An ORANGE CRUSH, Please!

I remember the orange crush drink. Yes, a soda with a zest of the very sweetened orange to fill a sweet tooth completely and with cold ice included is or was something I did not mind in my youth. I certainly added the "Please" to make sure I was courteous about receiving such a grand prize of delicious goodness to my mouth.
As the child, I could dance around in merriment because I had gotten this delicious drink: JUST BECAUSE!

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones. NKJV

But it is more than a sweet drink that one needs to have the "merry" heart. This "merry" is the gleeful type of heart to have. It also sounds like one who can go in and cheer up a room full of people. Or at least that is what it appears to me to be. This also sounds like being really joyful with a dance.

When thinking on this "merry" today, I think of my sister. Now as a young child she could enter a room and have people laughing in minutes. When she got to be a teenager, she still could bring a laugh or two, but by that time she was more skilled in delivering that "funny" word, or "funny" look as she spoke about something she liked.  She certainly could deliver a more funny and cleaner joke than what was on T.V. at the time.
She was never lost for word when she was delivering what she thought had to be the best "joke" in town. And I always thought she should have been a comedian on T.V. or even worldwide.


Proverbs 15:13
3 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.  NKJV

Now for me, it was hard enough growing up, and trying to keep up with her and her better than average person's A's............I had study a lot to get and maintain the B grade. Although C was normal for Physical Education,  I believe I held that grade for most of that grade was about climbing those ropes all the way to the ceiling I had trouble with. Not sure why we needed to touch the ceiling of our gym but it was the "expected" to move up those ropes. Yeah, right, and I needed it today to do what?

 As the years have gone by, my sister and I have lived for most of our lives separated by thousands of miles. In keeping touch by phone we find time to reflect on our day, what the Lord is doing and laugh about the dog we have or the pet rabbit of our niece. But in all the short of amount of time, my sister is like that "orange crush, please!" She has been through a lot of late. Both she and my brother-in-law have weathered and marched out the storms with a laugh still found on their lips and down in their hearts. Seeing our mother pass recently, sis and Shorty maintained their stature of holding themselves in God and believing the best for anything and anyone who crossed their paths in all decisions to be made concerning our mother's last moments.

Delicious goodness: Yes, they delivered not only to her, but to us as well the importance of keeping the right spirit and referring always to God's goodness. I know they ministered to me in many ways. Yes, I have been ministered to by my sister in many ways. In her youth, her laughter made me feel alive. In her effortless work of maintaining A's, I worked harder to stay with the flow. In the absence of our mother today, my sister still walks with a joy in her heart, and I pray strength in her body. I pray today that God is still with her, and will strengthen her to finish the course He purposed for her and Shorty's as well. For to her and to Shorty, their look is to HIM in fulfilling that which He said He would do for them!

I spoke with them today and yes felt like I had received my orange crush. What a blessing families are to us and what an opportunity as we all speak with one voice to give God glory for all that He has done for us and all that He will do for us.

Psalm 32
32:1 What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record.

3 There was a time when I wouldn't admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. 4 All day and all night your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day 5 until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess them to the Lord." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

6 Now I say that each believer should confess his sins to God when he is aware of them, while there is time to be forgiven. Judgment will not touch him if he does.

7 You are my hiding place from every storm of life; you even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory. 8 I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress. 9 Don't be like a senseless horse or mule that has to have a bit in its mouth to keep it in line!

10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but abiding love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. 11 So rejoice in him, all those who are his, and shout for joy, all those who try to obey him.  TLB


Those who abide in God's love are those who have placed their trust in Him. My sister and brother-in-law rejoice in Him, and all those who are His should shout for joy..............all those who obey Him.
For truly God is for us. He is not against us. We find that as believer's together, we pray and worship the same God who sent us the Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the only way to the Father.(John 14:6)

Psalm 62:5-8
5 My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. NKJV

In thinking about my sister who is like more than a sister to me. I pray for her and all sisters like her everywhere that when we allow our souls to wait silently for God (without any complaint) and our expectation is from Him, our rock and salvation. I know that like my sister every other sister can know Jesus as their Rock and not be moved by adverse things attacking to the body. For in our salvation we have the Healer on hand. He is here. And with the Rock as our strength, we can move through anything and come out the victor on the other side. Yes, some wind may blow, the water may appear to flood the boat, but God is with us. He is our Strength and Refuge in the day of trouble. May all who read this know that there are good days ahead. Yes, we lose family members, and yes, we grow older each day. I mean, think on that baby, and they are already heading out to be the aged, right? Today they need a bottle, tomorrow they need a car, and the next they are looking at retirement.

As we pour out our hearts may God hear from heaven. May He look on hearts today and tonight and know that we love Him and want to finish the course. In this knowing, we expect His strength to carry us forward where we can use our legs to walk and run, reach out with helping hands, give a hug of support and look up intently for His return.

Like that "orange crush" my sister added zest to my life today. She is forever thinking of others and not herself. She is forever being blessed by God. How do I know? For what flows from her mouth is nothing but praise for our God. 

May God honor her, and many like her today who give God the first........and whose desire is for Him only! Amen.

Today I honor those who have stood their ground,  they walked with those who came to death, and in that became the tired and weary. I pray they rise today, to see the New Day in God, to live in health and vigor all the days of their lives. May they reach millions with the Gospel of peace, and may they shine brighter and brighter to the full light of day....(Proverbs 4:18)..................for God is with them!

Notice:
The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: 
Prompted By Faith-Contenting Our Faith must Speak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD90sBKMLlM

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

Trees, Figs and Whirlwinds

DO we understand the importance of speaking truthful words and avoiding those that bring curses on our family members like husband, wife, child, or grand-children, even our pets?

Like talking with the dog: "ready to eat", " oh you poor ole' thing.......you can barely make it to the dish".  Yes, that it a curse. It is cursing your valued friend.

Was speaking about this to my son-in-law recently. For words that come through any video games, movies created for teens, youths or even small ones can bring those words that can harm them as they hear them.

Matthew 21:18-22faith, 
18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." And immediately the fig tree withered away.
( all He said was, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again.")
Even one word from Jesus, stopped this tree from even producing leaves, it withered away.
So how many people speak as of the world, and speak something that will wither life in the child to produce a dancing protege'? So they never fulfill that purpose.

Then Jesus points to something very specific here:

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?" 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."     NKJV


Our believing in "something" has effect on what life we live out, how and what way we treat our loved ones, pray for them, and exhort them in the things God purposed for them. In Romans 15:13....the Amplified Bible says this: May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [ through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound (bubbling over) with hope.
Our speech, those words of life are from the Lord and represent life. Then we on purpose speak them with the hope in our heart........that is seen as joy and peace.......in believing Him. And through our faith, our believing, we are empowered even more into life by the Holy Spirit.

 As we look into the passage below, Peter makes a comment, and probably stood and gazed at the withered tree.

Mark 11:20-26
20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."    NKJV


Now imagine, Peter pointing to the tree.........and saying with much excitement sprinkled with questioning anxiousness, Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."
And then while Peter (Shelley) would be waiting for some well instructed, one-on-one conversation about the withering.........Peter (Shelley) would be moved again by the remark spoken by Jesus..........."HAVE FAITH IN GOD." "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea." and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says.'
Then Jesus goes on to talk about praying. That by believing you receive what you ask for...........and to FORGIVE him.

The importance of our words was given in this above. The fig tree covered with leaves looked appealing, and in all its beauty, it revealed no fruit but only leaves. This passing by the vineyard showed only a tree completely leaved out but with no real fruit gives one the air of "being pretentious", and of being deceptive.
"Something" may look good but if it produces no life to another, then it is not good for anything. In this case it was a "fig tree". Something may look awesome on the outside, but when you look further it may be just empty inside. "Someone" may be able to spit out the Word of God and give some kind of a "message" without any point leaves one wondering, "What just happened here"?
Faith in God is our leading of the whole of our spirit and soul in His hands. That we are not to be ruled by the eye gate, but to use the eye gate to focus on the word of God and to get it in our hearts where change will take place.
Prayer may represent something like an informal plea for "help". Have you seen some prayer just spoke off the cuff? Now God can answer prayers of that kind for He is always looking at the heart.  And something from the heart will turn God toward them.

Luke 13:6-9

6 He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' 8 But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.' "   NKJV



Now this implication was toward Israel and their refusing to produce spiritual fruit. Jesus' amount of time in ministry to them was three years. But this nation at the time of Jesus was empty. It was void of a love to God and for God.  Their love was seen in their buildings, their extended length of tassels and the Temple as well. But they were in dire need of a relationship with God.
Jesus had told them to repent. (Luke 13:5)
Jesus is the only door. And it is by our repenting and by FAITH that doors are open!  For one truly embraced by Jesus encounters the "life giving" force He spoke of that came from the Father.

EACH of us has the opportunity to teach others of what the Lord has taught us. Each of us the ability by the Holy Spirit to direct other's into God's love. For to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, is there the peace that can be multiplied to us in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2)

Luke 6:43-45

43 "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. NKJV

If we look at our own lives and see where our time is spent, we find what areas might need some help to move back away from that which might be cursing our children or grand-children. And what I mean by that looks like this. If our children are learning to "war with guns"...in video games or learning some form of violence that they might decide to "share" at school. Or they may decide to take to dancing, and dance really well but do it in a way that is casting away of all restraint! If the only examples they see are rated R, then the child or children will think it is okay to do that. Mom said, or Dad said, "it is okay for me to see!"  What if an area looks....very ...much...like..reaching for something to ease the pain of loss in relationships by a move to another city or state, or it may look like a lost marriage or even a job? Where our heart resides determines our actual victory or defeat for those young ones in our families. Our children are our children all of their lives. But we have the greatest force to speak while they are young and within our boundaries placed by His Word.
If we remain, if we abide in Jesus, and bear fruit to that account, it will be for life for us and others. It will produce fruit in the talent they have, but have the boundaries that will bring them to honor and not to dishonor. They may have a voice to sing, but will be one to bring them to honor not to dishonor.

Is there anything we are rewarding our children or grand-children with that might bring a hard punch back to us in the future?
Are we allowing others to dictate a story line to our children or grand-children that will direct them far from God and into destruction?

What commercials do we allow our "kids" to see on TV that may not be good for their formative years?

"Can a blind man guide a blind man?" Wouldn't they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice does not lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher. Message Bible (Luke 6:39-40)

Proverbs 19:27
27 Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge. NKJV


When we choose to stop listening to instruction, we move away from the words of knowledge. Choosing to blanket ourselves and those of  our children in darkness is no benefit and will bring no life. It only adds the fuel to more confusion. Are we living wisely, adhering to God and His instruction for our daily lives or do we just allow the world at large to dictate what we will see, what will entertain our children, what we eat, drive, and take home to wear?

We surely need God's wise counsel. Filling our hearts with knowledge and wisdom of the Holy One will direct us into peace, love and a boundary line of protection for those we love. Like Jesus we can curse those things that may not be a benefit to us. As we make no provision for the flesh, we will walk properly as we see the day approaching of the Lord's return.

Withering is caused by severe dryness. And the text of Matthew 21, we find the withered means scorched. (xeros).....(no water)
"And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
For if one remains in a dry place, the only answer they may get is from a dried up stream, dust blowing in the face and look like reaping a whirlwind.

Proverbs 1:23-27
23 If you had responded to my rebuke,
I would have poured out my heart to you
and made my thoughts known to you.
24 But since you rejected me when I called
and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,
25 since you ignored all my advice
and would not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you--
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you. NIV

Yikes!

If we pay no attention to what goes into our child's ( or children's) eyes, that deposit is in their little hearts. If they watch violence of video type games, they carry it with them. If they watch it or play it even 15 minutes a day, can you imagine the impact it will make on their lives? Will we gamble their lives? Will we pretend it is not serious? Are you ready for what they may look and act like in 20 years if you have not planted within them the support of God's Word to direct them to "life" and all that God purposed for them?


Just because you do not watch CNN or another news program, does not mean the violence will go away or not come to your neighborhood? You and I must put up the Word of God as our boundary and make the "loud" speaking that those things will not come near us. They may be on the rise in some places, but we declare they exist no more in our communities and our state. We believe the Word of the Lord to be the final answer of any violence against another.
As the time of Jesus' return comes closer to us, we might do well to remember to look at those times He was on the water with His disciples and remember those attacks at those junctures was demonic attacks. We would also do well to remember that we are to speak to storms like Jesus did. People must make a demand on any violent storms to split, yes, part like the Red Sea and move in two different directions.
His knowledge is vital for us today. May we rise up and take our place to be those who will put up the hedge............and expect God to hear our prayers for our loved ones and those who live in our communities and neighborhoods! May our prayers be with the force of the Holy Spirit in them. May our prayers for our loved ones and for those who love God have justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!  (Amos 5:23-24) Amen.

Notice:
The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: 
Prompted By Faith-Contenting Our Faith must Speak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD90sBKMLlM

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

Seal of Approval and No Delays

John 6:27-33
27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"

32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."    NIV

For the work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.

The Bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

Romans 1:17     For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith. Amplified Bible

Luke 16:16-17

16 Until John the Baptist began to preach, the laws of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But John introduced the Good News that the Kingdom of God would come soon. And now eager multitudes are pressing in. 17 But that doesn't mean that the Law has lost its force in even the smallest point. It is as strong and unshakable as heaven and earth.    TLB

Hebrew 12:7-13

7 Let God train you, for he is doing what any loving father does for his children. Whoever heard of a son who was never corrected? 8 If God doesn't punish you when you need it, as other fathers punish their sons, then it means that you aren't really God's son at all-that you don't really belong in his family. 9 Since we respect our fathers here on earth, though they punish us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to God's training so that we can begin really to live? 

10 Our earthly fathers trained us for a few brief years, doing the best for us that they knew how, but God's correction is always right and for our best good, that we may share his holiness. 11 Being punished isn't enjoyable while it is happening-it hurts! But afterwards we can see the result, a quiet growth in grace and character. 

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs, 13 and mark out a straight, smooth path for your feet so that those who follow you, though weak and lame, will not fall and hurt themselves but become strong.  TLB

2 Timothy 1:13-14

13 Hold tightly to the pattern of truth I taught you, especially concerning the faith and love Christ Jesus offers you.  

14 Guard well the splendid, God-given ability you received as a gift from the Holy Spirit who lives within you.    TLB

Mark 14:38

38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." NIV

Hebrews 10:35-39

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, 

"He who is coming will come and will not delay. 

38 But my righteous one will live by faith. 

And if he shrinks back, 

I will not be pleased with him."  

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.    NIV

Revelation 22:17-21

17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 

20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." 

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.                  NIV

Father, thank You for Jesus. You have placed honor on Him who deserves it. YOUR Son, is righteous and true, faithful to the Cross, guaranteed a place for us in Your kingdom. We give thanks and give much honor to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Truly He shines in the dark places and reveals in the hearts those set to be with You forever eternally. We keep watch for He is returning soon. The Bright Morning Star.........will make His appearance. We do well to pay attention to it. As to a light shining in a dark place. Yes that morning star has risen in our hearts.( 2 Peter 1:19-21) May we continue to be carried along by the Holy Spirit. Oh it is in His Holy Name we pray......yes Jesus, Lord of All. Come Lord Jesus Come.

Our thoughts turn toward His return. He is Coming Soon........and our praise should be going out. May we lift our voices.........and be in Unity for the body of believer's should stand as one in HIM!

Notice:
The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: 
Prompted By Faith-Contenting Our Faith must Speak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD90sBKMLlM

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

FAITH SPEAKS!

In 2010 I gave a Bible study on a "rallying faith cry". It was in March of that year, and I still hold a copy of it.
The question asked at that time was this" "If someone came by to visit you, what testimony could they take back to their church or home about your faith and love toward others?"
Believer's in God are to exercise their faith. That is, they act toward Him, who is Spirit. To see Him, is to see Him as Jesus spoke about Him.  And others wrote about God and His kingdom.

Romans 14:17-18
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.   NIV
1 Corinthians 14:33

33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.   NIV

1 John 4:8-12

8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.   NIV

We have read of the Thessalonians, have we not, and what a wonderful example they set for believer's everywhere!

1 Thessalonians 1:7-10
7 Then you yourselves became an example to all the other Christians in Greece. 8 And now the Word of the Lord has spread out from you to others everywhere, far beyond your boundaries, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your remarkable faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it, 9 for they keep telling us about the wonderful welcome you gave us, and how you turned away from your idols to God so that now the living and true God only is your Master. 10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the return of God's Son from heaven-Jesus, whom God brought back to life-and he is our only Savior from God's terrible anger against sin.   TLB

1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia-your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 

NIV

Yes, our faith speaks and what do we have faith in? Is our trust in God and Him alone or is it in ourselves?

Do we allow God to do somethings for us, but others we hold to do in our strength?

Is our "heart" set towards God and His love or is our heart set towards those things with no life? You cannot have it both ways. There is no fence straddling here.

Being obedient to that Word of Faith is speaking it out. It is a boldness in the face of any bad report, any tribulation, any sudden catastrophe, any unexplained and unknown reason for conflicts that are put upon you. It is a knowing that God is with you no matter what the circumstance may be or what it may hold against you.

Faith is Now and it is substance. It is that which we hope, having trust in God. Holding firm in His purpose that comes by and through His Word. There is no other way. It is by receiving Jesus as Lord that we have access to the Father. There is NO OTHER ACCESS TO THE FATHER!

Romans 5:1-11

5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.  NIV

We have reconciliation through our Lord Jesus Christ. And through Him we are reconciled through His death on the Cross. There is no other way to the Father (God). We are saved by grace. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And in this hope, we experience God in that his love was poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. If we never spend time with God and acknowledge the Holy Spirit, we never experience His refreshing. Every time I raise my voice to speak His word aloud, I am affirming my trust in Him and I pray out that verse, that passage of truth. It is in Him that we are to live by faith, move by His power by the Holy Spirit and live out the purpose of His Word into our very being to be people who live and are justified by faith in HIM.

If anyone tells you there is another way to God, forget it. In this reading I expect everyone to encounter God. I expect people to know that He is real and that He desires relationship for that is why His Son died for us.

Things can happen and the things can be bad thing happening to good people. But "good" people are not going to heaven if they have not made Jesus Lord of their lives.

Appropriating the power of faith we speak like this:

2 Corinthians 9:12-15
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! NIV

 How can one describe what God did for us?
In our obedience to God and His Word through Jesus, our confession of Christ, is shared. In it we state much like Simon Peter....."You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Matthew 16:13-16

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 

14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 

15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 

16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  NIV

I remember days long ago when I would tell God that I was not satisfied. And it seemed the more I tried to do for Him and with Him seemed more like work and not really trusting Him. But what I have learned is that I could not apply what the "pastor" was wanting me to do along with what God was wanting me to do. As sometimes they seemed to be in direct conflict with each other. And we know that God is not in conflict with Himself, so the one relating to us at that time had to have had some heart issue.
Yet when I followed God, peace would ensue, the power of His Holy Spirit would cause me to mount up in a trust I had never known before. And as I went to the Living Water of Jesus and turned my trust over to Him --the Bread of Life---I came to be the 'satisfied'. I came to be satisfied in Him. I had made my boast in the Lord.

Ephesians 2:8................For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that one may boast.

I do not turn to my "ways " of doing things, I seek out how Jesus did it and what He spoke. He would abide in the Father of love and seek His purpose for His life.

1 Peter 3:17-22

 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,   NIV

We get to God through Jesus. Our faith is expanded when we abide in the Word of truth. Romans 10:17....so faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.

The Amplified Bible reads this way: Romans 10:17...So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).

See, it is not only those " who preach and teach the word" that the Word goes out, but it is also heard by those who believe in their heart, trust God and make Him known to others. In that which came through Jesus Christ, we have salvation. The Message given was for life through the only begotten Son of God. 

John 1:18

18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.  NKJV

John 3:16-21

16 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. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." 

NKJV

We who abide in the Light are they who magnify Him .......our faith speaks! We declare Him to the world. That people may believe and be saved is God's priority through His Son on the Cross. We declare in our rallying faith cry that God is for us.............and has given us His Word that we may abide and become all that He purposed from the foundation of the world.

We abide in the Light,,,,,,,,,staying in His truth that our deeds are clearly seen and that they have been don in God! Amen.

Interested in reading more on Faith...see blog....That Place Called Faith that was published Wednesday October 7, 2015
 http://godsgoodnessandlove.blogspot.com/2015/10/that-place-called-faith.html

And blog called: Responding in Faith that was published March 31, 2015
http://godsgoodnessandlove.blogspot.com/2015/03/responding-in-faith.html

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

FOREVER STANDING IN THE FACE OF GOD

HOW LONG IS FOREVER? FOREVER!

Psalm 33:11-12
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. NKJV

Psalm 41:11-12

1 By this I know that You are well pleased with me,

Because my enemy does not triumph over me. 

12 As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,

And set me before Your face forever.  NKJV

Psalm 17:15
15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
NKJV

Seeing God's face is being in His righteousness. Jesus said this in His prayer:

John 17:24-26

24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."    NKJV

What a wonderful example of the "love" that was spoken about by Jesus to the Father.

"O righteous Father, the world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me." ".........that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
That is truly a "personal" relationship.

When the Holy Spirit invades our lives, not by being pushy but by extending the love of the Father through Jesus, that open invitation to "Come" is announced. And those who worship the Father in spirit and truth recognize it's sound.

By receiving Jesus into our hearts; we receive even more of Jesus and the love of the Father. We are told in 1 John 4:7-8....Dear friends, let us practice loving each other; for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know Him better; 8 But if a person isn't loving and kind, it shows that he doesn't know God----for God is love. TLB

Choosing God everyday is choosing to stay in the face of God. We come boldly to His throne of grace given to us by His Son Jesus. In choosing Him, we find our destiny. In choosing Him we reside in His peace and comfort. In choosing Him, we stay away from apostasy and any who desire to take Jesus out of the equation. The only way to the Father is through Jesus.

 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." 

 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 

 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 

 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." 

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 

 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. (Revelation 22:16-21)

Our prayer right now, at this moment, should be:

Father, thank You for Jesus, the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright and Morning Star. To stand in the face of God by the blood of Jesus and declare our trust in Him alone. And together as the Bride of Christ, may we all stand together in the Unity of Jesus as one with the Father.

The Spirit and the bride ( we the believer's in Jesus) say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come, and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

"Yes, I am coming soon."

Amen, Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

Being a family member of God our Father is looking out for the brother's and sister's not yet in the family, but surely asking a blessing for them who have not come as of this writing. For God truly knows those who are His. 

2 Timothy 2:19

19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."   NIV

In our joy within His presence, we desire to illuminate His goodness to others. As those who are of His household, we point others out to God who may be far from Him, yet He has purposefully placed them on our hearts to ask Him for their salvation. For whatever influence we may hold, still the One who holds heaven and earth, and cast into hell, is the One we lift in praise of our lips that others will know that there is a God of Israel and He is in our hearts.

Our confidence is knowing He is real, He is foremost the Creator and the lover of our souls. May we all thirst for Him who refreshes the weary, strengthens the feeble and restores our paths that are the straight. We shall be the well watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not. (Isaiah 58:11)….May the ancient ruins be rebuilt and  may the age-old foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for ]for many generations; that we shall be called Repairer of Broken Walls,  Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

It is to His pleasure that we give praise. For He is honorable, the Faithful, the One Who receives our words that were spoken by Him long ago.

It is in righteousness that we stand before Him. It is by submission to stay before Him and it is adoration that we lift His Name on high.

For He surely came into my life and made me whole again. He came and brought light to see the path of the narrow which leads to a closer walk with Him. He came to set me free from that which amounted to nothing but emotions out of control and brought me HOME to dwell forever in His presence.

Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

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

When Did It Become Booty?

Proverbs 12:11-12  Amplified Bible
11 He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits is lacking in sense and is without understanding. 12 The wicked desire the booty of evil men, but the root of the [uncompromisingly] righteous yields [richer fruitage].

Don't you just love reading and reading the Word and while reading a word really stands out to you? So you stop and investigate it, right? For where our hearts are located is the amount of treasure we truly have either to: wickedness and booty or to righteousness and that which is life, not only to others but to others as well when we tell others about Jesus.

So in looking closer at this word, what does this mean to me, and to those I encounter daily? Asking God this surely has its benefits and one is that sometimes I listen  a fair amount of time, and then a download happens.

The Living Bible reads this way:
Proverbs 12:11-12...
11 Hard work means prosperity; only a fool idles away his time.  12 Crooks are jealous of each other's loot, while good men long to help each other.    TLB

And the Message Bible: Proverbs 12:11-12
11 The one who stays on the job has food on the table; the witless chase whims and fancies. 12 What the wicked construct finally falls into ruin, while the roots of the righteous give life, and more life.

Now what stood out was "that of crooks jealous for each other's loot" and how good men long to help each other. And in the Message Bible, the roots of the righteous person give life and more life!

Imagine a crook, who is the jealous, of another crook's loot! Really, crook's are jealous of each others booty? Wow! And then in the second part: good men long to help each other. Harboring jealousy in our hearts is a dangerous avenue to venture down!

Yes, there are circumstances that are in our control like keeping gas in the car, the kids fed, clothes washed to wear another day, and the bills paid on time,but there are events like tornadoes or hurricanes, no one can control. And when those kinds of destruction occur, I am always amazed how many people move quickly to get out to help their neighbor in need. And in all that which is lost either in this state or one on the east coast,  the work to do is in some cases increased  10 thousand times over, to bring back many people to some kind of stability, yet there are the crooks in the same equation of restoration. And in many cases a report comes back to be highlighted on the terrible destruction of how some "folks" took advantage of another's grievous time.

But we are told those who stay on the job like taking care of the family will have food on the table. That taking care to stay in the Word of God is food on "your table". It is that "righteous person who gives life and more life as they live out their journey, not just for themselves, but also sharing with others in "disaster" type situations that the foundation in you and me is truly food for our soul, spirit and body! Amen!

There are things we need to hear from God! It is not just for the man of God to hear God speak, but for the whole body of Christ to hear God the Holy Spirit speak. He wants to warn us, guide us, protect us in the plan He has for us to walk. The Word of God prepares us to hear.

As in unbelief, not trusting in God causes us to not hear Him or His Word. An undeveloped spirit: will not hear. The undeveloped spirit is not trained in hearing God speak. (They read no word, and they will not attend a service where it is given) And many, many times it is just because the spirit man is ruled by things like anger, resentment, jealousy and un-forgiveness! So fruit is developed but is towards deafness or the hardness of heart.

A spirit of deafness, an insensitivity, is one of hardness and refuses to comply to the Word of God.

Ephesians 4:26….26 Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.  NKJV

We are to let go of un-forgiveness, any anger or resentment or jealousy. Those things cause us to harden and not hear HIM speak. If any of these are allowed to incubate within our heart, then deafness is evident, because of our not being sensitive to hear God’s voice when He does speak.

Jesus tells us of such in the sower sows the seed!

Mark 4:2-20

2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: 3 "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." 9 And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" 

10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that 

'Seeing they may see and not perceive,

And hearing they may hear and not understand;

Lest they should turn,

And their sins be forgiven them.' " 

13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?

 How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 

16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 

20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred."   NKJV

The most informative part for us is found in what He told them when He was alone with the disciples. He said:"to you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables.

Now remember Jesus was, is and will always be the Prophet. And He spoke in Parables!  He was, is and will always be Savior to the world. And He is our coming King!

And in His speaking He tells them that there are those who see, but not perceive (recognize). There are those who hear and never understand (never having insight that is God's knowledge and wisdom). For those who will not perceive and hear to understand, are they who will not repent of a wickedness.

Of course, we know satan to be the leader of those who lead revolts to steal, kill and destroy. And it looks like this: one receives a word but is sown on stony ground, and they receive it but there is no root to hold it. And then some care like tribulation or a persecution arises and with no foundation holding them, they stumble. Those seeds sown among thorns, are they who hear the word and the cares of the deceitfulness of riches and for desires for other things (those of the world) choke that word and they become the unfruitful. But those who have the word sown on good ground are those who hear the word, accept it and bear fruit.

They hear it, accept it and bear fruit to that account!

That perceive is to identify and recognize (  as a baby with it's mother) with something. So are we identifying with what Jesus speaks or identifying with the empty words of the outside world? Those who look upon the word and receive it, are those who will pull it into their hearts, hold it and guard it. They allow His Word to work in their lives.

Now I would not label people as crook's. But they are mentioned in the Word, so they exist! In looking at Proverbs 12:11-12, is there any part that would play into what Jesus spoke in Mark 4:2-20? Do we value more the Words Jesus spoke or do we value more of what the world has?  Are we working for the world's things or for God's that is life to us?

I believe those careless in their ways follow the devil's highway into that which the world fondly looks at as riches and those desires for other things. (or worldly things that carry no life in this time or even for the future) They look like the world, act like the world, and at the end of day, their box goes back into the closet to be pulled out another day!
God does not mind us having riches, but He is concerned with the riches having or owning our hearts.

And the Lord knows what we have "need" of, and He keeps us in that place that is secure and with no lack. Holding firm, we search the Word, we keep working on that which is life to us, and not just some magic get rich quick scheme but to make a difference in other people's lives in the here and now!

Psalms 23 

23:1 A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

3 he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness 

for his name's sake. 

4 Even though I walk 

through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me. NIV

The Amplified Bible reads like this: Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my Shepherd [ to feed, guide, and shield me]. I shall not lack. ( that means I lack no good thing)

2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures, He leads me beside the still and restful waters. 3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him---not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake. 4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil; for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide]; they comfort me.

In making the LORD our Shepherd, that means having asked Him into our hearts, we allow HIM to feed us with His Word, to guides us through this journey of life and He shields us as we stay close to Him. We lack nothing!

As our Lord, He causes us to relax in Him, the more we read His Word, delight in praise to HIM, then we find we are feed in that which is like sheep in deepest and tallest green grass. We rest by those still waters, and He restores while we rest in Him. HE BRINGS RESTORATION TO ANY THING THAT WAS TAKEN FROM US BY THE ENEMY. HE CAN BRING BACK TO US THE LONG LIFE, THE HEALTHY MARRIAGE, AND OUR CHILDREN SAVED BY HIS GRACE OF SALVATION!

We do not have to look over at the neighbor and covet their stuff for they should be desiring what we have in the LORD!

In those paths of righteousness, we stay in right standing with Him. We move beyond the veil into His throne room and have conversation with HIM. He is with me, with you, and with those who love Him.

Those who long to help another are giving them that which they, the survivor of a traumatic event requires to keep their walk or even find their walk with God. In this my hope is that others will know, hear and perceive God is greater than stuff. He is greater than the worst news forecasted on CNN. God is greater, stronger, wiser, and is the one True God! And in the Crucifixion of His Son, we have received His love and grace of salvation. May we not take it lightly............that which is a lightly esteem for we should be so highly favored and look upon the Word daily, to continue to receive that goodness that comes from God alone. 

To move back, outside of His will and plan for our lives, is like siding with the enemy, and those who are the deceitful, and who look for those artful ways to separate you from what you have. When our treasure is in heaven, no one can break in to take it. Our checking account is located there: we can withdraw from there when we have made deposits to that account. And God's system is not lacking, never fluctuates. The only one who is fluctuating is the one who will not keep to His purpose and will choose not to read or pray His Word. If we put nothing into that account, then there is nothing to withdraw.

Luke 12:32-34

32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  NIV

Sell those things you do not need, that which is no life to you. Ask God for that which you need and you will have it. Provide for yourself that which no moth destroys, a treasure that is in heaven, and will brought to you from the place where it is never exhausted, never runs out, but comes from the Father who delights to give to His son (or daughter).
Speak His word, declare Him God in your life, and pray for others. Do not delay to start your account. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be found.

The real and truly valued is that which is in Jesus. And we can have that every minute of the day! We can talk like Him, and expect the same as He, when we stay close to the Father and understand what our identity is in Jesus.  We too can live the miraculous life Jesus experienced.
 It should never look like booty, or what the other has..........for the Word speaks that "crooks" desire the booty of another crook! Stay in the light of God's Word and expect good from the Father of lights of whom there is no changing in Him ever. He is same yesterday, today and forever. 

1 John 2:15-17

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. NKJV

Amen!

Father, I pray for all who read this and realize that we all can have a flaw and if not checked and given over into Your hands and covered by the Word of God, we can look like the world.  It is in Jesus’ name that we pray today and agree that faith in You is more important than stuff. And in that faith we understand that YOU redeem our souls from negative emotions. You have said in YOUR Word that You redeem our souls when we put our trust in You. (Psalm 34:22)

 Father, it is our desire to not be controlled by depression, anger, anxiety, jealousy, fear

or hopelessness. You provide for those who love YOU!

 Enable us to understand and have words to say that will bring life. It is our desire to not have a spirit of deafness, an insensitivity, AS THE ONE WHO hardens and refuses to comply to the Word of God.

Liberate us to cry when we need to and not bottle emotions inside. And at the same time, give us the gift of laughter and ability to find humor  in any serious situations. For we understand storms can come, and tornadoes can destroy cities and towns, yet may we be found in praise to YOU Who made the heavens and the earth. You who keeps watch over the sparrow can keep watch over us . YOU even know the hairs on our heads!

Give us patience to possess our souls and the ability to take charge of it

(Luke 21:19) . Anoint us with the “oil of joy” (Isaiah 61:3), refresh  us with Your Spirit, and set us free from any negative emotions this day.

Help us to see that a relationship with You is not legalism. It is not rituals and agendas. We desire to seek Your face and abide in the shadow of Your wings that is safety to us and to that of our emotions. Help us to see any refusal, or any time we are not prompt to act on YOUR Word. Help us Holy Spirit to see how it is detrimental to us and our families when we do not obey. Helps us to see when we are just making excuses when we really need to seek You and pray about something specific. For any amount of time of making the same excuses we only receive the evaporation of Your Word in our lives and what runs like a river now may no longer run like a river, but be a dry bed of defeat, anxiety and pain!

We truly desire to NOT GET off the path of Your plan for us. Today, we desire to stay safe and have Your wisdom. Today Father, of any neglect of Your Word, we repent.  Amen.

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

BAD SUCCESS?!?

Joshua 1:8-9
 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."    NKJV

Can you imagine, God asked these wandering people in a desert to meditate the Word? Yeah, no microwaves, no frozen dinners, children running rampant, and scorpions, and God wanted them to meditate the Book of the Law!

So that means they had to be there when the reading of whatever was available so they could hear it, right?

From verse 1 of Joshua 1, it is the LORD speaking to Joshua.

And God told Joshua:"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Yeah, man....good success is a good thing! And we have to be "active" in making our prosperous. Meditating enough of the Word will cause us to speak it out loud, share with others, and become the prosperous.
In that there is a "good success", then there must be a "bad" success as well, for God the LORD mentions "the good success" and how to get that good and keep it. We are told it is by speaking it out of our mouths, meditating on it by looking, reading and seeking and then to observe to do what it says.

"Yeah, but God I am on a schedule!" And God would say, "well you made your own schedule, change it yourself?"

In the passage we see below the importance of being justified of that which pertains to God, for the unrighteous sin. To us was given those oracles of God!

Romans 3:1-24

3:1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. 

As it is written: 

"That You may be justified in Your words,And may overcome when You are judged."  

5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come"?--as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. 

9 What then? Are we better than they?

 Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written: 

"There is none righteous, no, not one;  11 There is none who understands;There is none who seeks after God.  12 They have all turned aside;They have together become unprofitable;There is none who does good, no, not one."  13 "Their throat is an open tomb;With their tongues they have practiced deceit";"The poison of asps is under their lips";  14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."  15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;  16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;  17 And the way of peace they have not known."  18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."  

(Yes, from the above in verses 9-18, there are those who will not seek, or know God. They practice their own "thing".) ( They are doers of empty words and are self-sufficient doing it!)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,   NKJV

Now the report in Romans 8 was that Paul  and some of his followers were saying, "Why not do evil that good may come?" But the Apostle was on his guard against this kind of ridiculous thinking. 
That which was spiritual in the Law and Prophets came through the Cross. And grace was mad available, but not abused!

Romans 5:19-21

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.   NKJV

Paul saw what "crazy" thinking would come about by some minds thinking they could DO all the sinning they wanted because they were under grace and that "grace would abound all the more, (verse 20)  (you know that "super-grace")
 Now what Paul was seeing  in Corinth was a church group who allowed sexual immorality within their ranks. The Word must be given and not watered down or parts left out to make "people" comfortable. God is truth and He desires us to walk in truth as His Son did!
Let's remember Zacchaeus....he came down a tree after seeing Jesus.........and he was repenting for all that he had done. I mean this man was talking fast for the Prophet, Wisdom, and Knowledge came to where he was gazing!
Luke 19:5-10
5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
NKJV

Yes, this was Repentance on Zacchaeus' part.

Read what Paul sent to the church at Corinth:

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Our lives must be that of sincerity and truth!

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."  NKJV

Paul said "I wrote to you in my epistle ( my letter) not to keep company with sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. BUT NOW I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard or an extortioner----not even eat with such a person.


People will read something or do just enough to get "themselves into a world hurt" and all that was needed was to find that like Joshua was told, mediate that book that is given by God, that which is life and direction for success that is the "good".

Paul noted the problem in Corinth needed addressing and he insisted that the incestuous couple be excommunicated for there were those within that church body thinking that nothing was wrong with the incest. To them, it was somehow the excellent liberty for a Christian to have because God gives more grace. Right?
WRONG thinking! JUST PLAIN AND SIMPLY WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

If you tolerate something within society and take it to the body of believer's, you wear that garment you tolerate. You will be known by that garment. God is love, and He loves those He has created, but He will not tolerate sin, in any form!

In verse 6 we are reminded of the leaven from the book of Luke and found in chapter 12.


Luke 12:1-3
12:1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.   NKJV

Success in anything for our lives starts with salvation, comes to be fruitful when we make a commitment to God's plan and purpose for us and is seen by others when we are the loyal.
There are times in our lives we must make a stand for something greater than ourselves. We must look into God's Word and His way of thinking for the purpose He has for each of us. And anything we lightly esteem that runs throughout society will look much like the Corinth Church.

WE who have received Jesus were buried with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life. For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God]. 

We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. (Romans 6:4-6 Amplified Bible)

Paul goes on to say in verse 12 of chapter 6....let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to its craving and be subject to its lusts and evil passions.

Verse 9......Because we know that Christ (the Anointed One), being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him.

He goes on to this in verse 17......BUT THANK GOD,though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed.

And in verse 18...it reads this way: And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose and action). Amen!!!!

22 But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God, you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life. 23 For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.

A true Christian is circumcised in heart.

Philippians 3:2-3  Amplified bible…2 Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists] look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.

Our boast is in Him and Him alone. 
If I or anyone comes up to one of your services and hear you mention "you" in the first 15 minutes at least five times, then I know your boast is in you and not in Jesus. 
Our boast is to be in Him, as He was given as the atoning sacrifice for us. Our identity is in Him. And without Him we can do nothing.
John 15:5
5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
NIV

Yes, there is a "success" out there. For some people, it is in all the wrong things.........and looks like:

Jeremiah 12:1-2
You are always righteous, O LORD,
when I bring a case before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all the faithless live at ease?
2 You have planted them, and they have taken root;
they grow and bear fruit.
You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts.  NIV

Psalm 73:1-12.....................73:1 A psalm of Asaph.

Surely God is good to Israel,

to those who are pure in heart. 

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;

I had nearly lost my foothold. 

3 For I envied the arrogant 

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 

4 They have no struggles;

their bodies are healthy and strong.   

5 They are free from the burdens common to man;

they are not plagued by human ills. 

6 Therefore pride is their necklace;

they clothe themselves with violence. 

7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;

the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. 

8 They scoff, and speak with malice;

in their arrogance they threaten oppression. 

9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,

and their tongues take possession of the earth. 

10 Therefore their people turn to them 

and drink up waters in abundance.   

11 They say, "How can God know?

Does the Most High have knowledge?" 

12 This is what the wicked are like--

always carefree, they increase in wealth.  NIV

We can see from the above that the wicked flourish as well as those who know their God!

Yes, there is a day coming when all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. I am thinking there will be many tears and much pleading, but God's Word stands. It is eternal. And those who do not know (in intimacy) Jesus with their heart will have nothing to stand on. 
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It is by Jesus' shed blood we are the saved.  As each of us submit, becoming the body of Christ, we begin to see in the light of Christ and how He loved us who would be the church and He gave Himself willing for us. And through Him, He has made us holy, cleansing us by the washing with water through the word and to present us to Himself as a radiant church that is without stain or wrinkle, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:22-28)

Today, let's open up to Him, and ask for help in situations that are beyond us. Today let's allow God the Holy Spirit to speak to us about the situations we may be in that may be only death to us forever. God loved us and sent His best for us. Would it not be wonderful to spend an eternity finding out about His love that is for us and not against us?1 John 4:10-11
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. NKJV

In closing: Romans 12:9-17....Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, give to hospitality 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse, 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. NKJV

Remember when we elevate ourselves, making our boast in me, myself and I, we help no one but ourselves. We are to have the fear of the Lord. And it looks like this! That fear of the Lord:   The fear of the LORD is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, and the evil way. (Proverbs 8:13)

Meditate On His love, His faithfulness, His strength:
Love: 1 John, 2 John, 3 John
Faithful: Isaiah 49:7, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Keeper: Psalm 121:5
Strength: Psalm 27, Habakkuk 3:19, Isaiah 12:2
Are One: John 17:20-23
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. NIV

Father, we pray to keep the Word before our eyes, to meditate and speak it out just like YOU did. We pray to be those who will not elevate ourselves, but make our boast in the Lord.  We understand that You have planted them (the wicked), and they have taken root;

they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Father, we ask in the name of Jesus to be those who will be the active in pursuing not with just our lips but with hearts set on You and to know Your purpose for our lives. We desire to have that fear of the Lord that is to hate evil, pride, arrogance and the evil way. Let our love be without hypocrisy. We understand that Word of LOVE is YOUR kind of love and comes from meditating like Books of 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John. Help us Holy Spirit to keep that which has been given to us by our diligence and may we always bring forth praise to God and give thanks for our Savior Jesus Christ. We desire to be One with You as You were with Father.

 May people know us by the love we expect to carry as we keep close to YOU and YOUR Ways. For Your Ways are truly higher ways and Your thoughts are the higher thoughts that lead us out of the gray areas and into YOUR LIGHT! AMEN.


Notice:
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