Perceiving the Divine Gift of the Holy Spirit

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

 

“He would have given you living water."

Jesus and Samaritan Woman by Guercino (PD)

Listening to God, John the Baptist, heard the purpose of the coming Messiah.

(John 1:33, All scriptures NKJV.) "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit'.”

To the Pharisee who came at night, Nicodemus, Jesus explains the need for the believer's divinely yielding life in the Holy Spirit.

(John 3:5-8) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

"Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

To the Samaritan woman he found at Jacob's well, the Messiah offers a special drink.

(John 4:10) Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

He tells her the wonderful qualities of this spiritual water.

(John 4:14) "But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

At the Feast of Tabernacles, He identifies the living water to his disciples.

(John 7:38-39) "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The World will not perceive the followers' indwelling Spirit of Truth.

(John 14:16-17) "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--

"the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

The Holy Spirit will teach and bring to memory all the instructions of the Messiah.

(John 14:26) "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

In the unity of the Godhead, the Spirit from the Father will testify to the Son

(John 15:26) "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

The Son must return to the Father to send the Spirit.

(John 16:7) "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

The One Spirit will manifest various supernatural works in the Followers of Jesus. God, himself, gives the true anointings and ministries of the Holy Spirit, not man.

(1Cor 12:4-11) “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

The Spirit appoints unique supernatural positions of duties in the congregation of followers. No, these are not prescribed by scripture to the same person but throughout the body as God determines. Although, some may overlap as experienced.

(1Cor 12:28-30) “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?”

Not least are the godly behaviors of the believers empowered by the presence of the Divine Spirit.

(Gal 5:22-25) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

“Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Seek the Face of God,

Bill Hunt

Oral Robert's Graduate Seminar on the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, move on our World.

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (NKJV Heb 12:14).

 

Mary Hunt practicing classical organ worship music.

I hear the Holy Spirit, as others also say, calling us to new and surprising things. Pray and Witness daily. He will use us in new places of ministry, spiritually and physically. Do not seek provision for these, he will so provide his way. Also, prayer is very powerful, as incense rising to his Throne. Believe by faith, know he hears and acts on every prayer divinely, whether you see or do not see visibly. Tend to scriptural teaching. Rid yourselves of things that block God. Dwell in his Divine Love. “Forgive fast! Love slowly!” as some say.

A Gift. Your salvation or religious faith does not depend on church, doctrine, works, good deeds, prayer, reading the Bible. These things will not save you. Only your relationship with his wonderful person will save you, Jesus Messiah, the Son of God. He gives this to you as a free gift, you can not earn it. Ask him. Repent of your sins, and believe wholly in him. Receive the gift of his loving relationship. Practice the daily Presence of God.

Consider, 150,000-180,000 people die worldwide everyday. How many actually expect death today? Have you ever helped anyone prepare for death? How many live for Jesus Messiah? How many actually enter Heaven? Most people, I've seen, die as they live, in love or hate. Why is there a Hell? Who goes there? Who goes to Heaven? What does God's Word say? And what is your destiny?

Why these severe winter storms? The Northeast is the most unchurched attending, non-Bible believing section of the USA. Even TV News surveys have reflected this. Does God care? Time to turn to Jesus Messiah and reflect on God. Job writes,

“From the chamber of the South comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the North. By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen. Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds. And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the whole earth. He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy” (NKJV, Job 37:9-13).

Pornography is a great deception gripping the world, society, and the church. Pornography hinders a man's love relationship with God, as it hinders and hurts the love relationship with his wife. Likewise, this occurs with women as well as men. This tears children, marriages, and families. Pornography is the addiction link to world prostitution and trafficking. God warns,

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (NKJV Heb 12:14).

Witness Report. My brother's feet and my hands were very cold this morning as we two friends ministered and prayed for healing in the town market barn. Jesus was standing with us from our starting prayer. We talked with many people, a Jewish man, Philippine woman, couple of Spanish ladies, a seasoned Veteran crew chief from a C-130, teens, singles, the elderly, mothers, children, dads, many women and many men. “I also send the children,” Jesus whispered to me earlier. They too are important. Oh yes, four or five truckers came in separately at different times to ask for red witness stickers for their trucks. Go figure! We used Arthur Blessitt reds as well as Way of the Master witness dollars and pennies. Adults and children loved them. We gave out 117 reds even in the cold. How can you be so cold and have so much fun?

Must Christians pray for the World? I call it World Power Prayer!

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for All Men, for Kings and All who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires All Men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for All, to be testified in due time” (NKJV 1 Tim 2:1-6).

Must Christians actively witness, teach, and preach the Word?

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.

“Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (NKJV 1 Tim 4:1-4).

Too many Police Officers are attacked. Lord, divinely protect our just officers who serve our neighborhoods and our nation to uphold our laws. Remind them to pray. Bring them home safely to their families each day. God bless our nation.

God of Love, I pray for your Spirit to move on this Whole World.

Power Pray for this World,
opendoorsusa.org
 

Bill Hunt
bill.hunt.108@facebook.com

 

In Pain a Little Boy Meets Jesus Crucified

From behind, a big, gentle hand and arm in a white sleeve pulled me up into his lap and held me as a little boy, nine years old.

 

Jesus and the Children

The vision showed me a force pulling horribly out-of-control to the brink of the churning black hole in the cosmos, the bottomless pit. I watched men and women sucked screaming into its infinite depths with no hope of return. I saw the terrifying entrance to death in hell.

“Am I going down there?” I asked in alarm.

From behind, a big, gentle hand and arm in a white sleeve pulled me up into his lap and held me as a little boy, nine years old. At lap-chest height, I could not see his face, but I sure felt his most tender love.

“No, you're not,” his voice spoke incredibly rich and kind, soothing my heart in tone. I'll never forget his most loving sound.

“I have some things I want you to do,” he said. I had accepted Jesus intentionally as my Lord and Savior at Baptism when I was five years old.

Weeks later, at the children's hospital, two medical interns proceeded to cut my full-leg cast off my surgically corrected clubfoot. This caused the worst pain I experienced over my one to nine years in periodic casts and night braces. The power saw felt like it was actually cutting through my leg with its round sharp blade. I really felt so. Tears ran down my cheeks and my teeth grit.

My Dad trained me to offer my pain to Jesus on the Cross. This time, it was beyond bearing.

That's when the stormy gray clouds parted, and Jesus revealed himself clearly in full color to me hanging on the Cross, crucified. He suffered horribly, beyond belief, pain in his hands and feet. Pain, in his head and whole being. The flow of my tender tears increased in my own heart for him. His head appeared massively swollen, and gray with blood-drained color.

At the height of pain, he slowly turned his face toward me and smiled! His whole being soaked with love. The clouds closed and the vision disappeared.

I told the medical interns what I had just seen. One intern tried to offer me a lollipop. I refused. The other intern switched off the power saw and finished removing the cast with a painless hand saw.

“I believe what he said, he saw,” the intern spoke deep voiced to the other.

Blessings, 
Bill Hunt

Walk with Jesus

Wise men still seek him.

 

Jesus preached to the people.

(LaVistaChurchofGod.org)

Excerpts from Mark-1 Gospel (NIV):

John, the Baptizer, preached in the desert regions by the Jordan River. He said Jesus would baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit.

“You are my Son whom I love. With you I am well pleased.” A voice was heard from the heavens at Jesus' baptism.

“The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good News.” Jesus preached in Galilee.

“Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” He said to Simon and his brother, Andrew. Then, he invited James and his brother, John, sons of the fisherman, Zebedee.

In the synagogue in Capernaum, he preached and cast out demons sternly. “Be quiet! Come out of him!” And the people were amazed.

In the home of Simon and Andrew, he took the hand of Simon's mother-in-law and raised her from bed, healing her fever. After sunset, he healed and cast out devils from many townsmen who gathered at the door.

Very early in the morning, Jesus left the house and went out to a solitary place to pray. When the disciples found him, he spoke. “Let us go somewhere else, so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Jesus met a leper who begged him on his knees. “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus touched the man. “I am willing. Be clean.” The man talked freely, spreading the news. The people came to Jesus from everywhere. 

 

--You, too, can walk with Jesus.

Wise men still seek him. Merry Christmas.

Bill

The Minister

Who is this Minister who claims to be the Messiah of God?

The Minister

Let me tell you. This minister is unique, my friend; he taught us many wonderful things. Love God with all your being, with all your heart, mind, soul, and body. And love each other, as one's self.

He taught us to live and obey the ten commandments as God gave Moses on the mountain.

He said to repent of our sins and to believe in him as the radiance of the Father's Glory and his exact representation. He gave us eternal life and God's eternal favor as a free gift.

He gave us a new command, even to love each other as he loved us. We felt from him constant, overwhelming love. He also said to love one another as we want others to love us.

He proved his love as he died for us. No greater Love has anyone than he lay down his life for his friends. We are bought, paid for, ransomed, and redeemed by his Love as a free gift.

The minister wanted us to completely trust and obey the Father as he did. He always asked the Father's Will before he did anything. He was like the ancient Hebrews who consulted God before they acted or went into battle.

The minister taught us to pray. He said we must forgive others, or we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The minister said we should be ready to help others in need, even our enemies. To feed them, to give them drink, to house strangers, to help others with proper clothing. He wanted us to visit the sick and those in prison. He said when we helped others, it would be the same as helping him.

He also gave us the Holy Spirit and sent us to preach and to witness, and to forgive sins. To heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cleanse the leper, to cast out demons. And he told us to do it all for Free, that he would always provide for us and be with us.

He explained how he is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the only way to the Father. He taught us many other things as well.

No man ever taught or lived as this man. Come follow him.

– Bill Hunt

World in Christ

Mighty Men Be Holy

Without Holiness no one will see the Lord. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Triumph of Christ by Gustave Dore, 1868

 

Women are sometimes judged as more readily knowing holiness. Truth is, God called all who serve him to be holy, Men and Women. On the great mountain, Mt. Horeb, God called Moses and the whole nation of Hebrews to be holy. (No, I don't use the other name, Mt. Sinai, because it's not located on the Sinai Peninsula; it's located in Midian right where the Bible says it is.) Whenever I see photos of the mountain, my spirit jumps for joy. There, God gave Moses the world moral code, the Ten Commandments, and there, he called us to be holy.

But the world is still in denial.

And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine (Lev 20:26 NKJV).

What about other world believers? Paul clarified it to the Early Church when writing the Ephesians.

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love (Eph 1:4 NKJV).

Peter backed it up. And you know Peter does not act too hastily. So, hear him.

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Pet 1: 15-16 NKJV).

You could pray and minister like Jesus in a prayer shawl, the Tallit. It means more than you think. The major point is God did give men the Tallit in the scripture. It was used from Moses' time to Elijah and Elisha, to Jesus and the Apostles, on to modern Jews and Christians today. It's often translated as garment or outer tunic in many verses.

Do men need to be reminded?

And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry (sexual temptation) to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God (Num 15: 39-41 NKJV).

With what kind of man, does God actually relate?

For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, (also) With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isa 57:15 NKJV).

The learned writer of Hebrews gives us the ultimate warning.

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14 NKJV).

Without holiness no one will see the Lord.

How do we get holiness?

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts (Rom 13:14 NKJV).

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

– Bill Hunt

World in Christ

Jesus Ministers Under Attack

Are you surprised when Persecution attacks your Christianity?

Jesus Heals the Sick

by Jean-Baptiste Jouvenet, 1756-59

The Pharisees, as self-styled “religious” men are want to do, looked down their noses at Jesus even in his early ministry. As an observing disciple, I felt angry at them.

“Why are you and your men not fasting as we are?”

“No one pours new wine into old wineskins or it will tear,” said Jesus. “No, he pours new wine into new wineskins,” speaking of training his disciples.

“Why are you doing what is unlawful?”

Jesus and his disciples picked the heads of the wheat on the Sabbath. The Pharisees stuck their noses out again, always trying to accuse Jesus.

“Don't you remember David gave his men the consecrated bread when they were hungry?” said Jesus. “The Sabbath is made for man and not man for the Sabbath.” Now that's a point people forget.

“Watch him and see if he works and violates the Sabbath.”

When Jesus peached in the synagogue, a man with a shriveled hand came to him. The religious Pharisees had already decided that Jesus healing on the Sabbath was forbidden labor. They were ready to pounce.

“Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill it?” No one answered him. I felt I was ready to fight if anyone stepped forward to stop the Master.

“Stretch out your hand,” he said. He looked around with distress at the faces of his religious accusers. The man's hand completely healed without Jesus even touching him. How could the Pharisees call that labor?

They even talked with the Herodian-Sadducee priestly class about how they might kill Jesus.

Jesus was mobbed again by crowds in the days ahead. People came from towns to the west and the north and even from the east across the Jordan. He healed diseases everywhere. He healed the lame; he cast out screaming demons, and the people kept coming. Finally, because of the crowds at the Sea of Galilee, he preached from a boat off shore. Smart, I thought.

He spent the night in prayer on a mountain. He selected twelve men to be apostles. He gave them authority to preach and to drive out demons. There were so many demons in the crowds; it's no wonder. Even the crowds squeezed around one house when Jesus was invited for supper. He could not eat, but continued casting out demons.

“He, too, is possessed with Beelzebub,” said the watching Pharisees.

“Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit has committed an eternal sin that will never be forgiven,” said Jesus. He said this because the Pharisees and Sadducees were attacking the works of God.

Jesus' family heard about his work with the overwhelming crowds and his trouble with the authoritarian Pharisees. Out of family love, they came to rescue him.

“Who are my mother, and brothers, and sisters,” said Jesus. “Anyone who does my Father's Will; they are my mother and brothers and sisters.” And his family left him in peace. (Adapted from Mark 2 & 3.)

--Bill Hunt, World in Christ

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Persecution is the measure of your Christianity.

The darkness always hates the Light.

Do you have Faith to pray for the World?

What Makes a Man True? by Bill Hunt

Can you recognize a True Man; are you yourself one?

“You are the Light of the World.”

(Candle Flame, www.pdphoto.org)

From king or president to worker or servant, in any position, a true man is a man of character. There are many words of quality or action we could use to describe him.

A man of God is not marked by evil.

A man of peace is not moved by panic.

A man of truth is not marred by lies.

A man of wisdom is not marked by foolishness.

A man of integrity is not moved by deceit.

A man of knowledge is not marred by ignorance.

A man of faith is not marked by fear.

A man of hope is not moved by despair.

A man of love is not marred by indifference.

A man of gentleness is not marked by meanness.

A man of forgiveness is not moved by vengeance.

A man of generosity is not marred by greed.

A man of leadership is not marked by tyranny.

A man of humility is not moved by pride.

A man of loyalty is not marred by betrayal.

A man of strength is not marked by weakness.

A man of enterprise is not moved by poverty.

A man of bravery is not marred by cowardice.

(You could, of course, list more.)

There is only one perfect man who modeled for us the Way, the Truth, and the Life. By him, we are bought, paid for, ransomed, and redeemed. There is one man to follow.

“Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:13 NKJV).

– Bill Hunt

World Prayer Alert Summary:
ISTANBUL, March 16 (Compass Direct News) – In a rare crackdown on a concentrated area, Iranian authorities have arrested Christians living in the country’s third largest city in what is seen as a tactic to discourage Muslims and converts to Christianity from attending official churches. Since last month officials have arrested about 12 Christian converts in Isfahan, 340 kilometers (211 miles) south of Tehran. Authorities have arrested leaders and members of churches meeting in buildings, as well as some from underground churches, according to Mohabat News.
The targeted arrests started on Feb. 22, when intelligence officers arrested approximately seven Christians at their homes between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., Mohabat reported. The Christian Iranian news service identified those detained on Feb. 22 as Hekmat Salimi, pastor of St. Paul Anglican Church, a convert of 30 years and author of theological books; Giti Hakimpour, 78, a female pastor at St. Luke’s Anglican Church; Shahram Ghaedi, an actor; Maryam Del-Aram, 54; Shahnaz Zarifi, a mother of two; and Enayat Jafari.
Another Christian, house church member Majid Enayat, was arrested on the same day at his workplace. Of those arrested, Mohabat reported that authorities released Hakimpour on Feb. 25. On March 2, authorities arrested another convert in Isfahan, Fariborz Parsi-Nejad. None of those arrested in Isfahan last month has been officially charged. Though religious freedom monitors in Iran said it was not clear what triggered authorities to target Christians in Isfahan, one Iranian Christian outside the country said it may be yet another tactic to stop converts from attending Farsi-speaking meetings in official church buildings.
“The government is very sensitive in Isfahan, which is the only city apart from Tehran with official church buildings,” the source said on condition of anonymity. “Now the government is focusing on the church buildings to scare the people so they don’t go.”

Read the Story at www.compassdirect.org

Jesus Works Each Person's Miracle by Bill Hunt

Jesus will Answer Your Personal Needs.

 

Paralytic Lowered Through Roof

(Art by James Tissot, 1886-96)

Following Jesus, watching him work miracles was a fabulous experience. First, we walked the dusty roads to Capernaum. On the Sabbath, Jesus went right to the synagogue and rose to teach.

“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” a man screamed out. Such a screaming demon will alarm you, and we all gasped.

“Be still. Come out of him.”

Jesus looked at him and ordered silence. The man fell to the floor shaking. When he quieted down, Jesus raised him to his feet, the man now sound of mind and body.

At the home of Simon and Andrew, Simon's mother-in-law lay sick. Jesus stepped to her bed, took her hand and raised her up. That's all he did. I didn't hear a word. Everyone in the house watched him.

Later, on the road, as we walked from village to village, a poor pitiful man with leprosy begged him on his knees. The man looked awful and smelled worse. He begged more.

“If you are willing, you can make me whole.” Needless to say, no one seemed interested in him, except Jesus.

“I am willing, be clean,” said Jesus.

The man instantly looked clean as if someone had bathed him. There was no smell, just a sweet fragrance in the air.

Now the next event I found amazing. The roof of this house in Capernaum seemed to cave in. Men tore it off. Pieces fell to the floor. People inside backed against the walls. Four men lowered a paralytic through the roof down into the house.

“Son, your sins are forgiven,” Jesus said.

The Rabbis grew huffy. Jesus turned to them, “Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven', or 'Take up your mat and walk'?”

“Get up, take up your mat, and go home!” he told the paralytic. The paralytic stood up and walked out with his friends! Everyone saw it.

In the town square, Jesus invited the local tax collector to follow him. Later, eating at the home of this new follower, Levi, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have come to call not the good, but the sinners.”

In these first few days, one thing grew apparent to me. Jesus related to each person in a personal way. He always did. You'd find the same thing. Jesus is the answer to your needs. It's like he knows every one. Turn to him. You'll see.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28, NKJV).

(Scriptures and story adapted from Mark, Chapters 1 & 2.)

– Bill Hunt

Prayer Request:

A young mother, Shamim Bibi, (2-28-12 Pakistan) has been ripped from her baby and imprisoned under penalty of death for her Christian Faith. Also, Asia Bibi (6-19-09 Pakistan) mother of five children; Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, (10-2009 Iran) father of two sons. Nations guilty of violations against most basic human rights. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom." Actively Pray for these and the Persecuted World-Wide.

Read the Story at www.compassdirect.org

Meet with Jesus by Bill Hunt

You want to walk and talk with Jesus? Ask him.

Calling the Fishermen

(Art by James Tissot, French, 1886-1994)

 

Sitting on the banks of the Jordan River one day, I watched the rustic looking John baptize people in the water, dunking them one by one. He baptized me, praying. I cried for my sins.

Several men and women around, sitting and standing, curiously enjoyed the sight. In the bright sun I saw this imposing man approach along the shore.

Later, I learned his name, Jesus.

John and he looked at each other. Jesus lay aside his main tunic and entered the water. This tremendous spiritual presence filled the air as John baptized him. It was remarkable. A beautiful, commanding voice from the Heavens sounded all around.

“You are my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

We watched astounded as Jesus put on his garment and walked away. No one moved, as if frozen. I felt my whole being filled with God. Soon after, I heard John was arrested and put in prison by that tyrant, King Herod. I didn't hear anything about Jesus, either, for several weeks.

I found him again in the regions of Galilee. I felt strongly compelled to join other men watching Jesus. The heavenly voice I heard still burned alive in my heart.

“The time is now,” preached Jesus. “Repent of your sins and believe the good news of God's Kingdom.”

I watched him when he approached the two fishermen brothers, Simon and Andrew, at the lake.

“I will make you fishers of men.”

They looked at him, folded their nets, and placed them in the boat. They followed him. A little group of us walked along the shore and watched him. We didn't want to leave.

He also called the brothers, James and John. They stepped out of their father's boat, left the crew, and walked in the slapping waves to the shore to join Jesus. It was a beautiful moment. The rest of us all smiled at the new “fishermen of men,” wondering what might be in store for them (Mark, Chapter 1).

*****

As a young man, I walked alone down the long curvy drive under the trees in the dark. Overhead, a billion stars twinkled in the night. Suddenly, I felt a presence now walking with me.

“Is that you?” I asked.

“I didn't know you watched me.”

“Yes,” he said.

“I want to talk with you”

“I've long hoped to talk with you,” I said.

“I'll always be with you,” he said.

– Bill Hunt

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him" (John 14:21 NKJV).

Q. What was it like when Jesus revealed himself to you?

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World-Wide Sons of Abraham by Bill Hunt

Hebrews, Arabs, Egyptians, and All Men & Women of Faith World-Wide are Sons & Daughters of Abraham, Called by the Creator.

Today, Jesus is Appearing to Many Who Know Him Not.

(Artist unknown)

The red hot frying pan he held burnt my hand bad. I yelled at my brother and my wife standing there and stormed out of the house. Down by the edge of town I sat down alone on a knoll to watch the desert sky. My hand hurt. At least I thought I was alone.

“Peace to you,” a young man startled me. He sat down on the knoll beside me. “You don't look well.”

“No,” I said. “I've burnt my hand,” as I lifted it toward him. “I'm definitely not happy.” 

“You must forgive them, completely, you know.... What would make you happy?” he asked philosophically.

“Only the Heavens,” I said. “The whole world is a mess. My life is a mess.” He accepted my words in silence without question. We both looked toward the blue cloudless sky.

“The whole world?” 
he echoed my comment.

“Do you remember Abraham? The Creator appeared to him and made a covenant with him. I will make you the father of many sons, he told Abraham. In fact, I will make you the father of many nations and the father of many kings.”

“What's that got to do with me?” I challenged.

“Well, you are a son of the Creator who looks down on you, and you are one of the sons of Abraham. There are millions of the sons of Abraham, many nations, and many kings.”

“How so?”

“The world is in confusion and evil because men have forgotten they are creatures of the Creator, and sons of Abraham, and even brothers to each other,” he said.

“Abraham had several wives,” 
he talked on.

“Sarah bore Isaac who fathered Israel. Hagar bore Ishmael who in turn fathered Nebaioth, Kedar, Abdeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, and Massa. Ishmael's descendants settled from Havilah to Shur near the border of Egypt. They were hostile to others.

“Abraham's next wife, Keturah, bore Zimram, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shurah. Jokshan bore Sheba and Dedan. Dedan bore the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites. Midian bore Ephah, Epher, Hannoch, Abida, and Eldaah. And so it goes. 

"Abraham sent these sons and the sons of his concubines to the lands of the East. So you see, the offspring of Abraham settled through regions of the World. You know Abraham's faith with Isaac. 'Abraham believed the Lord, and He accounted it to him as righteousness.' By his faith in the Creator, even those who are not his natural sons are millions of his sons by his faith.” 

“But now,” I said, “even Abraham's different sons, and nations, and kings make great war on each other everywhere.”

“This is not the Will of the Creator,” 
said the stranger.

"Nor is it ever the intention of Abraham, the father of faith. It is the Devil, the father of evil, who comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy, and so deceive his followers to steal, kill, and destroy.”

“There is no hope,” I said. “The World is full of evil every where there is man.”

“No,” said the stranger. “The Creator has sent a perfect martyr, a perfect sacrifice, who shed his blood to overcome the evils of this World. Like Abraham, he sent his own son of himself, the Messiah, who came to mankind to speak the truth. He humbled himself, was tortured and crucified, sacrificed himself. He fulfilled the scriptures, overcame sin, death, and the grave to show the way to eternal life. The darkness always hates the Light. He waits for you as well to submit yourself to him.”

“Where do I find this Messiah?” 
I asked.

“I am he, who speaks to you,” said the stranger.

At that moment, I looked down. My hand was healed. I looked up again.  He was gone, except in my heart. I know him. I have locked this Messiah in my heart. I know who he is. I saw him! 

All around the World, reported today again and again, men and women who know him not, are seeing visions of this Messiah Y'shua, Jesus. I cannot promise you a vision. But I know he will answer. Ask him to reveal himself to you.

– Bill Hunt

This is a Story to present a Lesson of Truth.

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Jesus is Awesome God

The True Jesus of the Bible reveals Himself to those who seek Him.

The Transfiguration shone with the

Radiance of God's Glory.

(By Carl Heinrich Block, Danish, 1834-1890)

I found myself in a vision, just a nine year old boy, swallowed toward a down churning black hole in the cosmos. Adult men and women pulled into the bottomless force disappeared out of sight. As I reached the brink, a hand from above grabbed me into the safety of his lap. I could not see his face, but I knew it was this Jesus.

“Do I have to go down there?” I asked.

“No,” said this most gentle and beautiful male voice. “I have things I want you to do.” He spoke incredibly lovingly. I knew I was very, very safe in his lap.

Some miss this, but Jesus reveals himself

to those who seek him.

v20 “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them” (John 14:20-21 NIV).

Jesus is the radiance of God's Glory,

the exact representation of his Being.

v2 But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Heb 1:2-3 NIV).

God is One, the Trinity of persons,

so revealed by the Scriptures.

v4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Deut 6:4-5 NIV).

Jesus is the Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord

of Lords, the Son of God, the Most High Himself.

v8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
v9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority (Col 2:8-10 NIV). 
 

“However, it is important to note that it is the true Christ that makes someone a Christian, not the Mormon one (brother of the devil, see Mormon Beliefs for more information), or the Jehovah's Witnesses one (Michael the Archangel), the New Age Jesus (a man in tune with the divine Christ Consciousness), etc.

“The true Christ is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; 20:28; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:8): Jesus,” as CARM instructs <http://carm.org/dictionary-christian>.

v9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work” (John 14: 9-10 NIV).

The True Jesus of the Bible is Awesome God. He reveals Himself to those who seek Him.

--Bill Hunt

“But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the Universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s Glory and the exact representation of his Being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in Heaven” (Heb 1:2-3 NIV).

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Ransom of the Rams

Watching my Rams in Nature, I realize God is teaching me.

"The Two Rams in the Field" by Bill Hunt c 2011

 

The World is cruel to Jesus, the most loving

and true man who ever lived.

Those in darkness always hate the light.

Man is born in such rebellion of sin.

So only by Love,

I am bought, paid for, ransomed, and redeemed by the Blood of Jesus.

I watched the Rams spend long years in the fields with each other as brothers. They grazed in the grass and lay in the shade of hot days. They sheltered in the hutch at night or when the weather turned inclement.

One day, two men came, orchestrated by God.

They paid the ransom for the Rams.

They caught them and took them away to a new home.

There is a herd, a ram family, lots of friends,

field, water, and good shepherds.

I see God loves my Rams.

They go to a far, far better place.

Jesus is my Shepherd.

He takes me to a far, far better place.

Though I am a sinful man,

God forgives perfectly, and God forgets perfectly.

I lift my eyes to him.

God loves perfectly.

That's why he sent his Son.

The angels come suddenly one day without warning

and take us away

to a far, far better place.

To Jesus the King, with wounds in his hands and feet.

This is the cost paid for our ransom

from sin.

The King of the Universe ransoms me.

He is the kinsman redeemer for the family of God.

He takes me to his Father,

the Ancient of Days,

the Alpha, the Omega,

the Great I AM, ONE.

I was slandered. I was reviled like him

by those with wicked hearts.

Women, with cold iron who connived evil.

Men, with extinct hearts and blind eyes and deaf ears.

No love, honesty, integrity, or truth lay

within their chests. Only darkness.

But God called me, his Witness.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not

what they do.”

Through the years, through history, daily, over and over and over again.

The Good Shepherd came and found me.

He breathed life with the Ruha into my bones,

into my spirit, and raised me up.

“You are my Prince,” he said.

He raised me up and dressed me as a Warrior King

with a battle crown.

“You are my coheir,” he said.

“With rank of king, authority, power, and rule.

Except these wounds.

These are mine alone.”

I fell on my face before him.

I found my self in Great Light at his Father's throne.

With all my being, I cried,

GLORY!

– a monologue by Bill Hunt

– Christmas & New Year Blessings to You!

"The LORD* will bless you and He will keep you.

The LORD* will make His face to shine upon you

and He will be gracious to you.

The LORD* will lift His countenance to you

and He will establish Shalom for you"

(Num 6:24-26 One New Man Bible, from the Hebrew).

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