Now How Many Lightbulbs Do I Need?

Voice of Prayer

Ever walk into a room, turn on the lights, and the light bulb burns out in the corner lamp or overhead?
Or have you ever turned on the lights in say the living room or dining room, walk to the back of the house to do something and return to the living room to find the "room seems somehow darker than when you left it just a few minutes earlier"?
 I can work in the office, and spend time reading, turn off the light when leaving the room and return an hour later, by flipping the wall switch on, the room does not appear as brightly clothed in light as it once did an hour earlier. Looking up to the ceiling, I find a bulb has gone dark and with only one bulb remaining, filling the room with some light appears less effective in producing that light. With the one darkened bulb, only one is left to do the job of two. (yeah, the room still appears dark, right?)

Turning on lights in a room during the day is really no big deal and to find the lights burn out simultaneously still is not a big deal unless you live in the northwest, and a marine push is blocking out the sunlight in the early part of the day!
I do not change those light bulbs out. I leave it for my husband to do. The covers on those light bulbs seem contrary in trying to release them from their ceiling mount. Yes, I leave that job for the engineer! It is not a pretty sight when I wrestle one of those down from it's high ceiling mount!
But seriously as the believer in Jesus, we are to be " a light" and to continue to burn for Him!
John 1: 6 -13  NKJV  6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness to bear witness of the Light, that all through Him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; 13 who were born, not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, not of the will of man, but of God.

Verses 6-8 speaks of John the Baptist.
John was bearing the light that Jesus was coming. And as the witness John the Baptist spoke of the true "LIGHT"! And the true Light is in Jesus!
I had written in recent days of KISSED HEAVEN and WENT TO HELL! In writing that, Judas was the one who kissed Jesus, had all the teachings that Jesus gave to the "disciples", still Judas went to hell. By betraying Jesus, he showed his true colors! He loved serving himself and getting his own gain but cost him "big" in his end. He might have been the accountant, but he took no thought on how much betraying Jesus would cost him!

I always think about people this time of year. Kids are out of school, summer has begun, and there is just so much activity outside to do. The "fun run" marathons, the three day vacation's to grandma's house (where you can eat anything you want), the splash in the pool is a great adventure especially for the young ones still learning to swim. But I also think about my husband and his hours busily preparing for the coming weather this winter. He is stocking up for sure,checking everything he might need in moment's notice of time, and writes down any items he should pick up at the hardware store.
Yesterday, he was out making room in the storage unit and giving it some new paint on those cabinets. He has been looking at prices on portable heaters and their cost, and what size room the heater will heat when sun shines somewhere else, the temperature readings have plunged to 20 degrees and Jack Frost came overnight to leave ice on the big pine tree.

Yes, I thought a lot about those who took to highways and by-ways, to take that special trip the last couple of days. Summer vacation has begun. But they will return, tired from their trip, a little less money in their pockets, and their focus turns to looking at school supplies, clothes and more money needed to supply for that all new adventures back to school;

Jesus brought light to a darkened world. Jesus brought His kingdom that the Father desired to bring to have His family with Him. But some will find other ventures, some time consuming, and will avoid possibly all teachings of the Lord. Each of us as the believer is to tell someone about Jesus. You could tell them by buying their next bags of groceries, you could shovel their driveway when the snow is too deep for them and their age limits their actions for doing pushing a snow shovel in 3 feet of snow.

It is not about "being God" to them, but showing them the love of God in you!
We had read on Judas and of his betrayal toward Jesus, the true LIGHT, we actually saw Judas had no light or life in himself.  His life was ruled by him for himself!

But we still have opportunity to spend time with the Lord, learn of His ways and prosper in that which He purposed for us to do. Ask yourself, "are you bringing light to the place you influence others"? "Do they see Jesus in you and experience God when you speak?" "Are you their only 'encourager'?"
We all will play a part in the last days mentioned in the Word of God!
What part will you play in these last days? For whatever time remains, we each have light if we have Jesus in our hearts. It will either be the bright light of day or the darkness of night, and I would rather choose to see. I would choose to see Jesus, experience His love for me and know my Father in heaven is looking down on me and God the Holy Spirit living within me gives us power to walk and do for God everyday..
As the believer, we were those released from that appointment of death. We have Jesus, and may His praise be on our lips. This is a new day, with the LIGHT of the LORD to direct our pathway. Will we not go with Him and find the really true adventure of a lifetime that will never end?
Summer will end and fall will begin....after that possible snow will come to cover highways and back roads and maybe your yard. Darkness will begin to come earlier, may your light shine for others to see. And may you know the way in which you are to walk!
For the ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. (Hosea 14:9)

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:
Quality of Holiness: Our Steps Guided into Purpose  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFO0UeFrN7o

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

Kissed Heaven and Went to Hell

Voice of Prayer

Luke 22:47-48 Amplified Bible 47 And while He was still speaking, behold, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the Twelve [apostles], and was going before [leading] them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss Him, 48 But Jesus said to him, Judas! Would you betray and deliver up the Son of Man with a kiss?

Judas kissed Heaven and went to hell!
Judas spoke this in Matthew 26:14! Then one of the Twelve [apostles], who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 And said, What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you? And they weighed out for and paid to him thirty pieces of silver [about twenty-one dollars and sixty cents]16 And from that moment he sought a fitting opportunity to betray Him.

Betrayal is a terrible thing! It can wreck people's lives.
As Judas betrayed Jesus, his lack of holiness of God in his life proved to be a fatal flaw. All that time under the teachings of Jesus, sent from heaven to proclaim the kingdom had come, and yet this man Judas took nothing away from any of those things of heaven that Jesus taught!

In knowing that being baptized by the Holy Spirit we are to communicate life. It looks like communication of one being the godly and the gracious. Truly we are to receive Jesus as Lord and look to Him to lead us by the Spirit of God.
But Judas partook of a different communion. He left the Lord's table to partake of the table of the enemy and the drink provided by devils.
Judas never searched his heart. He lusted after worldly things.
"Search me, O God and know my heart:try me and know my thoughts; and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." (KJV) Psalm 139: 23-24
The Amplified Bible reads this way of Psalm 139:23-24

Search me [thoroughly] , O God and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Understanding that our God is a holy God, we are to reach for the higher life in Him. Like the child reaching for the strong arms of their Father to hold them tightly when something comes to frighten them, and to lead them into darkness. With arms reaching upward and toward the father or the mother, the child is reaching for the trusted arms! So too, we are to be continually reaching for our Father God who is the merciful and the trusted. Reaching for His faithfulness and truth, we keep a watch on our inner life that is strengthened in Him.

We are to abide in God and within His spirit and truth, we remain within Him and His guidance for us all the days of our lives. John 6:63-71 Amplified Bible 63 It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it].  The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life. 64 But [still] some of you fail to believe and trust and have faith. For Jesus knew from the first who did not believe and had no faith and who would betray Him and be false to Him.

65 And He said, This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him [unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father. 66 After this, many of His disciples drew back (returned to their old associations) and no longer accompanied Him. 67 Jesus said to the Twelve, Will you also go away? [And do you too desire to leave Me?] 68 Simon Peter answered, Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words ( the message) of eternal life. 69 And we have learned to believe and trust, and [more] we have come to know [surely] that You are the Holy One of God, the Christ, (the Anointed One, the Son of the living God. 70 Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And [yet] one of you is a devil ( of the evil one and a false accuser. 71 He was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he was about to betray Him, [although] he was one of the Twelve.

Yes, as Jesus had a betrayer, we too can have one in our midst. In this setting, we see it in the beginnings of the church, the kingdom of God had come. And when Jesus died and was Resurrected, the Holy Spirit came to abide in us. God dwells in us and by His Spirit we are led as sons of God!

1 Corinthians 3:5-17  NKJV 5 Who then I Paul, and who is Apollos, but minister through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos water, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Judas' work was revealed. His reward was death by hanging himself for betraying the Son of God. He truly kissed heaven and went to hell. He was not in God's trusted field.  

In whatever Judas was trying to build, he was not laying it according to the BUILDER Himself. For his works were certainly clear to see. The other Apostles continued their work after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. They went to the Upper Room and prayed and the Holy Spirit came to them bringing the very power of heaven for their work to be done.

They continued to seek the God of holiness, reside in the truth of His word and bring His peace. Proverbs 10:27-29 reminds us that the "reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord prolong's one's days, but the years of the wicked shall be made short. 28 The hope of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked (those who are out of harmony with God) comes to nothing. 29 The way of the Lord is strength and a stronghold to the upright, but it is destruction to the worker's of iniquity.

Judas betrayed Jesus, and as the worker of iniquity his life was cut short. He was out of harmony with God and came to nothing.

Our lives should be reflecting God's image, His holiness and a strength. With the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are to welcome heaven always and to keep clear of destruction. As each one's work will be revealed by fire, may that which we work be clear that is laid on the foundation of Jesus Christ and not on any other man or men, not on a money matter, nor of anyone else's opinions. Life with God depends on our knowing truth of God through the Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:
Living Creatures: Celestial, Earthly, and the Worthy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB7E-AgELoY

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

Holiness Adorns His HOUSE

Voice of Prayer

His Spirit is Called the Spirit of holiness….Romans 1:3-6  Amp. Bible 3 [ The Gospels] regarding His Son, Who as to the flesh (His human nature) was descended from David, 4 And so [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly designated the Son of God in power [in a striking, triumphant and miraculous manner] by His resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 5 It is through Him that we have received grace (God’s unmerited favor) and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name’s sake among all the nations. 6 And this includes you, called of Jesus Christ and invited [as you are] to belong to Him.

Holiness becomes His house  … Psalm 93:5  Amp. Bible   5 Your testimonies are very sure; holiness [apparent in separation from sin, with simple trust and hearty obedience] is becoming to Your house, O Lord, forever.

Holiness associated with His power as producing obedience Psalm 110:3-6 Amp. Bible 3 Your people will offer themselves willingly in the day of Your power, in the beauty of holiness and in holy array out of the womb of the morning; to You [will spring forth] Your young men, who are as the dew. The Lord has sworn and will not revoke or change it; You are a priest forever, after the manner and order of Melchizedek. 5 The Lord at Your right hand will shatter kings in the day of His indignation.  6 He will execute judgment [in overwhelming punishment] upon the nations; He will fill the valleys with the dead bodies, He will crush the [chief] heads over lands many and far extended.

In the reading from the above scriptures of Romans 1:3-6, we see God's Son, Jesus who descended from the lineage of King David, having divine nature of God according to the Spirit of holiness come to earth. In seeing His was triumphant over death, we too, should look on the salvation of our souls a triumph over death, hell and the grave. 

As Jesus was always about His Father's business, we were made aware through the reading of the Gospels that the "kingdom of Heaven had come.' Living life by faith as Jesus did, we are to walk with that trust in our hearts!

In that operation of trust in HIM and not by our trust in ourselves, we find a new focus for life. AS written in Psalm 93:5, that in God's HOUSE and in relationship with Him, we are to be separated by sin. It is always seen in a simple trust and a hearty obedience to God and His word. For Jesus certainly held the character of the ONE sent from heaven, and He was obedient even to the death on the Cross.

What is the threshold of our obedience to Him? Is there a threshold that exists within our lives to keep us from walking totally and fully with Him?

Jesus taught the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 and the one He began with was this: Matthew 5 and verse 3, Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The Amplified Bible reads this way: 3 Blessed ( happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous----with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit ( the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

Within God and His holiness there exists that place where if "we really submit to Him and His word", have received His Son in our hearts, we know without doubt that it is He Who is God. He is Alpha and Omega, He is Creator of all things. Within that place of obedience we lack nothing. But this is gained through the spirit and is discerned spiritually! It is by speaking faith-filled words that Jesus gave us in the Gospels.

So back to Matthew 5:3, the poor means by the being spiritually poor. It does not mean the impoverished to lack of things, but the lack of God in our lives. Within God's HOUSE of salvation through His Son Jesus, we lack no good thing. But we discern it spiritually. 

When knowing God Who is spirit then we maintain that walk, that is of faith, and consequently by speaking faith filled words, we receive by faith that which is not seen today what we are believing for us as the individual, or maybe as a couple or family. But living by the spirit man is by continuing speaking of faith in what one believes in their heart, they receive their spoken words in the promises of God, manifested say for the unmarried woman the new husband, maybe for the young couple, seeing their first new house and for someone without a job, a new job with greater benefits and pay. But it comes by the spirit and by faith that is trusting God at His word and not just about us going out to get the thing we want "now"! ( and then say God did it! ) 

In God's HOUSE, it is His holiness we see and that very character is one of Whom holds all the wisdom, power and intelligence to create a world full of the most unusual and different creatures and land formations possible. In looking toward the sky, viewing the moon at night or the sun setting at dusk, one is aware of such beauty, as bright stars take over the blackened sky. For all that God has produced in His holiness, He expects and receives those who are obedient to His ways and thoughts for they certainly are higher than ours. 

Isaiah 55 7-9 Amplified Bible  7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have love, pity and mercy for him, and to our God for He will multiply to Him His abundant pardon. 8 For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways and MY thoughts than your thoughts.

As we have seen from the devil and his works, he tried to seduce Jesus in Luke 4 with all the worldly things, position and the such. And we know that this is a pride issue with the human being!

 That is why Jesus came in with the human nature, that we do not have to, nor to be ruled by the human nature with its pride for its appearance is one of always on guard to protect its territory and comes in the form of me, myself and I.

God truly knows best! He sent His best to show us the best way in which to walk. And it is in the HOLY Way we find the goodness of God, but it is a commitment daily to be committed to knowing and understanding God is always right and we must submit our thoughts and our decision making to HIM.  For in HIM we truly live, move through this life and have our very being that is a worshiper of God and His truths!

That is why God will not ever look at our outward appearance, but will certainly look on our hearts. And in that will we be in His kingdom forever and found with the believer's in Revelation 5 or will we be found with the lost in the other place? Yes, a lot to think on, but truly God is for us and desires us to be with Him with a simple trust and a hearty obedience. (Psalm 93:5)

For me, I would rather make the change today rather than to wait for that day when He speaks directly with me face to face, wouldn't you?


Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:
Living Creatures: Celestial, Earthly, and the Worthy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB7E-AgELoY

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

Where Our Spirit Fails, God Never Fails

Voice of Prayer

Psalm 143:7-10  Amplified Bible 7 Answer me speedily, O Lord, for my spirit fails; hide not Your face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit ( the grave). 8 Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning for on You do I lean and in You do I trust, Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift my inner self to you. 9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I flee to You to hide me. 10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me into a level country and into the land of uprightness.

Answer me speedily!
Answer me yesterday Lord.....sound familiar. Gee God, I needed the answer yesterday. For many us, we need the answer yesterday to whatever may be occurring today. But if we had been on guard over our walk with Him, we would have known when to spend that extra time praying, and less talking or more time reading His word about something specific instead of looking for the answer from another mouth other than God's mouth.

We are to live by the Bread that comes from heaven. It is life -giving, power packed with all we need and it keeps us safe in God's presence.
That self-gratification thing though can get us into trouble. It takes us places that are terribly unsafe, reckless and where our spirit can fail within us.
David said this in Psalm 143 and reading from verses 1 and 2: Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness. 2 And enter not into judgment with Your servant for in Your sight no man living is [in himself] righteous or justified.

David has prayed. When we get to verses 7-10, we see him praying for his deliverance and the quickening of the Holy Spirit in his life.
David prayed for the agreeable in God. Though really bad things were occurring, still David held on to his convictions that God is good. He was seeking the Spirit of God that would reveal the prudent, the reliable and yes the most wise way to walk on the right path.

There will always be situations in our lives: some mistakes made by us and some made by those who may touch our lives in some way. Still the prayer to God is made for the guidance when trouble is not only prevailing but should be implemented well before something or someone "comes to disturb the peace".

It is holding on to God's peace within His presence, we keep to the level country. Anything outside of God is then revealed that is where the dangers and false speaking lie.

But when we get to verses 11- 12 of Psalm 143 we find this: 11 Save my life, O Lord, for Your name's sake; in Your righteousness, bring my life out of trouble and free me from distress. 12 And in your mercy and loving-kindness, cut off my enemies and destroy all those who afflict my inner self, for I am Your servant.

What David is praying for here is to be helped in his daily devotions to God. Quicken by the Spirit of God is what David desired most. Though so many things were incensed against him, still his thoughts were on keeping his heart open to hearing and receiving God's truth.

No one is exempt from trouble of this world, but when we keep our focus we prevail. Where our spirit seems to fail, we must be strengthened in the word of God and know that He never fails.

I like Psalm 27:13-14 in the Amplified Bible. It states this: 13 [What would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living! 14 Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brace and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Seeing God's goodness is remaining in Him. It is seeing Him on a daily basis and not once a week for an hour. If we truly are the sons of God, we will glory in His might and strength. If we truly are His sons we will know His voice when He speaks. We will know when He has come to our defense when it is really needed and not when we just whine about something.
He knows us, He knows what we are about. He knows our failings and our triumphs, but they fail in comparison to His great love and glory. Our hearts are to be filled with all that He is from His word. Anything less is the grave!

Keep your peace, gain your strength and let your heart become the stout and the enduring. Make your stand with God and see His glory fill your life. Amen.

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:
Ministry Moments: Mighty in Deeds, Miracles, and Prayer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKDozD94g5g

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