Are You SOLD?

For-Sale-And-Sold-Homes-In-Alpharetta-GA

By Pastor Jeff,

Romans 14:8, “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” Are you totally sold out for the Lord or are you just for sale? That is a question that I have asked myself several times in my walk with Jesus Christ. If I’m honest I would have to say that many times I was a participant but not fully committed to serve my Lord and Savior.

It wasn’t until that I had drifted away to the point I was contemplating suicide when the Lord spoke to me and His words made me do a complete 180 when He stated that “My Grace will only go so far!” Some may argue that the Grace of God never ends but I can state that can lead to one falling into sin and eventually death, Hebrews 6:4-6, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” You can say it was God’s grace that allowed me to hear His voice before I veered to far away from Him to my destruction and I’m so thankful for it but if I had ignored that voice, I dread to think what would of happened to me.

Since that day I have settled in my heart that no matter how difficult the path that Jesus would chose for me, I would walk it because I know He is with me and in me! I will never tell anyone that if you chose to live for Jesus Christ that your life will be a bowl full of cherries, but it will have pits in it and for many of us the journey will be tougher than your walk would be if you stayed in the world. Luke 14:7-8, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” Matthew 16:24-25, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

Don’t be for sale for you never know who will purchase you, be sold, fall completely and madly in love with Jesus Christ willing to do whatever He asks of you for His retirement plan is definitely out of this world!

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Too Much Jesus?

knowing-jesus-too-much

By Pastor Jeff,

So, can you have too much Jesus? Of course the answer is NO! I will state that I wake up thinking about Jesus, I go throughout my day thinking about Jesus, and I go to bed thinking of Jesus. Would I want more of Jesus in my life? Absolutely! The Apostle Paul said it this way in 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

So, with saying that, have you ever encountered someone who seemed so overbearing in his speech about what he or she knows about Christ that after a while you either cut his conversation off or avoided this person? I have, and I’m not debating someones relationship or dedication to serve and share the gospel. But when I look at the disciples and Apostles they were also able to have a conversation that befriended others rather ostracizing them. Most of the disciples were fisherman and I think that they were very at ease talking about fishing, giving advice, and maybe even joining others out on the boat here and there. Paul by Luke’s account in the Bible was a tentmaker Acts 18:1-3, “After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.” He also could discuss the law and had knowledge of how government was run.

I love Jesus Christ and love telling others of His greatness and love for them, but I also can carry a conversation on other things, such as sports, politics, recent news, and other things that may help me to build a relationship with someone which will allow me to share the “Good News” with them. If I just brow beat them with what God says it may and I’ve seen it happen close the door to any future conversations with them. Apostle Paul gave us this insight in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”

Jesus is my Lord and my Savior and I will shout His name to the nations but I will be open to conversations that show that I care about what others care about and when the opportunity comes will switch the conversation about Jesus Christ. Too much Jesus is I believe impossible but like Paul I will to whatever I can to win others to the gospel!

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Jesus Loves Me!

jesus loves

By Pastor Jeff,

Romans 5:6-9, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

What a powerful declaration of Jesus’ love for me! I make this a personal statement because the one thing I’ve learned in my 34+ years of being a Born Again Christian is that He really is a personal God. I know God so loved the world and it’s 7.6 billion people currently living on this planet, but when it comes to salvation and having a relationship with the creator of all things, it’s mono to mono! Nobody can make the day to day to decision to live for Christ for me and I can’t make that decision for anyone else even those I whole dear.

Jesus died for ME! Jesus loves ME! Jesus cares for ME! If I was the only sinner on this earth, I believe sincerely that God would took on the form of man, would of suffered, died, and been resurrected so that I could have eternal life! What an awesome God we have the privilege to serve.

I was recently was picking black raspberries in our back yard and had this revelation that of all the places I could of moved to. The one one place Jesus picked for us had wild raspberries on and around it. You may say big deal and probably most would never think a second thought about it. For me it is a big deal, for when I was growing up I had the great opportunity of spending many summers at my Grandparents house up North. I had an uncle a little more than a year older than me whom I spent these summers trying to keep from being bored; which didn’t seem to be an issue if my memory is correct. One of the things we did every summer was go out and pick wild raspberries as time to spend in the outdoors and they sure tasted good in our cereal (when my grandmother didn’t steal them on us and make jam). Of course for me picking them today brings back those wonderful memories as well as the fun of making jam and giving it mostly away to the ones we love. That, to me showed how much Jesus loves me and would care enough for those memories to put me right smack in the middle of several gallons of raspberries!

I love Jesus Christ very much, but His love for me preceded my love for Him from the beginning of time, 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.”

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Revival Isn’t About Numbers!

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By Pastor Jeff,

When you hear the word “Revival” what is the first thing you think of? Huge numbers of people repenting, getting baptized in Jesus Christ name and receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, right? Well if that’s the answer you came up with you would be wrong.

A good definition of revive is found in Merriam-Webster as: 1. to make (someone or something) strong, healthy, or active again 2. to become strong, healthy, or active again 3. to bring (something) back into use or popularity

Psalms 85:6, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” Isaiah 57:15, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Revival is not about numbers but is about getting our hearts right with God Almighty, James 4:9 says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” If we as a church draw closer in our relationship with Jesus Christ with no real growth in numbers, I will say, hey everybody, our little church in Janesville WI is having “Revival!”

Look, we really can’t save anyone, its only the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses a soul of sin, it’s our job to spread the gospel, but Jesus Saves! I do believe without a doubt that if the church does have true Holy Ghost revival in its midst. It will see growth in numbers, it’s just a natural occurrence, but let’s not put the cart before the horse. We see many groups that are seeing increase in numbers but have no real growth in Christ. Jesus had a name for these, Matthew 23:27-28, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

Let’s strive to revive the inside, then the outside will show true “Revival!”

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Don’t stop my Miracle!

miracle

By Pastor Jeff,

Miracles! Many of us Christians seem surprised when one occurs especially in the Americas where doctors and medicine is readily available. Some churches hold the position that the age of miracles ended after the Apostles all died. Well, not me! The bible makes it clear that there is one thing that will stop miracles Matthew 13:54-58, “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” UNBELIEF! will stop your miracle in its tracks!

John 14:12-14 is completely opposite of the scriptures we just looked at for it says this, “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. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” BELIEVING! that is the key to receiving your miracle!

Recently that, belief, was put to the test with me as I have shared about my youngest daughter being diagnosed with cancer again. I really took the wind out of my sails and made me question if stepping out in faith for Revival was a wise decision, for since then the devil seems to pulled out all stops in trying to get our focus away from Him. God however quickly reminded me of the many miracles that I have witnessed in just my families life and my strength was restored. This is the third time my daughter has been diagnosed and soon it will be the third time that she was healed by the power of the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. You seen pretty sure of that you may say, Yes I am, for I believe and I asked in His name!

There are so many miracles mentioned in the word of God and many are not just in the life of Jesus our Messiah. One of my favorites that really show that nothing to big nor small is important to God is found in 2 Kings 6:1-7, “And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.” I’m simply amazed by that word “swim” for I’m sure that most of us have never witnessed such an event. It may seem trivial that the Lord of Lords would be concerned by an lost axe, but His love for us is so huge that He sent the man of God to the rescue.

Miracles rarely go unnoticed; when you receive one, you cannot help but to tell others of what God has done. I will not let others who may not believe in miracles as I do get in the way of my miracle, I believe and am thanking Jesus Christ for them as I type this blog. God has never failed me and will not let the devil trick me into believing that God will not answer my prayers. I will praise my Jesus and look forward to how many will be touched by another miracle in my life!

Don’t let anyone get in the way of your MIRACLE!

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Distractions

enemy-distractions

By Pastor Jeff,

Distractions! The world we live in currently is full of them and it seems that when you make a commitment to God the distractions come at you ten-fold! Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Recently as the title of this website declares, we have set about to seek for Revival at our church in Janesville WI. It must of really ticked the devil off because we have witnessed an all out attack on several of those that attend services here!

1 Peter 5:8-9, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” The world we live in has enough distractions all by itself such as work, family, friends, just life in general that can mess with our time with God.

Then we have Satan, his imps messing with us, and I’ll give you an example. We all know if we are to see genuine revival we will need to commit ourselves to prayer. So, we set apart every Tuesday for this purpose and Friday nights have dedicated to worship and prayer as well. It seems that every event outside the church that can occur has been scheduled for you guess what night? Right, Tuesday or Fridays! Well to be fair the other nights can easily fill up with family events as well but it does seem that on these two nights it occurs more often that it did before we made the commitment.

Another distraction that affects our time is how the devil likes to attack ones family (I can attest that we have other families that are coming under serious attacks as well). I think he knows that if he tries anything with me I will just point out that the bible makes it clear that in the end of all things, he LOSES! But family, especially our children can really throw us for a loop. Though I am troubled by what the devil has done in my family, I still can stand and declare the marvelous works of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and declare this scripture found in Isaiah 50:7, “For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” AMEN!

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Another First!

missing

By Pastor Jeff,

This past Fathers day was another first that I hoped I would never have to be part of the ever growing group of parents that have lost a loved one. My eldest son Jeff passed away September 28th, 2017 and I never realized that I would then be part of this group. As result our family will forever have an anniversary date that we would gladly trade for a day much happier. We also have to endure holidays, birthdays, family events without the pleasure of seeing and hearing him laugh or make a stupid joke.

My heart goes out to any parent that has had to bury one of their precious children for any kind of reason. In my conversation with some I realize that the heartache will always be there and in a way I’m glad for that. He or she was a part of your life and I can’t count the hours that were invested in raising up your child. We shouldn’t just cast it aside with the old saying, “time heals all wounds”, some wounds always leave scars that can be clearly seen.

I’m forever grateful to have friends that pray and support me, but they cannot nor do I wish that they can fully understand the pain the lost of a child no matter how they were.

I do and never have lost my faith in this ordeal, if anything my relationship with Jesus has grown stronger as He continues to remind me that He loves me, John 3:16-17, “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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” I love my son that much as well as any of my children that I would gladly do the same in that I would lay down my life as well.

Jesus was God’s first and only begotten, but He loved us so much that He gave His own life that we are not bound to this sinful and dying world for we have this promise, John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 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.” Jesus Christ is my comforter and though I have more first coming as my birthday, the anniversary of his death, I know I’m not alone and will give Jesus all my heart, soul, mind and strength!

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The Devil isn’t the only liar! (part 4)

Lies .By Pastor Jeff,

Well its been a few days since I did my last blog on “Lies” and a lot has happened that made me step back a bit. I promised a more up beat message and that’s what you will get with this blog. Since then I found out that the doctors have diagnosed that my youngest daughters’ cancer has returned and that the prognosis is not good. I’m not calling the doctors a liar as they go by what they can see and past history as they diagnose patients. But I serve a God who is above past history, of what can be seen, for we find in Isaiah 53:4-5, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Though man through the fall has been prone to not be truthful, Romans 3:4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” Let God be true, despite all the non-truths (lies) that man is guilty of, we have in Jesus Christ a God that cannot lie, Titus 1:1-3, “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”

This is so important because though mankind has difficulty in keeping our promises in spite of the most sincere of attempts, the promises of Jesus Christ are Amen and Amen! 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.” This promise is one that all of us so desperately need, “Love” God’s love for us is so great that God through Jesus Christ became a child, grew into a man, taught, healed, suffered and then died for us! It didn’t stop there because the the grave couldn’t hold Him down for on the third day He rose again and told His disciples that soon they would receive another promise, Acts 1:8, “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.”

This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost and thank God it was not just for them for Peter declares in Acts 2:38-39, “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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” He has one more promise that will be fulfilled soon, John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 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.”

And God CAN’T lie!

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The Devil isn’t the only liar! (part 3)

Lies

By Pastor Jeff,

John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” This scripture pretty much sums it up, the devil is a liar and because of mans fall we also have the nature to do likewise.

In this section I probably won’t make any friends but I promise in the next part I will give out some good news. I now want to zone in on the church or more aptly religion as playing a large role in “Lies”. In the verse we just read, who was Jesus talking to? If you said the Jews or the religious ones of the day you would be correct. Jesus didn’t seem to have a problem with those that were outcasts, the social misfits, the sick, and such. But He often had issue with those that considered themselves higher than others, that wore the collar as you might say.

That hasn’t changed, it burdens me that we have so many “churches” but the truth is being taught in so few. The bible says in John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus then follows it up in John 3:5, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Pretty clear cut! So why are so many churches not obeying this but rather are putting forth a doctrine of Salvation that is not biblical by any means. They like to take what Paul wrote in his Epistles, which are written to the already “Born Again” believers, and make it become the mode of salvation, It’a lie folks!

The Apostle Peter makes it clear in 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.” If anyone tells you differently it’s a lie!

Salvation is not the only lie that religion has become responsible in deceiving many, the early church was transforming the world and it didn’t matter how much persecution was being placed on Christians. So, Satan just changed his tactics in that he decided to team up with the church. Soon false doctrines such as baptism in the names of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost took place of Jesus Name, infant baptism was instituted, purgatory, indulgences, and many other lies were pressed unto the church. Many of these were overcome during the reformation period but some still are adhered to.

Nowadays we have a new type of deception happening as media has become a source to deceive, steal, and promote false teaching. I love the word of God and will be honest that many times I have misspoke mainly because of some of the things I was taught by taking a scripture or two out of context and forming a thought that is not really promoted in God’s word. Preachers are saying things that are just not true, the doctrine of tithing is one of them, I encourage you to study this yourself and you will find that it is not scriptural. I have sat at funerals of those that have never been born again and have heard that they are in heaven with Jesus at this very moment, sorry I cannot be party to that. I know we hate to hurt others with the truth but are we helping or hurting them? I’ve read and heard especially of when a child has passed how God needed another angel, sorry that is not biblical, in fact for us that have been born again, heaven is a far better place for us than the angels. I could go on and on on how the so called church is lying to those that follow a leader other than Jesus Christ and His word but I must stop for length sake. God Bless you and always reject lies as you pursue “Truth”!

Romans 3:4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

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The Devil isn’t the only liar! (part 2)

Lies

By Pastor Jeff,

In part 1, I spent a little time talking about the devil being not only a liar, but the father of all liars! I would like to in this section discuss who else is a liar. We know that Satan came to Eve and beguiled her and then Adam into eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Yes, Adam and Eve’s eyes were indeed opened to the knowledge of good and evil for we see immediately Adam tries to not only blame Eve but God for him falling into sin!

What I find rather shocking is that it didn’t take very long for man to easily fall into being able to lie, for after Cain slew his brother Abel, God asked Cain what happened and Cain answered in Genesis 4:9, “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” This ability to tell a lie is a part of our sinful nature in which we constant battle against, Romans 7:24, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Only the power of the Holy Ghost can free us, Romans 7:25, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Lying was such an issue that when the Ten Commandments were handed down we have a commandment in dealing with it, Deuteronomy 4:20, “Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Jesus told us where this ability comes from in Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” Revelations tell us that liars are equal to murderers in the eyes of God in 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

In our day it seems that people have become so used to lies and lying that a second thought is not given to it. It used to be that politicians and salesmen were considered skillful of telling non-truths (not all politicians and salesmen are liars). Now its just common place, it’s been even said if you really believe the lie is true that it isn’t really a lie. We used to swear on a bible with fear as a symbol that we would be telling the truth, but people will even swear to God, even though it may be blatant lie!

I wonder what would happen if what occurred in Acts 5:1-10,“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”

Lord, help us to guard our tongues and never bear false witness against God and our neighbor in Jesus Name!

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