I was reading in Matthew 4, where Jesus was led into the wilderness. He didn’t chose His path in life, other than chosing to follow God. God led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, after He had fasted for 40 days. I don’t know if you have ever fasted for any length of time. It is life changing. I have never attempted a 40 day fast. I’ve done Daniel’s fast, 21 days, on water. But I know this, after the fast everything wasn’t important, except God and my relationship. I could see the path God planned for me and I walked on it. God leads us where He will. And we are to follow with joy. As it says in Psalm 37:23, “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighted in the way.”

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

After Jesus came back from the wilderness, John was thrown into prison by Herod. Herod had taken his brother’s wife for his own. And John spoke against them. Jesus went back to Galilee. Knowing that persecution was going to follow them. Jesus settled in Capernaum and began calling His disciples. One of the things that Jesus spoke on, sermon on the mount, was persecution. He said, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus also said, if they hated Me, how much more will they hate us. It seems that persecution is part and parcel with Christianity. There is no getting out of it. If you are a Christian, you will be persecuted. Peter talked about the fiery trials we go through. God said, with the temptation He will make a way of escape. There are many examples of persecution in the bible. The thing is that you use your faith to walk through them all. So, prepare you faith and thicken your skin, not your heart. And you will find the way of escape that God has planned.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

It’s the orginal process of picking wheat. First, you cut and bundle stalks of wheat together. Then you beat the stalks of wheat against a wooden bar to separate the wheat and stalks. Then with a shovel you throw the wheat into the air as the wind separates the chaff from the wheat. The chaff was burned to get rid of it. And wheat is gathered to be used. God used this as a parable, to teach us the process He uses to cleanse us for His use. Wheat is mainly used for bread. Which is the staple of life. Jesus said I am the bread of life. The children of Israel were fed manna, bread from heaven, in the wilderness. Jesus, when tempted by the devil, said that man shall not live by bread alone. But by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. We are the wheat and need the be winnowed to be useful to God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What does this mean, “But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”(James 1:2 KJV) When we hear the Word of God taught, do we let God’s Word convict us, and let His Holy Spirit change us? If we let the Lord change us, then we will become more like Jesus. Then we will do the will of God from the heart. Our life then becomes more like Jesus’ life because He is living in us, and we are following the leading of His Spirit.

When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt and to the mountain of God, He wanted to meet them and talk to them. But they saw the power of God and refused. So only Moses walked and talked to God. Jesus came teaching how we could walk and talk to Him. We know the prayer as the Lord’s Prayer. If you take each line and look at it. You find that it is no big secret to be able to walk and talk to God. God didn’t make it difficult for man to reach God. Jesus opened the door for us to be able to have a personal relationship with God. But you see it is up to us to develop that relationship. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added. Those who come to God must believe that He is and a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. So, we have to go to God first, to get close to God. Then you can walk and talk with God all the time. (Mattthew 6:9-13, Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 11:6).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Prayer is talking to God. So, how does prayer work? God said that we must seek Him, for God to come to us. Then is it just saying whatever comes to mind? If we find God what is the next step? God said that He will only listen to the prayer of repentance first. He will not listen to anything else. So, then we ask for forgiveness and that’s it? God said to seek Him and then the rest will be added to us. So, we ask for forgiveness and seek Him, then what? Then we ask according to His will and God will answer. What is the will of God? God’s will is salvation, healing, deliverance and prosperity. So, if we seek God, he will add all of heaven to us. Prayer isn’t just talking, it’s doing the word of God. So, I guess I have to read the bible to find out how I’m suppose to live on this earth. Effective prayer is a lifestyle. It’s walking and talking with God. Then you know your prayers are answered.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Jeremiah 31, Israel had been taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar. God was speaking to Jeremiah about Israel return to the promised land. What God was saying was double edged. Just like the two-edged sword that is the word of God, it cuts both ways. It says if they repent, God will give them back the land. But God made a new covenant with us. He said, He would write His laws and commandments on our hearts and minds. So, we would know who He is from birth. And God said, he would forgive our sins and remember them no more, repentance, forgiveness and assurance. God’s plan has been in affect for 1000’s of years. All God needed was someone to pay the price for mankind. And God found that person, 500 years later, Jesus Christ the righteous. All of this is in Jeremiah 31. Jesus came preaching using the old testament, for all the promises of God are there, long before the new testament was written.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Not everyone knows who Elijah was. But everyone knows who Jezebel was. Her name is a by word for corruption and depravity. She was queen of Israel with her husband, Ahab. She led Israel to worship every devil god she could find. Elijah prayed and it didn’t rain for 31/2 years. They were hunting for Elijah. But God hid him. Finally God sent him back and met Ahab on Mount Carmel to prove who really was God. After God performed a miracle and proved who He was. Elijah prayed and it rain again. Elijah had the people of Israel kill all the prophets of ba’al. Jezebel got angry at Elijah and said I will do the same to you. Elijah ran from Jezebel after all these things happened. His faith failed until he reached the mountain of God and talked with God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) (1Kings 18,19) (James 5:17).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

People have written volumes on the bible. Many knew what it took to be a Christian. It’s unfortunate that more people don’t understand their role in this world. I look at my life and see many things. I see times that I wanted to manipulate God. It didn’t happen and God loved me anyway. There are times that God worked miracles through my hands. When I was distressed, He was right there comforting me. God was at my wedding and when my children were born. And when they were sick. The bible says that jesus, annointed by the Holy Ghost and power, went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.(Acts10:38). He lived His life and did what God planned for Him. And we, who are annointed by the Holy Ghost and power, need to be doing good and healing all that are oppressed of the devil. Christianity is living you life before God and doing what Jesus did on this earth. It’s not anymore complicated than that. Surrender your life to God and let Him fulfill His promise to you. Then people will look at you and know what Christianity really is.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 1&2, it is the story of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. The bible says that Joseph was just man. So, when he found his espoused wife pregnant, he had to make a choice. God explained the situation and Joseph had to choose. Thank God, he made the right decision. But he had a free will just like us. Joseph wasn’t any different than we are. Then he had to take Mary, when she was very pregnant, to Bethlehem for the taxation. There Jesus was born. Then the wise men came bearing gifts, proclaiming Jesus king of the Jews. When they left God told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt and stay there until He told them otherwise. Then God told Joseph to go back to Israel. Herod’s son ruled in Jerusalem, he took his family to Nazareth. All this happened in the first 4 years of Jesus’s life. Joseph was an ordinary man like us. He had the choice to believe God or not. Thank God, he chose God. I was saved in a revival 40 years ago. The pastor told me that he was the 5th choice of God. 4 men before him didn’t choose God’s plan. 1000’s of people were saved in that revival. How many times have you refused God? What would happen if you had accepted God’s plan in your life? Just like Joseph, we have a choice.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com