it on the ground." And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, "Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail." And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: .. "That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, .... the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, ...... hath appeared unto thee."' (Exodus 4:1-5) Praise God!

'Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, .. he sought to slay Moses. .... But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, ...... and dwelt in the land of Midian: ........ and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: .. and they came and drew water, .... and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. ...... And the shepherds came and drove them away: ........ but Moses stood up and helped them, .......... and watered their flock. And when they came to Reuel their father, .. he said, "How is it that ye are come so soon to day?" .... they said, "An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, ...... and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock." And he said unto his daughters, "And where is he? .. why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread." And Moses was content to dwell with the man: .. and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. .... And she bare him a son, ...... and he called his name Gershom: ........ for he said, "I have been a stranger in a strange land."' (Exodus 2:15-22) Praise God!

'And there went a man of the house of Levi, .. and took to wife a daughter of Levi. .... And the woman conceived, and bare a son: ...... and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, .. and daubed it with slime and with pitch, .... and put the child therein; ...... and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.' (Exodus 2:1-3) Praise God !

'And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: .. and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. .... And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: ...... the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh ........ were brought up upon Joseph's knees. And Joseph said unto his brethren, .. "I die: and God will surely visit you, .... and bring you out of this land ...... unto the land which he sware ........ to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, .. "God will surely visit you, .... and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: .. and they embalmed him, .... and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.' (Genesis 50:22-26) Praise God! 'By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.' (Heb 11:22)

'And Joseph returned into Egypt, .. he, and his brethren, .... and all that went up with him to bury his father, ...... after he had buried his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, .. they said, "Joseph will peradventure hate us, .... and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him." ...... And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, "Thy father did command before he died, saying, .. So shall ye say unto Joseph, .... Forgive, I pray thee now, ...... the trespass of thy brethren, ........ and their sin; .......... for they did unto thee evil: ............ and now, we pray thee, .............. forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father." And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; .. and they said, "Behold, we be thy servants." And Joseph said unto them, "Fear not: .. "for am I in the place of God? .... But as for you, ye thought evil against me; ...... but God meant it unto good, ........ to bring to pass, as it is this day, .......... to save much people alive. ............ Now therefore fear ye not: .............. I will nourish you, and your little ones." And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.' (Genesis 50:14-21) Praise God!

'And his (Jacob's) sons did unto him .. according as he commanded them: .... For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, ...... and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, ........ which Abraham bought with the field .......... for a possession of a buryingplace ............ of Ephron the Hittite, .............. before Mamre.' (Genesis 50:12-13) Praise God!

'And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, .. which is beyond Jordan, .... and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: ..... .and he (Joseph) made a mourning for his father seven days. And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, .. saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, .... "This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: ...... wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, ........ which is beyond Jordan."' (Genesis 10-11) Praise God!

'Hi @Turtletwo, We are in Genesis chapter 50 n0w. ❤️ ------------------------------------------ 'And Joseph went up to bury his father: .. and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, .... the elders of his house, ......and all the elders of the land of Egypt, And all the house of Joseph, .. and his brethren, .... and his father's house: ...... only their little ones, ........ and their flocks, and their herds, .......... they left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: .. and it was a very great company.' (Genesis 50:7-9) Praise God!

'And Joseph fell upon his father's face, .. and wept upon him, .... and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants .. the physicians to embalm his father: .... and the physicians embalmed Israel. And forty days were fulfilled for him; .. for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: .... the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. And when the days of his mourning were past, .. Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, .... "If now I have found grace in your eyes, ...... speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ........ My father made me swear, saying, .. Lo, I die:in my grave which I have digged for me .... in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. ...... Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, ........ and bury my father, and I will come again." And Pharaoh said," Go up, and bury thy father, .. according as he made thee swear".' (Genesis 50:1-6) Praise God!

It is now January 1st. 2019!! * May God's perfect will be done during this coming year, both in the world around us, and in and through, each one of us, that His Name be glorified. In Christ Jesus Amen.

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: .. and this is it that their father spake unto them, .... and blessed them; ...... every one according to his blessing he blessed them. And he charged them, and said unto them, .. I am to be gathered unto my people: .... bury me with my fathers ...... in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, ........ In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, .......... which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, ............ which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite .............. for a possession of a burying-place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; .. there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; .... and there I buried Leah. ..... The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein ...... was from the children of Heth. And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, .. he gathered up his feet into the bed, .... and yielded up the ghost, ...... and was gathered unto his people.' (Genesis 49:28-33) Praise God!

'Joseph is a fruitful bough, .. even a fruitful bough by a well; .... whose branches run over the wall: ...... The archers have sorely grieved him, ........ and shot at him, .......... and hated him: ............ But his bow abode in strength, .............. and the arms of his hands were made strong ................ by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) .. Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; .... and by the Almighty, ...... who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, ........ blessings of the deep that lieth under, .......... blessings of the breasts, ............ and of the womb: The blessings of thy father .. have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors .... unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: ...... they shall be on the head of Joseph, ........ and on the crown of the head of him .......... that was separate from his brethren. Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: .. in the morning he shall devour the prey, .... and at night he shall divide the spoil.' (Genesis 49:22-27) Praise God!