Monday, December 21, 2020

The Kingdom Teacher

Was meditating on some Scripture this week and it seemed like my eyes opened wide to see this one thing! I had heard this on a news report. This was not on “fake news” but another news station who is consistent with actual truths and not folly! But this one lady in her speaking said that “ a group of people has not learned to grow to become the citizens they were meant to be. She mentioned their status as one who are really the needy in that they never learned to read nor write. My question, although this woman could not hear me, but I responded with a question “where was their parents when they were born, and where were those in academia when they had come into the school system?


There is always the “blame game” and to put off on others what “we” as parents or even as adults are expected to do! As I thought on Scripture again so as not to be carried away into what tangent of darkness this thought might take me,  I instantly returned to remember Jesus being found in the Temple asking questions of those who taught in the temple: 

Luke 2:41-52 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem.  And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44  but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which he spoke to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men.

Certainly the responsible party was Joseph and Mary in keeping their son with them. It was not up to others to see about Him. So you have a family returning to Nazareth, but the Boy Jesus was not with them. And when they find Him, the Boy is amazing scholars who know the law. He had understanding that was amazing. He was twelve and had both understanding and he had that which judged, yes, the discerning side as well!

And He told His mother, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” He was about His Father God’s business. Would we not want our children to be about being scholarly in respect to the things of God?

Back to the lady who talked about those who could not read nor write and they are today adults. She said they were needy.  Yes, they need to be taught. They need to sit down long enough to learn to write and learn to read and then go be the responsible. But again, you will find what people choose to blame when they find they do not meet that merit system.

My parents expected us to attend school and learn to be responsible. And we learned and did we sometimes need the extra help? Yes! And my parents were there even when the new books had come out for “new math” when I was going into Junior High School. I remember my dad asked what was wrong with the other math for it worked well for him! But we kept learning and by high school and then graduation, we had both learned to read and write, to formulate and speak a new language that was foreign to us. And that language was Spanish. For all the work and hours we put in: we earned a diploma. We got it for applying ourselves to that which was at hand: to read and write and be somebody!

Yet today, there are many wanting to do away with the ‘merit system’. You hear of it spoken by some governors of several states. They want to reward the Johnny come lately, the lazy Susan, and Typhoid Mary!

But Jesus was twelve and talking with those who taught in the Temple. They were not philosophers! Jesus advanced in wisdom and favor. He visibly displayed His unique relationship with the Father. Jesus returned with His mother and Joseph but He maintained His truths in the Father.

Then I continued to meditate Scripture. I came to this question: are we using the time wisely of knowing who we are in Christ? If we were saved like some twenty years ago and had begun that process, are we still trying to figure out who we are in Him, when the Bible has so much about being in Him!

You and I cannot be a grand-child of God’s. He has no grand-children! He has only sons! I am a “son” spiritually. 1 John 3:1-2 behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God.

Romans 8:14, 16-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God…….16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ…..

Born again unto God, we are the children of God! We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ! We are to be those daring to take our place as God’s children. As those sons and daughters who have received Jesus today, we confess who we are in Him! Life is to be enjoyed and be known with purpose. God’s Word reveals to us how to not just talk about Him but to walk with Him and converse with Him.

What we hold in our heart will reveal what we believe! Some people are ready to hold aspirin up as their healer for pain. Others take the more exotic way of specialty drugs and love it till it kills them. What is reality to us?

Romans 10: 9-10 if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

We are to confess Him by speaking it out loud for our own ears to hear it. We are stand and speak: we believe Him to be the Son of God. We believe Him to have been raised from the dead. He is our Savior, He is our Lord, and He is seated on the throne of our hearts. He is guiding us to the future by His Holy Spirit.

Acts 17:28 for in Him we live and move and have our being. You and I are to live within Jesus. We move as He moves. He is super power! He is super Lord………..He has energy and strength for the impossible tasks we face!

Have you ever had opportunity to stand where they produce power at a dam? I had never had the opportunity till about twenty-one years ago. It was one dam that was located in Concrete, Washington. My husband and I had a tour there one day. And I remember taking that walk into the area where those engines were operating and standing above the water forcing through the gates and that tremble under my feet. The whirring of the engines and the vibration of the floor under the engines, caused the ground beneath my feet to vibrate with a force I had never encountered before. This was power magnified, it was manifested and the combination produced light somewhere in America!

Now can you imagine God’s Word of water forced through little you and to light up someone’s life on your pathway in this world? In Him we are to live and move and have our being in Him. This is not philosophy. And it should not take us forever to find out who we are in Him! We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. ( Ephesians 2:10) We are in Him, In WHOM we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. (Ephesians 1:7) Who in His own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: By WHOSE strips we were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

WE are not going to be healed someday. We are the healed now. Jesus did this for you and for me and by His stripes we are the healed. We are made the whole with nothing missing, or lacking or broken in our lives. For the law of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.

There was another plague in the last century that was written about: the bubonic plague. One such person who we read about was John G. Lake, who as a missionary to Africa,  relied on the Scriptures especially of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

 He cared for the sick and buried the dead. When a team of British doctors had appeared with a ship of supplies and a group of doctors to bring aide and relief, he was asked what he had been using to protect himself against the bubonic plague. Of course his answer was: “I believe the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. And as long as I walk in the light of that law of Life, no germ will attach itself to me.”

The group of doctors wanted him, John G. Lake, to see the ferocious activity of the living mass of germs that killed.  John G. Lake told them that he would take that foam from the mouth of a dead person and place it on his hand and they could see it as he held it under the microscope. With the approval of this action, it was John G. Lake that proved to those doctors that what he was holding in his hand caused them to die instantly. Why? “That is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.”

John G. Lake believed God and His word!

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ( James 4:7) The devil is a quitter. He always gives up. He is one who wants his own way and after a short time he goes away for another time to attack you. But his characteristics prove he is only a liar and short on patience!

He has certainly done a number on those who believe they cannot read nor write and use the blame game on others so actively today, so they free themselves from any blame to themselves. Yet we are to be responsible for ourselves. But all the devil had to work on was one parent, and the next generation parent and the next one. Because one left to do their own thing, the remaining parent had a double duty of providing for the offspring and seeing they were educated as well.

I am blessed that my parents wanted me to succeed. I was blessed in the truth that they worked as a team. They wanted me to receive a diploma and be responsible. It was not a blame game. I heard out of both their mouths that effort was needed. It was going to require some work and there would be some of those not set for learning and who would most definitely quit.  But I was told I was one who would never quit. And I have never stopped, not from my beginning in school or to this very day, learning is my heart's desire!

There is a group called the ‘Marines’. They are the few, the proud, the Marines’. They go in for a job. They go in to make a change. Now what if it took them some twenty to thirty years to finally go in and make a change. Well, most likely, the ones they went to rescue, the ones they were to save but could not because it took them some thirty years  or later to train for that rescues, most of them to be rescued would certainly be dead on their late arrival for said 'rescue'.

No, when these men or women go into the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines, they are in a place to be disciplined. They have a drill sergeant or someone like him who walks them through the early morning and into their day. You have someone who will drill discipline into you. 

They will drill into you what you need to know. They will drill into you the action to be taken. They will regard what the "end game is" and how to get there.

They know all about the merit system. They are no longer a Johnny come lately nor a lazy Susan. They are military. They drink military thoughts and eat military diets. Exercise is their choice. Could you image a PeeWee Herman showing up to try to rescue you, let's say in Iran? No, these are in uniform to show who they represent, they reveal who they are for and what they stand for. 

So why cannot a Christian be ready for active duty like Jesus was? Why does it take so long for a Christian, especially living in this day with all the technology to learn to speak as Jesus spoke? Are there not enough drill sergeants to give the word of God in teaching and to pray for them to become active for that purpose God has set before them to be and become? Is the 21st century Christian too absorbed about material things and not enough gusto for real life in God and His way and thoughts?

Christians are dressed in royal attire. They experience grace. It was divine. It was for salvation that was meant to save us from destruction!

Our Commander in Chief is Jesus Christ! He is warrior! Read Revelation chapter 1. That is a Warrior! Exodus 15:3 The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name.

Zechariah 14:3 then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley.

This is Jesus in Revelation chapter 1 going to set His foot on earth. He is majesty, He is mighty, He is authority, He is greatness and honor!

 Colossians 2:6-7…6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  NIV

 Jude 1:20-21..“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”   

For Christians,  the wall represents the spiritual protection God wants to be established in each Believer’s life. In the New Testament Paul refers to it as “armor of God”: Ephesians 6:11-12

 Jesus was twelve and he had questions. He asked those who knew! And those who viewed His activity were astonished.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

From that we know, Jesus the Christ, told us to seek the kingdom of God and all things are added to us. (Matthew 6:33) And in His righteousness we are in right standing with God. 

Let us be active as a military man or woman, to be those by faith active to apprehend what is ours in Jesus. Where we are weak Holy Spirit strengthens us, and He helps us to see and heed more clearly. 

Fill up on spiritual food and receive that which helps one grow, heal and reveal what is purposed for our lives. We tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt us. We are strengthened by that implanted word to hold firm. We have taken the whole armor of God to stand.

If you have issues with reading or seeing with clear vision, start by hearing His word. Put it in our heart! Hear it while you sleep and hear it while you eat! Put priority ONE on it....to Hear Him so that those truths suddenly can come into your life. Because if it is of the heart that will lead us when there is Jesus seated upon it. May we know the kingdom Teacher intimately so that we are disciplined to hear, disciplined to know Him, and disciplined to ride with Him when He returns to earth! Amen!

 

 New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

His Voice as the Sound of Many Waters

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

Monday, December 14, 2020

That 'Anything Goes' Concept

The perfect storm when lawlessness appears!
That ‘Anything Goes’ concept or Poisoned Idolatry is evident! Ideas or concepts,  man’s view on life and death, the permission to sin, have their own belief and expect great results in wealth, peace and position that is not in the word of God, but sets up the 'perfect storm'. That ‘anything goes’ concept is a deliberate idea of man and is known as antinomianism.

  In the very practice of this great lie of the enemy, the man or woman in this poisonous idolatry that is just sin, do it daily. Yet, Jesus died for us. He broke sin’s power on our lives. We are to now live by the Spirit of God, to live in the righteous requirement of the law as in Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

God is perfect. His is holy and His word is not the problem. Sinful flesh of man is the problem. And yes, it does stink to the high heavens!

 Antinomianism is epidemic today because man has become obsessed with self.  He gloats in himself, and he rejects God. It suits him to make his own laws! And he will overturn the last law he just made and even though he has no right to make them all on his own. The natural result of man becoming obsessed with self is power. They are worshipers of self-power who will not voluntarily submit themselves to God's rules or laws. They jealously reserve the option to ignore law, to act upon that which excites their rule and thirst for power.  

You can see some in high offices today who probably do not really know God, but operate in that situation-oriented, subject to change at a moment notice to suit their fancy toward remaining in their seat of “self” where their position seems to be elevated even higher in their next law making decisions. They seem to speak in an exalted arrogance that points to their great rule and yet if fails miserably with no substance because it has nothing to do with God who is life!

Again this is of the “willful” and disobedient man or woman and can be found in churches as well as in government. They will often dismiss God's laws by claiming that they personally have "spiritual guidance" and have no need of law, or any law. Sometimes they use a misinterpretation of 1 John 2:27 to excuse their lawlessness. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches concerning all things and is true, and is not a lie and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Abiding in Christ Jesus is by faith in Him and of a obedience. It is walking in righteousness that reveals a righteous behavior. It will be of love for others and still bring a correction if required. It is not just talk but love that has legs that walk out what God gives.  It is never about taking advantage of others in their present condition!

 Antinomian Heresies is seen in Revelation! Revelation 2:14-15  NKJV  14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

The subject matter is the doctrine of Balaam, and it was the sins of eating things sacrificed to idols and committing sexual immorality. Also listed is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.  And it is Jesus Christ Who implies these three are the same basic heresy in different guises. They are three, but still has the heading of ‘antinomian’ teaching that was affecting the church in Thyatira seen in verses 20 and 21.

Now from that recorded by Moses in Numbers 22-25, 31, we have Balaam a prophet who was moved by Balak, king of Moab to curse the Israelites. Yes, this was of course was a job for the prophet. But Balaam instead blessed the Israelite people. Then the prophet Balaam counsels Balak to send Moabite and Midianite women into the camp of Israel to seduce the men and to invite them to the sacrifices of their god seen in (Numbers 25:1-2);  and seen also in Numbers 31:16 Look, these woman caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

  He then counsels Balak to send Moabite and Midianite women into the camp of Israel to seduce the men and invite them to the sacrifices of their god (Numbers 25:1-2; 31:16). Clearly, Balaam's instruction included getting the Israelites to commit idolatry and sexual immorality.

These two practices arise in the Jerusalem Council in AD 49. You find that Paul and Barnabas, with Peter's help, convince the assembled elders that Gentile converts to Christianity should not be required to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses, Judaism's rigorous "yoke" of worthless laws in Acts 15:10.

Given in Acts 15: 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they. 12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

Seen here is that James names both the Holy Spirit and human initiative (ours) as factors in what is the council's decision! We must have the divine of the Holy Spirit to guide our human actions.

There was no need to add the law of Moses to faith and test God! Jesus’ sacrificial death was enough! Acts 15:28-29 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:  29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

It is obvious that the  Council's decree does not exempt Gentiles from keeping the Ten Commandments, for it is clear from many New Testament passages that Jesus and the apostles taught them to both Jews and Gentiles seen in  Matthew 19:17-19  So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “You shall not murder; “You shall not commit adultery, “You shall not steal, “You shall not bear false witness, 19 “Honor your father and your mother, and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ; and in  Romans 13:9 for the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, “You shall not murder, “You shall not steal, “You shall not bear false witness, “You shall not covet and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Ultimately two issues appear, one is idolatry and  another is sexual immorality. The conflict between true Christianity and Hellenistic Gnosticism, and a person's stance on them exposed and which side he favored.Thus,Nicolaitanism, along with Balaamism are the biblical symbols or representatives of the larger, yes Gnostic, antinomian influence on Christianity.

One thing is certain, and that is Jesus’ admonitions in Revelation 2 indicate highly that this antinomian influence will remain until His return. He gives warnings to both Pergamos and to Thyatira.  “ Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. . . . But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan [another allusion to antinomianism], as they call them, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. (verses 16, 24-25)

Jesus gives warning of the concern about the antinomian spirit, that attitude of lawlessness of which allows sins to infest the church at large. When members of the church teach and practice that they are not obliged to keep the laws of God, sin will inevitably break out vigorously.  Under this occurrence, then Christians are no longer under grace but under the penalty of the law and the wrath of the Judge (Romans 6:11-23) also seen in Hebrews 10:26-31.

 Hebrews 10:26-31 NKJV 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries . 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord, And again, “the  LORD will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 Hebrews; 12:25-26 NKJV 25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”

Matthew 24:11-12 Jesus spoke: “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

What will happen to such lawless people? Jesus Himself answers: Matthew 7:22-23 NKJV Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"

Those who practice lawlessness will not be with Jesus. They will be in another place.

The true disciples hear and obey.  They are not frightened by His voice or His leading. The confirmed are those who have a consistent life that is characterized by righteous behavior. Here in Matthew 7:22-23  we see those who never knew Jesus and He did not know them. Their lawlessness takes the meaning of deeds of lawlessness; they are characterized as living lives by wrongdoing constantly!

 Titus 2:14 gives this account: …who gave Himself for us, that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people zealous for good works.  We are redeemed in Christ’s redemptive work. He created a ‘special’ people who are cleansed of sin and zealous for good works. Faith people are to encourage others to live in godliness, expose deceptive doctrine and divisive behavior, convict through the power of the Spirit. They are reproved in order to be restored to full and strong faith.

I refer back to 1 John 2:27……But the anointing which you received from him is remaining in you, and you have no need for anyone to be teaching you except as his anointing is teaching you about all things, and is true and is no lie. According as you have taught it, remain in him.

We remain in Jesus, led by the Spirit of God: Holy Spirit. He gives us the ability to discern between truth and error. We must have the Holy Spirit. He reveals good and evil. We are to learn what God has given. He requires no one to teach HIM, He is God. But we certainly require His wisdom to live out this day without going astray! We must hear His message, the gospel of Grace, and walk through each day by faith in Him!

Remember, we have been warned by Jesus in the book of Revelation! Pay attention to how He looks and what He speaks and then obey!


 New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Calling on Him from the Word in our Heart

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

Monday, December 7, 2020

Withstanding the Onslaught of the Enemy

 Now if you are a woman, you can probably relate to this kind of stress where you cry with sorrow. You experience a grief into your soul that is so deep that a good cry is required. And we can experience a deep pain of grief many times during a lifetime whether you are a woman or a man. I remember talking with my own mother of those times that she hurt so deeply that the cry seemed to be endless for her.

Psalm 31: 9-13  Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends-- those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.

Certainly reading Psalm 31…verses sink in our heart and thoughts of those who have pleas to reach the Lord. There is that unwarranted persecution and yes trouble. And does not trouble follow the righteous? It appears like a dog after a tasty bone, does it not?

Jesus mentions this in John 17:14-15 I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

As the righteous we are set apart for ministry. Each in regard to their calling even a married woman raising four children. That is a calling! The married man to watch over his home and his place of work. He keeps watch by prayer and hearing the Lord’s voice. Yes, each of these is in their walk to keeping the focus of God’s plan in view to hear the will of the Lord’s voice.

In regard to Psalm 31, verse 9 reads: have mercy on me, O LORD for I am in trouble; my eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body! For many people who have trouble in their marriage can face heartache. They try reaching for that which flickered with a light years ago but somehow and somewhere, someone forgot to keep the flame in the blazing mode of brilliance. It always takes two people to make a marriage work. With that in mind, we should first have a relationship with God and then the person you see as your spouse, right?

I heard people speak many times of their thoughts on how they kept their fire burnings, but in their speaking you find that one’s job took their extra effort and stayed at the work place more than they were at home to keep a fire even to burn. Another spoke how they never seemed to be a part of the marriage team. Their voice never seemed to be heard in whatever the conversation was being engaged. Still another gave voice that her husband did not hear her ever! I had wondered how two people could get to that first conversation at the first meeting of one another and then have no conversation after that. Monopolizing a whole conversation could be hard for anyone to bear no matter who you are but then to marry that person seemed like a miraculous thing indeed to me!  So whatever the circumstance for man or woman, or even a youth, anything broken is a serious matter. And certainly heartache is serious. BUT Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. He came to bind up wounds and to deliver us into His peace and healing! And to converse about that is to contact God first and foremost, to hear Him and then to do what He instructs!

 

People are in a grief today of coronavirus! They have experienced grief in lockdowns, shutdowns, closed signs, wearing masks to disguise and even cover their smile which welcomes that hidden and muffled “hello” to being social distanced because of a fear.  They find themselves being hounded by "Karens" who yell for police and 911 but some places have defunded their police departments, so who are you going to call?

I thought on this weeks ago when school would have been starting about all those children who would not be back in public schools. They would not be back among their peers. I thought how many young people would only see another like them from a screen on their computer, being miles apart and never to have that close and personal opportunity to say hello and have a conversation with them of how they enjoyed the summer or how they had “no summer!” People require conversation! We were never meant to be alone! God showed us that in the Garden of Eden.

I always think of God sending angels to announce the birth of Jesus. He sent angels to declare before shepherds in a field who kept a watch over a flock of sheep with no flood lights, no roadways, but only pathways, with no cell phones, but only that occasional conversation between those shepherds passing as they work in the fields on that special night! I thought of there not being a folding chair to get comfortable by a fire to warm the bones of one who had already put in work for a day now to work all night. But something occurred. Something changed the mundane to the best of all things ever. God sent a notice.....announced something had happened. He engaged mankind!

We were in conversation with our daughter and son-in-law a couple of weeks ago. And she was talking of songs she remembered from her early years at school and especially those she remembered in her times at the skating center. Between the two of them, our daughter and son-in-law, they could think of a number of songs, but one I keep going back to is “It’s a Heartache” by Bonnie Tyler. Then she had hits like “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding out for a Hero”.  Now this lady had some heart issues and you can tell by the words written and sang about what they were! Now the songs were special when skating with your spouse or even your child in that family time and a family evening together, but I also thought especially since Thanksgiving Day of this year for those who spent time giving thanks to God that 2020 is almost over. I know many could not record that song so milllions could hear it, but I thought of those who spent the day giving thanks they are alive to see another year coming.  I thought of those who spent time singing about the goodness of God!

Yes, the year 2020 has brought many to their knees, some for senseless things, but others in regard to loved ones dying, in regard to working from home, no toilet paper to be found, and bread and milk not available to a family with small children.  There were mandates, and demands and yes, people have gone from crying to emotional pain and even to the point of a physical pain. Loss was mentioned by many who have an anchor chair in the news department, and many who just had loose tongues this year and we should watch what comes out of our mouths. We should not be those who run around with loose tongues giving opinions and no truth.

I thought of people using the word “privileged” and those who love God, the righteous are the privileged indeed. It tells of the virtuous, the capable, the person who is the godly and brings about profit to her (or his) family.

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find the virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. 15 She also rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. 20 She extends her hand to the poor, yes she reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. 22 She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and tells them and supplies sashes for the merchants. 25 Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “ Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” 30 charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her praise own works praise her in the gates.

 

To begin: the first nine verses of Proverbs 31 deals with what is called symbolically that Lady Wisdom. But the rest of Proverbs 31 deals with the real woman who is flesh and blood. Every man and woman can learn from this proverb of wisdom that regards the individual and the family at large!

Verse 10: who can find the virtuous wife? Who can find that person who has virtue? Are we looking for someone who is virtuous?

The apostle Paul commands us to think on things which are virtuous: Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy---meditate on these things.

The virtuous begins with thoughts in the mind. Our actions give away to what our thought process has been. The apostle Paul gives us guidance in what our minds should hold so that our character and conduct will line up with what God expects in the righteous man or woman.

We cannot allow our minds to dwell upon evil and expect to live virtuously before God. "Evil company corrupts good habits" (1 Corinthians 15:33). If our mind is in the gutter, we cannot live a virtuous life. Christians can never escape all of the negative influences of sin living on the earth, but we have a choice of whom we will serve in our hearts and minds. We must not continue to dwell on the sin that surrounds us as we interact with people of the world. We can never allow ourselves to gleefully entertain the pleasures of unrighteousness in our minds (2 Thessalonians. 2:11-12; and  2 Tim. 3:1-4). To do so is sin ( Matt. 5:27-30).

From verse 15-17, the thought is of diligence to her or him who gives tremendous strength to earn money for the family but also to earn extra to buy that vineyard. It takes work to remove those stones to plant vines to grow grapes. It takes some muscle to work to dig that winepress and then build that tower to protect  that vineyard once it is flourishing.

It is the Proverbs 31 person who laughs at the days to come as seen in verse 25. Those who can laugh at the days to come, laugh in seeing the approach of 2021, will be those secure in knowing Who holds the future. That person is the one who will rejoice because God is in the midst of every part of their life. Good or bad, the person is equipped with the word of God, equipped with His power and ready for the days ahead with a smile on the face and an expectancy within the heart that God is with them because they have chosen His way of life!

You may be the Psalm 31 person where your strength fails because of affliction and your bones grow weak as seen in verse 10, but Proverbs 31 person is the strong and the healthy. Proverbs 31 tells us a “woman” who is strong and healthy, that she is one set about to do work vigorously and that her arms are strong for her tasks! She is one who has strength like the young person but she also has honor like the older person. When she gives instruction she is giving it by the wisdom of God and the love of Him in her heart. That person is always one known as the vigilant and the diligent. She is no sluggard!

 

With the present day of social media in the lives of many, the life of a woman or even a man can revert back to a high school popularity contest. And if you stay around those who act more like teenagers than the grown and the mature, then it is most certainly the time to find the right place to spend that quality moment away from those who will only make you feel socially inferior as you can see from this given in Psalm 31:11-13: Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends— those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

Men and women should not be about pleasing everyone around them. Jesus did not do that. Focus on Jesus, read to find understanding that discerns your walk, and discerns the right from the wrong! Yes, we can read Proverbs 31 as “The MOST Popular”, yes, everyone is tweeting about them, but struggle is found when those things appear suddenly and that same person is not capable of handling all the hoopla of such great attention so quickly. They get off on a tangent and may not find that narrow path back in safety! Your spouse may not match up to the respectable, but certainly God’s word works and when we apply it to our lives and those of our spouse we can see changes come. Some may be slow, but others can come sooner when we continue to activate His word of truth now, today in this moment for them! Your children may not be serving God and in this hour of coronavirus, they may be still trying to find where they need to live to have a job to go to and perform every day. May we continue to speak as David did: Psalm 31NKJV  “But as for me, I trust in you, LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who persecute me.”

I remember when a lady sent this Psalm 31 to me. Her name Juliana C. She was over all those who ministered in Jail Ministry for Snohomish County, Washington. She sent it to both men and women alike and it was to encourage those who spent the time in prayer, study and meditation to see God’s purpose on earth in the jails to reach those incarcerated by bad behavior. It was about seeing God’s goodness to those who needed a Savior.

She encouraged me, when things were not so wonderful for me, not so great for me, but she showed me how to keep the focus and it has become the fruitful field. That was some sixteen years ago, but I always think of my times are in His hands! And I have continually spoke as the Lord speaks and to believe with a heart of faith, His will is done on earth as it is in heaven….coronavirus or no coronavirus,….God is sufficient!

The Psalm 31 person encountered anxiety: “it is the what if” issue. It looks like what if the children remain disobedient, why are all my children “the prodigals”, why is there issue in the body and nothing is given as the cause nor the solution?

But as that woman who was the esteemed by her husband her children, we too would like to be esteemed and Proverbs 31 points to children that rise and call her blessed and her husband also. Your children may not call you the blessed, but God calls you the blessed and from that point you begin. I say to you b-e-g-i-n that walk in seeing God as your refuge as seen in Psalm 91. See yourself dwelling with the Most High God and then whatever is going on outside of you will be buffered by that power of God on the inside of you. Psalm 31: 19-21 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You, in the presence of the sons of men! 20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!

Yes, we are the fortified when we stay with God and work at that relationship within His presence and His great love that sustain man or woman in all the challenges outside the home as coronavirus or men with wicked intentions as trying to overthrow elections for their purposes, for that challenge is seen, but we keep our homes in His love and His focus. We keep speaking His word over our spouse, over their position, over their drive to work and home, we keep God’s angels active to perform what is needed. So if you have been dealt a blow and find yourself in a depressive state, social challenges being locked in one location or with physical ailments when you have no opportunity to seek medical help or even with family problems, the key thing to remember is this: we exist. God planned for you and He planned for me. He planned something good. He desired us to live as this moment for His glory and to His praise. We belong to Him Who is greater. We belong to Him! Proverbs 3: 19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; 20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew. 21 My son let them not depart from your eyes-  Keep sound wisdom and discretion;  22 So they will be life to your soul, And grace to your neck. 23 Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26 For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. NKJV

 

Righteous behavior will always bring a great reward. We are to detest anything not virtuous. We look for His wisdom, to gain more knowledge of Him and then apply that to our lives and that of our children, our jobs, and anything else that can come in contact with our lives. Wise counsel is needed when there is anxiety, loss and pain. Wisdom of God is so vital to withstand the onslaught of the enemy and we keep to His peace, and love that guides us through whatever emotional, physical, mental or spiritual chaos. For we have seen what a virus can do, but we also know what God can do when we allow Him in!


 New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Calling on Him from the Word in our Heart

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells
REVEALING GOD TO WHOM HE CHOOSES

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

Friday, November 27, 2020

About That Being Grateful

About that being grateful: Ephesians 3:12-16 NKJV Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

It is evident who lives by their past ways. But in Christ, we are born again to live anew and that also includes relationships. In that born again man, we put off the ungodly indeed. And we put on the new that is the image of Christ Jesus. From the above passage, we find it lists love but also includes that being patient, there is that being humble, merciful and the forgiving. And it will be that peace of Christ that will control our thoughts and our emotions. In Him and by that description, you and I are to be thankful.

A beginning with a grateful heart to God: Psalm 100 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful and bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

Have we gone before the LORD to worship Him? Have we gone before HIM and say “Thank you for loving me?” Have we thought on His goodness to us in the past week? We are told that we are the sheep of His pasture. Do you know how smelly sheep are? Do you know what they can lie down in? And yet, He is our Shepherd. He is to lead us. And in His court, we give praise, we bless His name for we understand that His truth endures to all generations.

There are today many spinning their false narratives, they wave their magic wands of fairy dust, and expect you to believe their false tales. They are known as false prophets, and they continue in their ways that is certainly to a place many should want to avoid. We are to remember that we are dust, but we also remember we have been saved for His glory and to His praise. Without Him, we were doomed forever! But with Him we walk into glory. Thank you Jesus for Your willing heart to step in for us even before we knew about what You had decided to do for us in this great thing!

 

Honoring God, Honoring Others.  They profess their God before men, give instruction in the way of Life that is in God. Luke 2: 13-14 & suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God & saying:14 “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Luke 2:17-18 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning the Child. 18 and all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

We cannot give goodwill to another if we have no goodwill towards God. That is, we each must have peace with God. Many proclaim Christianity but are far from Him, know nothing about Him and yet speak of a place with Him. But their mouths speak of decay, death , lack, they speak despair, and of loneliness.

Goodwill for others is cooperating with God in other people’s welfare. It is having the same kind of benevolence God has toward us as believer’s.  We are here to encourage others in His Word and by prayer. When meeting with someone either from the workplace, from church or maybe a neighbor, we are to remember that “iron sharpens iron.” And it is for that which is purposed for their life. In giving someone the word of God is for that purpose for which God has placed in them and to help them grow!

IN being grateful, we speak: for what God has done: He gave us life, He gave us parents ( a father and a mother), He gave us good health, a home, He has given us teachers to teach the word of God, he has given us opportunities to work in earning a paycheck and become responsible citizens.

We had opportunity to rise this day: not only out of bed, but to rise off the floor when kneeling to pick a hairpin off the floor! We have opportunity to rise and give voice for Him when others appear downcast and lost! We give thanks for mentors who have mentored us to be responsible adults, but also responsible to give voice to the life in God. To give voice of His majesty when others speak of sickness and death.

I am certain many of us have remember last Thanksgiving Day or what ever holiday you may have in the month of November, and much has changed dramatically in the last twelve months. But I can also say for certain that I am not where I was 20+ years ago, BY SEEKING GOD AND IN PRAYER I HAVE CHANGED….AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE CHANGED FOR HIS GLORY.  YOU will find that in being grateful to God that we have hope!

GRATEFULNESS looks back. We look back at the Cross. And we move through life now as the born-again believer, being grateful to God for all He has given to us through His Son. In that we have hope as we look forward with a desire, we look forward with a confidence that God is on the scene and the expectation that God is not done with us yet. We are to be ever encouraging ourselves in HIM with the thankful heart  looking toward the future. But if we fail to give that to another person or persons, then we would tend toward or be bent toward being without grateful hearts and without hope. In Iron ….sharpening….. Iron,…… our words spoken is of creative ability from God where rage & wrath do not exist. We are not to be the green-eyed monster.  The words we speak are of comfort, joy and much happiness. They are bold words representing a powerful God who is able.   

When the shepherds heard the angels of heaven speak, they made haste to go…Luke 2:8-20 NKJV  8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you; You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger.” 13 And there was suddenly with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “ Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

17 Now when they had seen Him they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

 

Grateful were these shepherds who kept their watch over their flock by night. They were diligent doing the work they did as the responsible adult. They kept watch and were the first to know God’s plan for redemption. The “smelly lot” received the word given them. They moved quickly to see this which was made known to them. “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.” And when they spoke what was given them concerning this Child, all marveled. And Mary kept these things of an announcement made to those who kept the flocks of sheep far from the city of pomp and circumstance, of castles and kings. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Oh we give thanks of all that was spoken in 2020, but God’s word rings truth. It is not over to those of faith. For the faithful look toward to 2021. Our heads are raised, and our body’s submit to the strength of God…to rise at His command. To go into all the world with not the suggested command, but the Great Command and give the Gospel to those who require a Savior Who is Christ the Lord!

 

WE Trust in the LORD with all our heart, And lean not on our own understanding; In all our ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct our paths. ….concerning my life, our spouse, our children, work and home in 2021.

We are not the wise in our own eyes………………WE …Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to  our flesh, And strength to our bones. We Honor the LORD with our possessions, And with the first-fruits of all your increase; So our barns will be filled with plenty, And our vats will overflow with new wine.

We are…..the Happy man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;  For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things we may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.

WE seek Her ways of pleasantness and her paths of peace……….we take hold of her today and will not let go! When we lie down, we will not be afraid; Yes, we will lie down and our sleep will be sweet. WE are not afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be our confidence, And will keep our foot from being caught.

We are that force on earth. We are His beloved and we please Him by our obedience. WE embrace His beauty through His word of truth.  We rest in the night and He gives us dreams to know more about Him. We live by faith and not by sight. His presence goes with us and the earth shakes. We give His truth and it thunders. We speak as the shepherds spoke and give a grateful heart of thanks and much praise! For He let us know His plan and it is a good plan for good and not evil to give us hope in the final outcome. We run with joy each day, we rise out of complacency and foolishness to give voice that the morning STAR has risen. He has risen and we rise as well….to let others know we have heard and seen this marvelous thing and to go tell others! 


 New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Emphasizing the Identification

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells
REVEALING GOD TO WHOM HE CHOOSES

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

Quality Faith

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