The bible of the first century was not divided into chapter and verse. The bible was written on a continuous scroll. Depending on how big the script was, it determined how long the scroll was. Sometimes there were several scrolls. And the only people had these scroll was the Jewish synagogues. This is why Paul always began at the synagogue. It was very expensive and few people own one. That is why the ordinary person would go to a house meeting to hear the word of God preached. The reason that Paul called the Bereans more noble than anyone else. It was because they had a copy of the bible and would search it every night to prove what Paul said was right. Reading the word of God will separate you from everyone else. As you read you will change into the image and likeness of God. The bible says that when we see Jesus again we will recognize Him. It is because we will look like Him. So everybody waiting for the rapture if they don’t read the bible won’t see Jesus returning. The bible is a picture of Jesus, from Genesis to Revelations. There is a few other things in there that we need to know. Like how to use you faith in a fight or how to pray or how to minister to people. The bible covers many topics which you have to read and learn to be able to use them in life. 

Acts 17:10-12 “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so…”

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Did you know that God gives everyone the measure of faith before they become believers? It says in the bible that you must believe that God is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. So every person has faith in the form of hope. Did you know that unbelief is faith in reverse? When I came to the Lord, I understood that God was much greater than I could ever be. He alone could solve all of my problems. I had enough faith to trust God for my salvation, but not for anything beyond that. So I had to work on my faith as God said to do. I read the bible. Not only did I read the bible, I had one in my car, one at home and one at work. I had always enjoyed reading stories of David in the Old Testament. It encouraged me that God was intervening in the affairs of man. God had me to start small. I prayed for a headache. Then as I grew the task became larger and larger. Until one day God had me to take on death itself. It scared me but I knew that God was standing with me. I knew if I continued in the battle I would win. I did and it taught me that all things are possible through Jesus Christ. Faith is needed when we start walking with God and it is needed to go home to heaven.

Matthew 17:14-21 “… 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When I first began with the Lord, I was a servant of God. And I was very happy to be that. When I found out that I was a son of God and an heir to the kingdom of God, I was ecstatic. God had given to me the world. It belong to me. Every son is treated like a servant until they are old enough to take on the responsibilities of the kingdom. As a servant I had to learn about God, my Father, and what He expected of me. Your give your children a little responsibility until they are able to bear the burden. As the bible says that foolish is bound up in a child’s heart, and it also says that the rod of discipline drives it far from them. I am a king and priest unto God and had to use the power correctly to perform God’s will on this earth. As Jesus said greater things shall you do because I go to my Father in heaven. What did Jesus do? He preached the gospel, heal the sick, delivered people from spirits and any miracle you can think of. John and James were angry with some people and wanting Jesus to zap them with lightning. Jesus said no and called them the sons of thunder. The power isn’t for revenge, personal gain or pleasure. It is to do the will of our Father in heaven.

Romans 8:14-19 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father…”

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When Jesus rose from the dead, He had all His disciples to meet together to talk to them. He told them that He wasn’t going to leave them powerless. After they had received the Spirit of God into their hearts, Jesus told them of a power from God they would receive on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit would not only protect them, but He would also give them power to carry out the will of the Father. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were gathered in the upper room. They shut the doors and began praying. It says there was a mighty rushing wind that blew all the doors and windows open. Everyone began to speak in other tongues. Tongues of fire from the Holy Spirit descended upon each one’s head. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. There were 1000’s of people in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. People came to see what all the noise was about. Peter began to speak to the crowd about what God had done. He said this was the promise that God made to Abraham. People heard Peter speak in their own language. There were people from almost every country in the world. Every great revival has started in Pentecost. Unfortunately it seems that it didn’t last. Not because God did anything different. Man moved away. Our lives are tied to the children of Israel. For 2000 years, the children of Israel haven’t had a home. Only after WWII did they return unto the Promised Land. In 1967, the Israelites took back Jerusalem. Then began worldwide a series of Holy Ghost revivals. They are still happening today. It is very important in God’s plan that we are Pentecostal, filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Ever since the time of Adam and Eve, man has struggled with being separated from God. When God was separated from man by his sin, God provided for man to return. God made a covenant to allow man to return. Since that time, man has tried to find every reason to say that he doesn’t need God. At the tower of Babel, man going to shoot an arrow at God to say that He didn’t need God. God scrambled their languages and scattered them across the world. With Noah, God had him preach to mankind that a flood was coming and they needed to choose. It took Noah 100 years to build the ark. When God closed the door on the ark, people realized that God wasn’t joking. Did you know that Abraham knew his 10^th great grandfather Shem, Noah’s son? By this time God was going to choose a people to represent Him on earth. God made a covenant with Abraham. Even Abraham at first didn’t believe and trust God. Finally he came to place where we all have to arrive, trusting in God. God speaks of Abraham and says that he was justified by faith. Then came Moses, then David, Solomon, then Isaiah, Ezekiel, and all the other prophets. Yet God’s people still didn’t follow after God. Then God sent His son, Jesus, to fulfill the Covenant with Abraham and mankind. And the promise is made unto you to enter into the kingdom of God by believing and trusting in Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Crain Blanchard.

joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

David understood the residual effect that singing praises to God has upon the person singing. The singing lifts up your heart and opens it to receive from God. It puts you it the right frame of mind to talk and receive from God. This is called supplication. The Word says that when we pray, we are to enter our prayer closet. The reason is that prayer is a personal and intimate communication between God and man. Revealing oneself to each other, from the heart of God to the heart of man. Prayer is worship, petitions, standing in the gap and giving of thanks to God for all things. Hope is what God gives to us and without it we couldn’t go on. Finding our way to heaven requires hope in our heart. We also use hope to accomplish God’s will. If we didn’t believe it could happen, we wouldn’t even try. Hope that God will do what we ask is an important part of prayer. Do you know how many people enter into God’s presence to pray? Very few, even though God wants everybody to enter in. muster the courage to enter into His presence, and stay there until God answers your prayer. You will never be the same. The Bible say, “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” Let me know what happens.

Crain Blanchard.

www.joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, prayed until He sweat drops of blood. He interceded from His heart. He was willing to stand in the gap, to make up the hedge, until sin was conquered. He interceded with His prayers and His life and has become the Parakeet, Intercessor, before God for us. Throughout the ages God has been entreat for people’s sake. Whenever a man or woman of God has prayed and asked God to change circumstances for people who are trapped in their sin, God has. Supplication is asking God to do just that, change things. God intervenes in the affairs of men to accomplish His will on this earth. God doesn’t want anyone to be lost, but that all will come to Him. So He has saints praying for His will to come to this earth.

David knew God. He sought Him with his whole heart. For David there was no other place he could go to find help. If God didn’t help him, there was no help. So David sought God and cried out to Him. He knew that God would hear him. David knew that God was the watchman. No one can keep anything that God doesn’t protect. This includes peace. David wanted people everywhere to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Then God will hear and keep Jerusalem in peace. David’s prayer is as real now as it was 3000 years ago. We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Let me know what happens?

Crain Blanchard.

www.joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

God chose Saul to be king over Israel. Saul didn’t trust that God would take care of him. He didn’t believe or trust God’s word. Because of this, Saul did what he wanted. It not only cost him the kingdom, but it cost him his relationship with God. God rejected him as king and chose another whose heart was right. Saul was in agony. His heart condemn him, so he didn’t have access to God. In his pray, there was much pain. Solomon, when he prayed his prayer to dedicate the Temple, knew that God would hear him. In worship and an attitude of reverence, Solomon asked God to dwell in the Temple. He knew God would have mercy on anyone who turned their hearts to God and asked for forgiveness. God filled the entire Temple with His presence. Everyone had to run out of it. God fulfilled His part of the covenant, He had made with David and Solomon. Man has not always fulfilled his part of the covenant, but God has had mercy on us. Thank God. The Word of God says to worship God in spirit and truth. With our hearts turned to God praying as we ought. There are 3 kinds of prayer, praying expecting an answer, praying expecting an answer to come to you and praying expecting the answer to come to you and not stopping until it does. Praying expecting the answer to come to you and not stopping until it does is intercession. God will give anyone who will stand until the answer comes the answer, no matter what it is. Let me know what happens.

Crain Blanchard.

www.joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Jesus knew what man was like. When He came to earth, He understood how deceitful man was and came to help him change into what God intended man to be from the beginning. God understands how and what we think. There is nothing hid from Him. God also expects man to follow His rules. We can’t go to God in our own strength. There is a certain way that we must approach God. The Israelites were afraid to face God, because they knew they would die. It has not changed. If we face God, we will die, whether if it is to ourselves or physically, is up to us. Pray isn’t something to get us out of trouble. Pray is communication with God. It is the fellowship God planned from the beginning. How you approach God is up to you. But if your heart isn’t right, don’t expect that God will answer your prayer. God’s will is to love and fellowship with us. He will always love us, but not always fellowship with us. Just as man will beseech other man, God will beseech, earnestly request, us to follow Him (Revelation 22:17). The Bible says that we must believe that God is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). The prophet Daniel, before he was in the lion’s den, understood that God was his only refuge, and it makes no difference what man can do to you. You stand with God and He will answer and deliver you. So Daniel prayed. Let me know how effective your prayer is?

Crain Blanchard.

www.joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When I began I would say all sorts of things. I’d speak in a deep voice or use my hands to express myself. I’d quote scripture because I thought God wanted to hear all that stuff. I laugh sometimes when I remember hearing preachers pray with a big blustery voice. As if God would be impressed with that. I found a secret that most people just pass by in the bible. Prayer is talking to God. I speak in English unless I am praying in the Spirit. I’ll talk about that later. If you speak French or German, use that language to speak to God. When I first seriously asked God to heal someone, all I said was Ok God do something. And guess what He did. You can talk to God about anything. It doesn’t have to be about something serious. I’d talk to God about going shopping with me. Or I’d ask Him what He wanted. Or how He feels today. Talking to God is getting to know Him. And that is what God has wanted all along. First you must believe that God is, and a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. When you believe that He is there and listening, talk to Him and ask Him about anything. Do not be surprised if he answers you. Most people hear God perfectly. They are always surprised that that was the voice of God. If you a waiting for the megaphones to boom in your ears, sorry. God doesn’t use a big voice or stick. He sometimes uses lightning to get my attention. His voice is a still small voice that comes from the depths of your heart. It is peaceable, not confusing, and guilt free. When I started God used the scriptures to talk to me. So I wouldn’t be confused. Begin to pray and let God answer you. Let me know what you hear.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com