The Stones Will Cry Out

Luke 19:28-40................28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose him and bring him here. 31 And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.' " 32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" 34 And they said, "The Lord has need of him." 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying:

" 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!'
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."    NKJV

Ever been in a crowd that was worshiping Jesus, and giving thanks to God who gave His only Son to bring us into His family through that precious blood shed at Calvary?

Then said person gives testimony of the goodness of God and some shout within the crowd, and still others within the same crowd grow silent?

Yesterday was, to me, a day to be reckoned with. I certainly needed to do some things but I felt my body needed a really good nap! But the Lord spoke to me while I laid down for the next writing of the blog and while being refreshed in the quiet solitude of His precious presence I heard Him speak these Words!

I kept hearing the Lord saying, " I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." 
So today I went in to study and be refreshed in the Word of God!

Now of late, I must confess and profess God's goodness in and through His Word specifically for healing and wholeness. There are times that my mouth is so dry, that I feel like I am spitting cotton balls while trying to get one line or verse of scripture of healing or wholeness out of my mouth. But none the less, I find the scripture and say it as loud as I can to tell my body to rise up in strength and live to what God has commanded for my life.

Back to the church crowd, and to those who have grown silent when testifying and glorifying God for His goodness to us. The testifier tells of what transpired and how God met them in the circumstance and then gives the praise. And in this testimony, how are other's hearts moved? Are they moved to give glory as well or they just quiet because they have not actually seen Him move in their lives?

These, His disciples certainly spoke out loudly of the joyful praise of what they experienced in seeing many healed and one raised from the dead! But the Pharisees did not want Jesus glorified.

The Pharisees certainly were the loudest in telling Jesus to make the disciples stop the praise. In the Pharisees thinking, they thought Jesus would make them stop the praise, and while the praise continued, they the Pharisees became enraged!

The Pharisees of that day observed the Law. From all appearances, their hearts were totally not with God.

When we read through the New Testament, we can take into account that the Pharisees wanted the praise of men.

Matthew 6: 2, 5, 16............... 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

5  and when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

16  "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.  NKJV

Yes, Jesus mentioned the Pharisees as hypocrites! Yikes!

Their evil desires showed up in some writings..........Matthew 23:25-28.......25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.  NKJV
Certainly not anything I would want to be remembered for like lawless folk, would you?

Are we reflecting Jesus even when no one sees? Do we still imitate and follow His example in spirit and in truth? Can I still give an encouraging word when confronted with "things" I did not count on occurring? Is it possible to want to raise ourselves up and try to look down "on other folk" when they are trying the walk thing with God for the first time? Surely they need a hand up and an encouragement to keep going like us all!  No one has arrived, Jesus is expected anytime time, but no one has arrived in that fullness.

Like in some of my earlier writings of this month, we can see two people dressed the same, stand side by side in the front pew of a church, lift their hands in worship and sit down to hear the "message" but both can walk out and live totally different lives. One will reflect Jesus and the other will reflect "dead man walking". 

  Spreading of His fragrance throughout the world looks and sounds like this:...............……2 Corinthians 2:15-17 ..15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. ..NKJV

The Pharisees thought they could keep all the outward rules and in someway keep with that "Standard" of God's word for their lives! And what we must remember is that God is righteous all by Himself. We become righteous because of God’s righteousness… that which…..is holiness, justice and faithfulness……….just to mention a few…..it takes someone disciplined in the Word of God……….renewed daily in the our minds, to transform, by praying and gathering with fervent Christians on a regular basis and see a change that comes from an obedience to read, pray and gather.

It takes a disciplined life to follow Jesus, being prepared to always say yes to His command.

And lastly, the Pharisees thought they were doing a good thing by keeping God's laws. They often looked down on sinners, like the tax collectors and such. They thought themselves better in most situations and wanted the praise of men! They talked the walk but never did the walk with God.

The hallmark from this all occurs on the day of the crucifixion. For men then were not praising God in His Son Jesus. Most attending  the crucifixion, saw in some people a reviling and even His disciples were seen as being in a pitiful state. But what happened? What does scripture say? Man had crucified the Lord of glory!

Matthew 27:51-53..................... 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. NKJV

Praise was perfected! The earth quaked on that day!

I believe the stones cried out in praise to the High Priest Jesus Christ!

Will we continue to worship and give praise even if "some have grown silent"? Will we continue to stand and give praise when no is watching us?  What if the "crowd" is moved toward the things of the world and the praise of it?  Or do we need a crowd, so they can see us run, and dance and yell................no.......it is more than that! It is " a willingness to open our mouths and give Praise" when no one is around and when no one cares! It is a willingness to "lift holy hands" unto the Lord and worship Him with our whole hearts!

Even in this place I walk today,  I will forever give praise to the God of Glory and His Son Jesus Christ, the Faithful, the Open Door, the Great High Priest, and the One who taught that when we do NOT worship HIM, the stones certainly will!

Father, in Jesus name, forever great is Your name, forever (Isaiah 9:6-7) Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Today it is praise we lift to You and expect your government and peace of which there will be no end. I pray that we would be empowered with our union with You today. We draw on Your strength [that strength which Your boundless might provides]. It is a Great High Priest Who has gone through the heavens, Jesus Your Son and we hold firmly to the faith we profess. Whatever discouragement, whatever the situation, we stand as Your children and confess Jesus as Lord. He is Lord over our spirit, soul and body. So today, we rise up as we pray and believe that He is Lord over all situations in our lives. We give Him praise for the strength He gives to us and we will not be silent.

We desire not to be like the Pharisees who were considered blind hypocrites, but to be humble in spirit and to Your Word that speaks,.....exposes, sifts, analyzes,and judges the very thoughts and purposes of our hearts.We understand that humility and fear of YOU brings wealth, honor and life to us! (Proverbs 22:4) Today I pray that we renounce pride and arrogance. Father it is YOU Who gives grace to the humble. Therefore today, we humble ourselves under Your mighty hand, that in due time You may exalt us. We magnify You today and believe Your ability is released within us by speaking Your words out loud! As Your Words are alive, they are active and working in us. Today we give thanks for the power of those Words that are of faith, words of power, words of love and words of life to us.  Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV