Author: Emily Wooten

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Who is God

By Emily Wooten

God discribes himself throughout the scriptures. It is God’s desire that we know him. His character is not hidden from us. He is omniscient: knowing everything. God is omnipresent: able to be anywhere and everywhere at the same time. He is omnipotent: having unlimited power, he is all powerful. 

In Psalms 139 the psalmist declares God knew him before he was born, knows when he comes in and goes out. He said there was no place where he would be lost to God.

God is and was and is to come and makes himself and his resources available to those who choose to take him at his word and do it.

Exodus 3 when God was speaking to the human Moses about the children of Israel, he declared himself to be I Am that I Am. 

This speaks of his existence beyond the understanding of time and reminds them who he was to their fathers while pointing to who he will be to them in the future. We know that he created the earth and all that is in it and believe before time was, he was. 

In Revelations 1:8 God declares himself to be the beginning and the end, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.  

In Exodus 2:4 the name for God is Lord, Jehovah: the existing one. 

In Genesis 1:1 the name of God is Elohim. He is mighty rulers. The word is both singular and plural. We see God, the one God, existing in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which is three. 

In Joshua 3:11 he is Adon which means Lord. 

In Exodus 6:6 he is Shaddai, the Almighty.  

In 2 Kings 20:5 he declares himself to be Rapha. 

Our God is Jehovah Rapha or the God in whom healing and restoration exist. God has made himself known as our banner, shepherd, peace, provider, and more. 

In Psalms 91 God is identified as Elyon: Most High, Shaddi: Almighty, Jehovah: The Existing One, Machaseh: Shelter, Matsud: Fortress, Eloheem: rulers, shield and covering. 

In Matthew 1:26 and Isaiah 7:14 he is Emmanuel and Immanuel: God With Us. 

In Jeremiah 23:6 he is Jehovah Tsidqenu, The Lord our righteousness. 

He is ever watching over humans to perform his word in them as they by faith take his provision. 

2 Chronicles 16:9  The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect (or whole) toward him. 

God is our champion and God is holy. We must recognize that he is altogether right in everything. God is our covenant Friend, Father, and Comforter. The Almighty, the self-existing one who is Love, loves humans. 

In order for a human to love someone the way God loves, that human has to look beyond physical or material attributes to the spirit and soul of a human. 

Romans 5:5 tells us the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:8 says while we were sinners, Christ died for us. 

God’s love reached beyond human faults. By faith God sees in humans something redeemable. By faith, Love sees what humans can be and extends himself to help them. 

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Our understanding of the word love has been diminished by commercialization. The God kind of love is a force. That force compelled God to send his son Jesus to be punished and suffer death to save humans and reconcile fellowship with humans. Humans were ransomed, delivered and restored. That same love caused Jesus, who is God to lay aside his position of authority as God. He endured a human body, suffered, and died, knowing he would have to go to hell to defeat the devil, release those held captive and be resurrected. That was all nasty, disgusting work but necessary for our redemption. 
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Gotta Tell Somebody

By Emily Wooten

Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

In Acts 7 we see that Stephen wasn’t shy and did not hesitate to share the good news. Stephen had already laid down his life in service to God before they started questioning him about his belief in Jesus. He understood there was no more important thing he could do than share what God had done for us. When the religious rulers of the day asked Stephen to explain why he believed in Jesus, he started with the story of Abraham. He told them how God had appeared to Abraham and promised him that he would raise up a ruler from his seed. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Because Abraham trusted God, he became a part of God’s plan to bring a savior and king into the earth, even tho there was no king in Israel when God made a covenant with Abraham. 

Stephen told them how God gave Abraham and Sarah a son and they called him Isaac. He showed them how Isaac had Jacob and then he shared with them how Jacob’s little boy, Joseph faced hardships. He explained how God caused Joseph to prosper and blessed everything he put his hand to. 

Stephen showed them how Israel came to live in Egypt with Joseph as a leader there. As time passed, Israel was being treated poorly and God raised up a another leader, named Moses. He told them about the miracle of Moses being found by Pharaoh’s daughter and how he was raised in a king’s palace. Stephen shared the story of how God appeared to Moses and called him to lead his people to freedom. He explained how Joseph’s descendant, David the shepherd boy became King David. Line upon line Stephen laid out the gospel, how God made covenant with Abraham and worked with humans throughout the years to bring Jesus into this earth to redeem humans from sin. 

We have the privilege of sharing the same gospel. We can tell others that Jesus came to save us. 

Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

We can tell them how Jesus said he would send Holy Spirit to help us. 

John 2: 16  I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever…

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Water Baptism

by Emily Wooten

Jesus told his disciples to go, teach and baptize. That is still our calling today.

In Matthew 28:20 Jesus said, “Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:”

Water baptism is for all Christians. It is a public confession of a Christian that they believe in Jesus as savior. We see John the Baptist preached, calling humans to repent and be baptized.  Jesus was baptized by John. 

Matthew 3:13-17 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Acts 2:38-41 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. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 16:31-33 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.

When we are baptized, the act of being submerged in water represents how Christ was buried in the tomb and then as we are lifted out of the water it represents Christ’s resurrection.

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Never Failing Faith

by Emily Wooten

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 3 and 4 reviews the tragic loss experienced by the Children of Israel when they refused to take God at his word. How many miracles did a people need to see before they would be convinced God is faithful and can do what he said he would?

Hebrews 11: 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Also in Hebrews 11 we are reminded how Abraham did not hold back his son but was willing to yield his will so God could have his way.

Hebrews 11: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him (Isaac) up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Abraham had the vision of Isaac being the father of a people. 

In John 8:56 Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” 

 Abraham saw in a vision Jesus, his birth, death and resurrection and rejoiced. Abraham already received some 1900 years ahead of time a prophetic glimpse into the life and ministry of Jesus and that caused him to be excited.

Does what you believe about Jesus and the new birth cause you to be excited? Does your faith in what God is doing in your life compel you to gladness?

Look at Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

When Abraham was leaving the young men he declared his intent. We will go yonder and come again to you. Abraham saw in his spirit, by faith Isaac raised from the dead before he left to go yonder. That’s how he could say without lying, “and come again to you.”

Jesus is still working through his church to deliver, set free and heal. To anyone who will take him at his word, he is savior, redeemer and friend.

Psalms 91: I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

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Sanctification

Webster’s Dictionary defines sanctification as set apart to a sacred purpose. In 1 Thessalonians 3: 10-13 Paul told the church he continued to pray for them that God would direct his way unto them and the Lord make them to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as he did toward them: so God could establish their hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Our father wants us to be just like him.
Leviticus 19:2 records the Lord’s emphasis on being holy. The word for holy in Hebrew is “qadash,” which means to sanctify, consecrate, and dedicate or to be separated from the world and worldliness.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-23 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In John 15:1–5 Jesus told them they had been cleaned through the word that Jesus spoke to them. He told them to abide in him and he would abide in them. He wanted them to bear good fruit. Jesus explained that the only way to bear good fruit was to abide in him and his word.
Ephesians 4:21–24 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 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.
Paul said now that we are created in righteousness and true holiness, we can be renewed in the spirit of our mind and put on the righteous and holy nature of God.
Have you ever heard the expression “A chip off the old block”? The statement means the person is just like their parents. We get a sense of accomplishment when our children display admirable characteristics they have learned from us. So much more our heavenly father wants us to do well by practicing his good habits.
Psalms 145:I-5 I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
One generation should be proclaiming God’s goodness to the next. Let’s praise him not only in words of worship but also by behaving ourselves in a way that brings glory to God for the life we live.

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Born Again

by Emily Wooten

2 Corinthians 5:16-19 Know no human after the flesh: we did witness and knew Christ after the flesh. Now if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (that is his or her spirit is a new creature): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.
Believing in the son of God and submitting to Jesus as Lord of all is the only way humans can be restored to a relationship as children of God.
When any human believes in Jesus Christ as the only begotten son of God, who died for our sins, was raised from the grave, and confesses Jesus as Lord, that human’s spirit is born again.
John 3:3 Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus was speaking about the human spirit becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus. He continued in verse 14-17 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes 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.
1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 Peter 2:24 tells us that Jesus bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.
It wasn’t enough that Jesus died for our sins. He was raised on the third day victorious over the forces of evil. Death, hell and the grave could not hold him.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 tells us, by man (speaking of Adam) came death, by man (speaking of Jesus) came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Through Adam’s sin, separation from life and light brought weakness, sickness, and lack to all humans. With Jesus’ sacrifice, access to God was established for all humans who will believe in Jesus Christ.

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Growing Up Spiritually-Part 4

The Fruit of A Born Again Spirit By Emily Wooten
Galatians 5:22-23 …The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…
What do we mean when we talk about fruit? One might say that fruit refers to the product of a newborn spirit. We can be ruled by these forces of a newborn spirit.
Romans 5:5 … because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
God’s love, for God is love, produces forces that help us manage our behavior. Jesus walked in love with patience.
1 John 2: 5 But who keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Jesus managed his behavior as a human in this earth. We can too. (The word perfected in 1John 2:5 means to make complete, to accomplish, brought to its end.)
Ephesians 4: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The work perfect here also means to be brought to its end, finished, wanting nothing, mature. We see that we are working toward and end. That end will produce in us peace.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing (Don’t be anxious); but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We are instructed to keep ourselves from being anxious. The same way love is in our spirit, so is all the fruit of a newborn spirit there. We must use these forces of love to overcome every undisciplined thought. Before we produce fruit that is inappropriate: hate, anger, boasting, impatience, we have thoughts that suggest we should behave that way. That is the place where the fruit of the spirit is produced or the works of flesh. We choose.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
If we see a brother or sister who has allowed themselves to be overtaken by ungodly behavior, this is a good time to speak the truth in love. Paul would not have suggested that we can have a spirit of meekness if it were not possible. We can choose to operate in humility, walking in love with patience. The Holy Spirit can give us the right words to say to love and help someone. If we choose works of the flesh we might be accusative, abrupt and without compassion. Notice the scripture says to consider yourself so you aren’t tempted. Walking in love produces faith and patience.
James 1:3-5 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and does not criticize; and it shall be given him.
Confession: I operate in love, joy and peace and God calls me perfect, entire, and wanting nothing.

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Growing Up Spiritually-Part 3

By Emily Wooten
Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
In Colossians 1:9-11, Paul prayed that the body of believers (new born Christians) at Colossae would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; so they could walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; which would cause them to be strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness…
This is a good example of how we can pray over ourselves and our loved ones. Without his Spirit teaching us, we can be a born again Christian and still not understand what is God’s will.
If a child did not grow as time passed, we would think something is wrong and we would be right. It is not God’s will for the human who has asked Jesus to forgive their sins and come into their heart to still be a baby Christian years later. Paul also prayed in
(Ephesians 3:16-19 That God would help you, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in your inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend how expansive is God’s love; and to experience the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.)
In this paraphrased copy of Ephesians 3 prayer, we can see that God’s love working in us fills us with the fullness of God as we are rooting and grounded by Christ’s word being planted in our spirit and we are strengthened with his might. It is available now to every Christian but it is up to every Christian to apply God’s word and instruction in love.
James 1:21-22 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
What we choose to say about God in us can over ride any thought that would prevent us from exercising God’s word in our lives. When thoughts come to make us week remember. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby…
Confessions:Hearing & Speaking God’s Word Causes Me To Grow!

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Growing Up Spiritually-Part 2

By Emily Wooten
John 3:3… Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus told Nicodemus it was impossible to see the kingdom of God if you haven’t been born of the Spirit. When a human accepts Jesus as Lord, the Holy Spirit creates in that human a new spirit. That spirit is alive and connected by the Holy Spirit to God. There is no more separation from God. That human spirit is a baby in Christ. If the spirit is fed, it will develop and grow more mature. If the newborn is never fed the word of God, they can be a physically mature person but still have a baby spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:9-14 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. 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. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Thank God! Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to teach us. As we study to show ourselves approved, a workman that needs not be ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15), we grow spiritually learning how to see (perceive and understand) the things of the kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
It is God’s desire that we look to find his way of doing things so he can help us with all the things we need.
1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
We have available to us the Holy Spirit. We are born of his spirit and God wants us to labor to enter in by studying and doing his word.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
Paul continued to tell them they were babies; unable to receive the mature words or doctrine. As we hear the word, lets receive it as doctrine to live by and apply it to our behavior as we do we grow!

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Growing Up Spiritually-Part 1

By Emily Wooten
Read Ephesians 4:7-15
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
God gave ministry gifts so the body of Christ would be built up, edified and grow up.
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Paul wrote we should no longer be children tossed by every wind of doctrine.
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ…
Jesus is our example; the measure we aim for. Paul would not have written that we should grow up, if it was not possible. If it was not possible to be perfect or complete, (whole, lacking nothing) God would not have required that. But it is possible and he does require that.
Spiritual maturity has little to do with chronological growth or maturity.
A human isn’t born an adult physically. Neither is a newborn Christian mature spiritually the moment they receive Christ. Maturity involves learning, practicing and experiencing. We develop as we try to do what we have learned.
Psalms 8:1-2 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Even babies can learn to speak the truth in love and as we do, we grow. Because we learn to understand how awesome our God is, we learn to accept how excellent he can be in and working through us.
1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew (avoid) evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (ensue is to make it happen)
Ephesians 3:16-19 That God would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Weekly Confession: Thank you Father! I am being filled with all the fulness of God. Every day I grow stronger, smarter and speak the truth in love.