Tom Fisher - Farm Struggles in Extreme Heat. Biblical Lessons.

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

Thank you for praying for me, my livestock, and my farm as the hot, dry, humid weather is back. My sheep seem to be more resilient than my cows. I have to pour water on my cows, bull, and steer to get them cooled off.

I have been pondering why I have always used the King James Bible for the last 52 years. I got my first King James Bible in eighth grade. My parents pulled my brothers and me out of the public schools and enrolled us in a Dutch Reformed parochial school. They had one thing right: they used, studied, and memorized the King James Bible as being the true Word of God. I loved to memorize, study, and ponder the true Word of God in the King James Bible. This enabled me to accept and cling to Luther's correct teaching after I graduated from high school. Bible class was my best class. Soon I was memorizing large portions of Scripture. I memorized Isaiah 53 and many precious Old Testament passages such as Isaiah 7:14 and Ezekiel 37:12 and Jeremiah 17:9.  I noticed all of the Old Testament passages being quoted in the New Testament. I experienced the perfect unity of Scripture as a whole. It rang true, just like the huge bell called Big Ben that was attached to the Westminster clock in England. Bells with a crack go clunk. So also the corrupt Bibles (ESV, NIV, NKJV, RSV, ...Beck) go clunk. They do not ring true. They have false doctrine, errors, omissions, and endless subtle corruptions. They hurt my spiritual ears. So I held to the true Word of God in the King James. 

Heretics love the corrupt Bibles (NIV, ESV, NKJV, RSV...). They love doubting the text. They love the footnotes that create doubt in the text. For example the NIV says (The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20) What better way to deny the resurrection of Christ than to cast doubt on the text of God's Word. The NIV completely denies Jesus is God and man in one person by stating "He appeared in a body" instead of the King James Bible true reading of 1 Timothy 3:16 that says, "God was manifest in the flesh." The NIV footnote says, "Some manuscripts God" as if the Greek word "theos" which says "God" in English can scarcely be found in any Greek manuscript. This is a lie.

 Are you beginning to see the gravity and seriousness of this? You are in serious trouble with the Lord if you are not extremely upset and deeply troubled by the corruptions, lies, omissions, and extreme errors in the corrupt Bibles (ESV, NIV, ESV, NKJV, Nestle Aland Greek, United Bible Society Greek).

Immerse yourself in reading, pondering, and listening to the true Word of God in the King James Bible. I often tune my 5 G smart phone to the audio King James Bible. In just two hours I can listen to God's Word from the entire book of John. Like Big Ben it rings true, giving me true comfort, true faith in Christ, and a peace that passes all understanding. Only one thing is needful: listening to the true Word of God found in the King James Bible. So turn off the awful TV news and programming and listen to, read, and ponder the true Word of God in the King James Bible.

The temperature was 100 at 3 this afternoon. One of my cows I call "Fuzzy" had her mouth open gasping for breath. I kept pouring cool water on her back until she started breathing normally. I followed the same procedure for all nine of my cows, bull, and steer. My sheep and my guardian dog Ringo are more resilient. It's getting close to evening chores and I am sure my cows will need to be cooled down again. 

Please publish and add your comments as you wish. You may also use and publish these pictures from my farm. Tell Norma Boeckler to use any picture that she would like.

I Am Fine - Just Carrying Out Neighborly Tasks

 

I have slowed down because Ranger Bob had artery blockage in his legs, requiring surgery for a massive infection. That requires specialized infection (aka wound) treatment twice a week, plus daily IV infusion at the hospital for the next three weeks.

Recovery has been remarkable.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - Psalm 116:10: I believe, for I will speak. "There the heart is full, and the mouth must run over. Then when they are persecuted, they will not care."

 

Link to the Complete Sermon - Luther's Sermons - Mark 7:31-37. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

24. Then they praise God, saying: “He hath done all things well, he has made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.” For wherever there is true faith, there the Spirit will not allow you any rest; you will break forth, become a priest, teach other people also, as we read  Psalm 116:10: “I believe, for I will speak.” There the heart is full, and the mouth must run over. Then when they are persecuted, they will not care.

25. But the part of the story, that Christ took the man apart from the others, looks up to heaven, has this meaning: If God do not take me alone to a separate place, and give me the Holy Spirit, so that I cling to the Word which I have heard, then all preaching is in vain. But why does this require so much that he looks up to heaven and makes use of divine power, calling upon God’s grace to come and to act? By this he teaches us that such power must come from heaven, working in the heart of man by divine strength; then help comes to him. Again the spittle which is the Word of God is a noble thing for the Old Adam. Then they go forth to praise and glorify God.

26. Thus have you learned, from the story and from its spiritual or secret meaning, that we must first hear the Word of God and thus, through the intercession of Christ, obtain a faith of our own, and then we come out, confessing this and praising God forever. May this be sufficient on this Gospel lesson. Let us pray to God for grace.

The ELDONUT Herald, Malone, Texas. “Rumination and Requiem—Reflections on the Lutheran Confessional Synod on the 29th Anniversary of its Founding”—Heiser

ELDONA started as the Lutheran Confessional Synod, which was initially led by Bishop Randy DeJaynes, former ELCA pastor who went to prison for a time. ELS pastors Jay Webber and Kincaid Smith convened with Heiser to have WELS-ELS and LCS in fellowship. They were allowed to pray together. Heiser wanted to keep the Gerhard press, naming it Repristination Press, a bow to CFW Walther and Objective Justification.

Some details from 2017 about DeJaynes, Heiser, and the Webber-Smith-Heiser connection.

Pre-Bishop: Heiser and early proselytes. Pastor Eric Stefanski is on the far right and below.

One Version - Lutheran Confessional Synod - 

From Wikipedia

The Lutheran Confessional Synod (LCS) was a Confessional Lutheran church, characterized by a strict interpretation of the Lutheran Confessions and a historical liturgy. Organized in 1994, when Christ Lutheran Church in Decatur, Illinois, broke away from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, it initially declared doctrinal agreement with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod,^[1][2][3] but broke fellowship with those two synods on June 14, 1997, because of differences in the doctrine of the ministry and the Lord's Supper.^[1][4] The LCS organized the Johann Gerhard Institute (a denominational publishing house) and St. Anselm Theological Seminary in 1996.^[1]

The LCS' first bishop was the Rev. Randy L. DeJaynes, consecrated to that position on October 7, 1994.^[3][5] As of 2009, stating a "desire to return to the Apostolic faith," some former LCS clergy were chrismated in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, while others entered the Roman Catholic Church.^{[citation needed]} At least one is now a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America. By 2012, it was reported that the church body had disbanded.^[6]

Another Version - ELDONA

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. (September 2007) This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2009)

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The Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (ELDoNA) is a confessional Lutheran church body in the United States. There are twenty-eight pastors in the diocese, serving congregations in Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin plus Colombia and the Philippines.^[1][2]

The ELDoNA was founded June 6, 2006 at a meeting held at Salem Lutheran Church, Malone, Texas. A second diocesan synod was held August 28 and 29, 2007.^[3] The third diocesan synod was held at Christ Lutheran Church in Richmond, Missouri on May 22, 2008,^[4] and the fourth in the same location, May 14–15, 2009.^[5] For the fifth Colloquium and Synod, the diocese returned to Malone, Texas, May 12–15, 2010,^[6] and met there again for the sixth Colloquium and Synod May 11–13, 2011. The sixth Colloquium and Synod was the first in which all but one of the pastors of the diocese and the entire clergy of the Association of Confessional Lutheran Churches (ACLC) were in attendance. Among the significant decisions of the 2011 synod was the resolution to open a diocesan seminary in September 2012; the 2012 synod chose to delay that planned opening to 2014. The 2012 synod took place at Salem Lutheran Church in Malone, Texas the week of April 23–27, 2012, and the 2013 synod took place April 29–May 3, 2013.

 Lawson - ACLC - strictly Objective Faithless Justification.

Above - The angel pose and the Almy costumes were apparently not mandated at this time.

In August 2013 the ACLC broke fellowship with the ELDoNA due to the latter's stand on the doctrine of Objective Justification.^[7]

In 2006, James Heiser was called to serve as the diocesan bishop. Heiser has published a volume of essays on the doctrine of the holy ministry entitled Stewards of the Mysteries of God.^[8] He is also the author of a study of the neo-Platonic revival which took place during the Italian Renaissance, entitled Prisci Theologi and the Hermetic Reformation in the Fifteenth Century.^[9]

In 2013, Repristination Press published a volume of essays by Pastor John Rutowicz which sets forth the diocesan understanding of the episcopal office: Holding Fast the Faithful Word: Episcopacy and the Office of the Holy Ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America.^[10]

The diocese produces The Lutheran Herald, a monthly devotional journal that also includes diocesan news.^[11]

"Ask the Pastor" Sullivan obsesses about  the Apocrypha. He, Rydecki, and Carver left ELDONA at the same time.

Milkweed and Monarch Butterflies in the Creation Rose Garden

I did not see much from the Monarch butterflies until a few days ago. True to his Osage heritage, Ranger Bob spotted a swarm of butterfly caterpillars on the butterfly plants in front of the patio. They were just hatched out, not plump yet.

For years I have promoted butterfly plants, especially those catering to Monarchs, but also any plant listed as a pollinator. The result has been an overwhelming mixture of scents and butterflies of all types frolicking about. Bees consider me a good friend and never sting. Of course, I do not yell at them and swing utensils at them.

Hummingbirds have added to the delights. 

Christina ordered a front yard of roses, so they add to the overwhelming fragrance as well. 

I suggest being patient with the Monarch weeds promoted by garden suppliers. They are worth the wait.

Lutherdom Explained by Two Major, Successful Onslaughts

The Lutheran sects of America are overwhelmingly Calvinist and Papal, blended together in their hatred for the Biblical Reformation of the 16th century. As Chemnitz wrote in his Apology of the Book of Concord - the non-Lutherans who broke from Luther were not Reformers but wannabees! The copycats feigned fidelity to the Bible but they wanted a copyright for their strange and contradictory claims. Thus Zwingli established the foundation of Calvinism by rejecting the efficacy of the Word and the Means of Grace.

Although many Babtists teach faith in Christ, the burrowing Babtist-Calvinists seem to be taking over in the name of covenant. Covenant means God will only prosper those who give 10% and more to God - "He won't bless you unless you bless Him."

• Hast thou not noticed that all the modern Bad Bibles are variations on doubt, Zwingli, and Calvin? 
• And the Bad Bible Boosters (RSV, NRSV, ESV, NIV and Beck) mock the King James Version?
• And that the KJV unifies Christendom instead of dividing and destroying?

The origin of the Bad Bibles is the KJV Revision of 1881, as illustrated above. In short, the worst apostate leaders in America and Britain beat down the conservatives and the very limited scope of the Revision. They created such a horrible, dishonest Revision that no one would buy it once they saw the contents. Nor could anyone fix the Revision because the Biblical harlots were striving for total control.

Fifty years later, the Revision popped up again, like a bloated pig inflated by its death in a flood (which we saw during the St. Louis, 1993 flood. The 1930s hailed modernism, cooperating with every sect, and lusting for merger. Like the Methodists, the Lutherans figured out that they could steal all the assets by making the conservatives march away in a fury, leaving almost everything behind, keeping their old hymnals and little else.

The Lutheran blogs and discussion groups today are laughable, with almost no content, no Reformation knowledge, and no sense of humor. They used to rage against the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace, but now they rest on their flaccid fannies and praise one one another for their leadership. 

The apostate sisterhood has been capitulating to the Zwingli Calvinists for almost 100 years:

1. Bad Bibles
2. Worsening Hymnals
3. Constant digs against the Reformation.

ELCA-LCMS-ELS-ELDONUTs Love Dress-Up Day

The orans or angel pose seems to have spread its infection to the quasi-Lutherans. 

One historian called it "sinuflecting toward Rome," sneaking and snaking toward Roman Catholicism while tugging along the denomination. That was the plan of Cardinal Newman, and it worked fairly well. After all, he wrote "Lead Kindly Light," a hymn suited for all religions.

The Lutheran Church in America promoted the sisterhood first, awkwardly at first. At the Ad Fontes Holy Communion service, Synod President James Crumley looked strangely at the female pastor using the extreme orans pose, bowing toward the communion elements.

Christina and I did not participate, but wondered afterwards how much wackier worship was going to be in the future. We saw the same sort of Romanizing at Ft. Wayne, with David Scaer marching down the aisle in a big ceremony, as if in a trance.

When two WELS pastors side-stepped over to the LCMS, one posed in his pink cope - or was it rose? WELS finally abandoned their Geneva (black) gowns in favor of Vogue gowns. Progress?

At an ELS installation, the pastor genuflected toward the elements. Missouri began using incense. ELDONA regressed from Eastern Orthodox threads down to Almy Roman Catholic costumes - enhanced by EO haybale beards.

Lutherans have been buying Roman Catholic Bibles and promoting the Apocrypha for decades. Let's face it - the Apocrypha is boring and uninspired. 

"Ask the Pastor" should be banned until Lutherans have exhausted the treasures of the Bible and repudiated the detritus of the Revision.

No words - they even found a way to top Liz Eaton, with ELCA's United Not-Lutheran Seminary.

Matt the Fatt:

"Oh, I could sing a sonnet

About my bishop's bonnet

If I had some donuts

At the ELCA parade."

The Speed of the HP Laser Printer!

Best Buy's Three Hour Delay

Recently I had Best Buy over for some issues. That ended with setting up a new printer so the active computers could use the same printer. Yesterday, I needed to print up the pharmaceutical list for the infusion nurses. I did everything and yet the printer did not hum and whirl. I tried twice and gave up, using the stone age ink pen for the list. Three hours later, I checked email and the printer suddenly lit up, printing two clear examples of the list I created - and "printed" - three hours earlier in Word. 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "And this spittle, the Word of God, is a noble thing, but very bitter to the Old Adam."

 

Link to the Complete Sermon - Luther's Sermons - Mark 7:31-37. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

PART 2. THE SPIRITUAL MEANING.

20. The people bring the poor man to the Lord, the Lord takes him to a special place, lays his fingers into the man’s ears, spits, and touches his tongue with the spittle, looks up toward heaven, and sighing, says, Ephphata, that is, Be opened! This is a lovely picture, and its meaning is good. For by those who here bring the deafmute to the Lord, the office of the ministry is meant. Ministers and the Apostles lead the poor consciences of men to God. This is done in three ways, by preaching, by a godly life, and by intercession. With the Word and preaching, they are brought to God; a godly life serves to show the Word so much the mightier in its power. But the Word itself leads to Christ, though it be preached by a sinner. Yet, a good life serves as an emphasis and a furtherance of the Gospel; while a wicked life dulls its edge. Their third duty, to pray for the people, likewise leads them on the road both to faith and to works.

21. Now if the Word go on its way in this threefold manner, it cannot fail to bring forth fruit, as God says, Isaiah 55:11: “My Word, that goeth forth out of my mouth, shall not return to me void.” This is indicated by the action of the pious persons who carry the mute into Christ’s presence; this signifies the ministers, who bring forward the sinner; then God appears, giving growth and increase, as Paul says, 1 Corinthians 3:7, He opens the sinner’s eyes, ears, and mouth. This happens in a wink of the eye, for God’s Word is like lightning, which in a moment passes from sunrise to the ends of the earth. Thus when such persons are brought to God, he gives them grace to believe.

22. This is signified by the act of laying his fingers into the man’s ears; through the Word he breathes the Holy Spirit into him, making the heart believing, decent, chaste, and holy; for the finger signifies the Holy Spirit.

23. Again, the spittle that is laid on the man’s tongue, typifies the Word of God; this is put into his mouth in order that he may be able to speak it. And this spittle, the Word of God, is a noble thing, but very bitter to the Old Adam.

24. Then they praise God, saying: “He hath done all things well, he has made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.” For wherever there is true faith, there the Spirit will not allow you any rest; you will break forth, become a priest, teach other people also, as we read  Psalm 116:10: “I believe, for I will speak.” There the heart is full, and the mouth must run over. Then when they are persecuted, they will not care.

Hebrews 9 - Daily Verses - And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament...

 

Nota bene - Daily medical assistance, IV infusion at the hospital, is being provided for a neighbor, so the remaining Hebrews chapters will be posted by chapter.

Hebrews 9

1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "Christ was my priest, who prayed for me and purchased faith and the Spirit for me..."

 

Link to the Complete Sermon - Luther's Sermons - Mark 7:31-37. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

9. Therefore, by all means beware of the preachers whom you have often heard among the monks, who approach a dying person and say: “Behold, my brave fellow, do not despair; if you have committed sins, be sorry for them; but in order that you may fare so much the better, I will make you a present of my righteous life and my good works.” If now, the dying person accept such a gift, he is as much a fool as the other, and with all these works, he ‘will go to the devil. Therefore, beware of such consolation, and say: If you are willing to serve me with your good works, approach God and speak thus: O heavenly Father, by thy grace I am now believing; therefore, I pray thee, my God, give also unto this poor man a faith of his own. This might help me; but that you would give me your own faith, this you cannot do, neither would it help me. You will have enough to do to be saved by your own faith.

10. This you may see in the case of the foolish virgins, who, when their lamps went out, said unto the wise virgins: “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.” Then did the wise ones answer and say: “Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you.” Matthew 25:8-9. In that case I am in need even of more faith for myself; how then could I share it with another? For my own faith must stand before God’s judgment, and must fight so hard and cleave so firmly to God’s mercy, that the sweat will run down its face, if it is to prevail. That is the true meaning of St. Peter’s words, 1 Peter 4-18: “The righteous is scarcely saved, where then shall the ungodly appear?” For when death makes its onslaught, then such fear and agony will seize him, that he can scarcely with all his strength, stand for himself and be kept in faith. Hence it is greatly to be deplored that they have established so much deception, putting monks’ cowls upon the dead, and inventing other foolish things, by which they led poor souls straightway to perdition. Beware of them.

11. Now this I say, that you may know how far the faith of others may be of use to us, and how your own faith can help you. Other people’s merits will help you to attain a merit of your own, and nothing more. And though all the angels, yea, the mercy of God itself, were ready to stand for you, it would avail you nothing, unless you cleave unto it with a faith of your own. But it may effect this, that it will assist you to obtain a faith of your own, which will help you. Furthermore, even if Christ did die for us, and pledged and gave his body and life, blood and flesh for us, and became our advocate; yet it would avail nothing, unless we believe in him. But he can assist us in this way, that he appears before the Father and says: “O Father, this have I done for mankind; do thou give them faith, in order that they may enjoy it.” This then, will help us, if we feel assured that his works and merit are our own. In the same manner one should also speak of the other saints, that no saint’s intercession and merit avail unless we ourselves believe. You observe this also in our lesson. There lies the poor man, unable either to speak or to hear. They who bring him to the Lord can speak and hear. But they cannot make him speak by their hearing and speaking, and even though they all had come near him and said: “We will speak and hear for you”; yet he would, in spite of this, have remained speechless and deaf continually, and would never have been able to speak.

12. Likewise, if I were to give you a written declaration saying: “Go forth, this is my work; this shall be yours”; yet it will not help you a whit, but it will carry you into hell. In what way, then, will it help you? If I do, as these men do, who come to Christ and say: “O Lord, help this poor man, that he may receive his speech?’ They do not say: “We will hear and speak in your stead,” but they pray that Christ himself would give him speech. Likewise, if you take my part, and use your faith in such a way that it may help me to a faith of my own, this might help me; thus! thus it must be! God be thanked! Otherwise, no work nor any brotherhood, will avail.

13. Therefore say: I must neither rely upon your works nor you upon mine; but I will, by my own faith, pray God to give you a faith of your own. This is what is said, that we all are priests and kings, that we, like Christ himself, may intercede for one another before God, praying for personal faith.

Thus, if I happen to notice that you have no faith of your own, or a weak faith, I go and ask God to help, you to obtain faith, not by giving you my faith and my works, but your own faith and your own works; so that Christ may give him all his works and salvation through faith, as he hath given them to us by faith.

14. That is the meaning of the saying of Christ, John 16:26-27: “I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” This is a beautiful addition, as though he would say: I have prayed for you, and have entreated God that he would give you what is mine. Therefore know my name. For through my prayer he has accepted you and has given you faith, so that henceforth you may pray for yourselves, and I need not do it; provided that you do it in my name. Here he has crowned us, dedicated and anointed us with the Holy Spirit, so that we all are priests in Christ, and may exercise the priest’s office, go before God and pray for one another. This is what St. Peter means in writing thus in his First Epistle, 1 Peter 2:9-10: “Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may shew forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, which in time past were no people, but now are the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

15. Hence we may all say: Christ was my priest, who prayed for me and purchased faith and the Spirit for me; therefore I am also a priest, and must go on praying in the world, that God may give faith also to this and that person. So we conclude, that we shall obtain whatever we earnestly pray for in the true faith, as the Lord says, John 16:24: “Ask, and ye shall receive.”