The Public Display

The Public Display

Matthew 15:2-3 Why do Your disciples transgress and violate the rules handed down by the elders of the past? For they do not practice [ceremonially] washing their hands before they eat. 3 He replied to them, And why do you transgress and violate the commandment of God for the sake of the rules handed down to you by your forefathers (the elders)?
Thayers Lexicon:3845 (parabaino) to overstep, to neglect, to violate...to transgress...

Jesus was reminding them it was of more importance to obey the commandments of God than to obey those ceremonially rules set down by men!
2 John 9 Amplified Bible 9 anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son.

Willing to transgress what God has given is foolish indeed!

willful: with set purpose; self-determined; without yielding to reason; obstinate; stubborn
From 3845 parabaino :to transgress in a defiant will; someone who knows the right way but chooses to go their own way in contrariness
Psalm 101:2 I will behave myself wisely and give heed to the blameless way---O when will You come to me? I will walk within my house in integrity and with a blameless heart.

Yeah the heart has a lot to do with our following God. Staying in His protection, knowing Him is to give heed to His way of righteousness! That if we are in Him, we are to remain within that righteous walk that is holiness!  He is perfection, He is the mighty God, our Counsel.
Filling our heart with His kind of peace and wisdom, then we will truly know Him and follow a good path!

If you read on in Psalm 101 you become aware that following God is really about having nothing to do with evil and the evil person or thing close to us. Being aware of what God has given those who follow Him are those who will not slander his neighbor and will not tolerate the haughty look. For truly our eyes should be on those who walk faithfully with God and always looking out for the neighbor.

Was thinking of all the headlines today and those marching for some cause! Then I remembered the one anchor person of a news program mentioned a 'peaceful protest'. Now how did they come up with that?
Let's see: protest has the meaning of complaint, objection, or display of unwillingness usually to an idea or to course of action . Will publicly display their approval....by an organized demonstration of their disapproval.
Then peaceful has the meaning: a peaceful place; not involving war, violence; without worry and excitement.
The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English: peaceful people do not like violence and do not behave in a violent manner.

God is not only supreme in power and authority, but He is also supreme in judgment. In the greatness of God,  His very mind pierces through all of the justifications we make to excuse our bad attitudes and conduct as measured against His righteous standard.

Oh yeah, God has a righteous standard!

If we are truly followers and find our trust wholly in Him, then we would have faith to recognize and know His justice and be willing to operate in it.

We are not be followers of the world, but followers of Jesus Christ. And just like Jesus, we can come under persecution. But we are to remain faithful to God and know He loves us greatly to send His Son to die for us. So being reminded of God and His sense of justice, we must consider carefully what it is we are focused on and is it for His glory or for me to make a stand for me?
Again, it comes back to the attitude of our heart.

So in planning to go out for a 'march' we must consider is this a small thing. Could this be something of an event that will make no impact if it is done in being peaceful? Do we ask Him if it is good for us to do this? Or is this just a whim? Certainly there are many causes in the world today, but what we think of as the little matter may turn out for bad thing, the bad road and destruction to us.

Facing serious consequences will truly be known when we go outside the boundary of God. He is firm about us being obedient to His word. We are reminded in Romans 1: 18-21 Amplified Bible this: 18 For God's  [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative. 19 For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them. 20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes , that is, His eternal power and divinity have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the thing that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse (altogether with any defense or justification. 21 Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.

Yikes! Without God who is Light, then man's mind is darkened. The man operating out of  "the darkened mind" is given over to speculation. In their speculating, they will act out as the fool for they are given no firm evidence. They operate out of wrong beliefs, that false evidence and move in places void of peace, or life! Without the truth of God, they move into the arena of their own opinion, explore by taking a hunch and end up in jeopardy. Destruction!

To whom much is given, of him shall be much required. ….What of Jesus are we giving to people? Are we being easy & trying to make our Lord and Savior more digestible to others? Are we Dressing HIM up or changing His character to suit their character & ours? 

Do we go out to march and say it is for the Lord? Or do we just go out for the 'march' just for the sake of people seeing us "march"?

 Is our culture so steeped in convenience…that we neglect the spiritual of Jesus & follow a culture that is bankrupt because we left God out.  When we try bringing entertainment, we can totally reduce our involvement and our expectations in reaching others for Him.  If we really look at what is going on today, we would focus on that if Jesus is not the center of any family, then chaos can ensue. You can see that from guns in schools to people taking a motor vehicle to run someone else down. If we don't have our salvation, have our hearts set with Jesus allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to us and live by the commands given, then most likely we resemble the world!

We are reminded of this: Proverbs 24:1-4 Amplified Bible BE not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them; 2 for their minds plot oppression and devise violence and their lips talk of causing trouble and vexation. 3 Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house ( a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], 4 And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area]be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

If we are going out in our name, then this is easily viewed as one in immoral conduct. Understand that people who know not God pay little attention. And they have no responsibilities to Him or for Him. He is disregarded.....again yikes! Remember He can cast one into Hell! And He certainly deserves our praise for all that His love has given to us especially for that displayed on the Cross! If one would take a moment to look into the face of a newborn baby, see the beauty of magnificent colors at sunset, and realize this was not a 'big bang' thing! 
If making a difference is important find out where you play the part in the plan God has in motion. Ask Him if that is where you belong! So if God is not vital to this and within this very cause to march about, then we find no cause to be obedient to His will being done on earth in us as it is in heaven. Being willful is having the face of attitude that which is considered serious indeed.  Bad attitude is always bad, causes problems, and will defy life for the good. Knowing that God is committed to us, then we should also remember He is serious. AND He is very serious about fulfilling His purposes on earth.

In receiving salvation, our walk was and is as the "disciple". Disciples are followers of Jesus. Our focus priority is Jesus as He was, is and will always BE the LIFE! Taking the territory for Jesus is that we are not on the sidelines cheering others on. We are to be the church without walls! It looks like the committed with an undivided and a dedicated life humbled to seeing His kingdom come.
So  if you are going out for that "march" consider talking to the Father about it. Tell Him your concerns and what troubles you about what is going on in the 'streets'. Ask Him if you will be safe and wise to go! And if He is for you going out, then ask what you will speak by the Holy Spirit to others that will bring them to God.

 Pray and ask Him what your step might be in this "coming march". For our greatest value to God our Father is in the here and now of this moment on earth. It certainly should be for His glory if we dare go out. And when going out in His name, then certainly is the glory due to His holy name.

Certainly engage culture but understand it is not for the fainthearted. If you go out in your name and being willful not to obey God then you go it alone!

That is not a safe place to be, outside the will of God. Another question to ask, especially to you is will you influence by  the speaking of peace, the good in God or you just going to be influenced by the world.

Each of us has role to participate for God and His glory and the world is opposed and contrary to God. But ours is not to make the gospel acceptable to man but just to make it available to those who does not know God!

Proverbs 26:27 whoever digs a pit [for another man's feet] shall fall into himself and he who rolls a stone [up a height to do mischief]; it will return upon him.

Proverbs 28:10 whoever leads the upright astray into an evil way, be will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

Rest tonight, pray and tomorrow rise to live the life Jesus came to give us. Rise to be the blameless. Shine in His glory, prosper in His word, and deliver His truth to your community.And then do it because He said it was a "good thing to do".

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

The Wonder of God & His Instruction

https://youtu.be/BrnI4LPfL2k 

You can also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer 

for more teaching at:  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

In Order With God: Being Established

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2It_I6W1-g&t=180s

Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching:

http://bit.ly/2wgu1kw