An Artesian Well of Good or a Nasty Flood of Evil

Picture by R. Twiner

Ecclesiastes 9:17  ESV The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

I wrote out a number of scripture verses to study and memorize for 2017. In them, I am looking into speaking with less words, more to the point and less opinion. It is important to get to the point and to keep an opinion out of the way of God's truth. I am thinking people get enough of the other from T.V.
I also went to look at other scriptures like the one above in scripture knowledge and found this one that speaks the same or in a similar way.
Proverbs 28:23..NKJV....He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he would flatters with the tongue.


James 3:13-18 cinches this  all together.
James 3:13-18 ..........NKJV....Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is fire pure, then peaceable, gently, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

God's wisdom gives us the insight and how to rightly implement His knowledge through out our days. His wisdom is vital in everyday conversations with your spouse, your children ( grown up or still at home), with co-workers, with those at the grocery store, postal office, or other. And His wisdom is good for any people and at any age of life.

Pondering God's thoughts for us is always a needed thing. I am always wanting to seek out that quiet time, and hear the quiet voice, yes, the small still voice that is not like the world. It is one which speaks by asking you first, "Why are you here?"

1 Kings 19:9  NKJV
9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are doing here, Elijah?"


AND of course, Elijah has his answer. He was zealous for the Lord. Coming from chapter 18 of 1 Kings we saw and heard the spectacular of God. In all that Elijah was believing all hearts would be changed to God, evidently in an instant, which they were not. Jezebel was still Queen and had hatred for Elijah. Elijah still had the Holy Spirit but in his zealousness, he was not allowing God His true way. Of course, Elijah went into a depression, and desired his life to be over.

God asked a question in Genesis 3:9.
Genesis 3:9 NKJV .....The the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
Now we know God was not asking out of any ignorance, but rather as a parent to the child.
"Where are you?"

If we are shouting to others, then who will really hear us? If we want (or demand) our way, and shouting is the norm, then I would say, 'no one ever hears you!"
Any within your region of influence will be looking for "EXIT" SIGN!
Having the righteousness of God is having fruit and that fruit is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:18)
Jesus taught thousands on hillsides outside Jerusalem and I never read HE had a megaphone.

In Proverbs 28:23, we find honesty, though painful will always win the long-term reward. The MESSAGE Bible speaks it this way: ' in the end, serious reprimand is appreciated far more than boot-licking flattery.

Again James 3:14 and 15.....tells us that .....if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Any relationship and any time given as in bible studies, teaching and preaching the word of God and in everyday life are to be lived in wisdom of God, spoken with less words, and remain in His peace. Remaining in His righteousness, and receiving Jesus we have righteousness, but it is that which is from God. WE must remain in God!

Proverbs 17:27 ESV... Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
The Message Bible writes it this way: the one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm.
That tongue can certainly cause someone to sin. And the tongue can when used loosely will produce sin.

So if God asked "Where are you?" Could we or would we say, "we are waiting on Him in His presence to hear Him speak to us?"
Or would we with loose lips, complain and ask Him why He delays something we really want or think we really need?

As in teaching and preaching God's Word requires no dilution! So too wordiness brings evil with an intent to harm or hurt. But true teaching of God is yes, a rebuke at times, but is a place of healing, a place of experiencing God and His love and having an ability to live it and tell it to others.

In view of others, it is only God's word that is to be given and the word which will heal. It is not up to us who give God's word to make sure the other receives it. We are not the Holy Spirit, but we are too give that which is the divine blessing God desires others to have.
I had another favorite scripture I add today.
It is found in Habakkuk 2.
Habakkuk 2:1-4
1 I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. 2 Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come.. It will not tarry. "Behold the proud , His soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by faith.

I had a teaching on this many years ago. In essence it is to write anything God has spoken to you. Keep it in a journal and add to that which God speaks. In dealing with others, we are to keep our commitment to God and time with Him. In that we do not become the intoxicated in our selves. We should not be the self-seeking and be those who envy. Because we indulge in our own gratification and see how many we can smooze with worldly talk, then we become the "stinking proud".

We are to be the righteous. We are to be promoting peace, but we also must know that peace comes with a big price. And in that is all of God and no opinion of or by man. It is certainly good that we mourn corruption, wickedness and even those abominations in the land. For in that we are revealing God, His heart and His character.
As we speak with few words, but in the strength of His, we reach the concerned, and the distressed. And those who may be away from Him will come back again to His love and His kingdom which is by faith.
Some things will not happen overnight. For it takes time to recover, to be reconciled, endure with patience as Jesus did.  Our souls are to endure in Jesus. By the Word, we adhere to Him and then move to that to which we are the destined.

In that time of quiet, we speak with less words, and desire to His strong voice speaking so low, yet so peaceful and still with power that comes from God. I write the vision for what He has given me to journal. I write that which is given to place on my heart, the tablet that reads of His word so that I might run to that which I am the appointed.
Whew, God did not ask me "where are you"? But what did He say? What was the last scripture verse He gave you and when did He give it?

Learning to wait in the quiet, hear the still small voice and abide in not only loving Him but obeying Him!

If you think you need a megaphone, ask God why you feel you are not heard? Pay attention to your own life and do you give others time to speak or do you monopolize the conversation? Another question would be if you desire all the attention?

Conducting our lives in God's principles gives a wealth of His wisdom to operate in His power. Having revelation to handle each comes by the Holy Spirit. We are not compromise but abide in peace without envy, confusion and self-seeking encounters.

I close with this verse. Proverbs 18:4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. NKJV
Message Bible  Proverbs 18:4 Many words rush along the rivers in flood, but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.

When we speak, does it look and sound like a really big flood in the early spring or does it appear more like that Artesian well ......where God's wisdom bubbles up to exhort and speak to the point with few words?
Proverbs 10:11...NKJV speaks that the mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
That means that there are two situations that can occur with the tongue. Speaking right in righteousness that is of God brings life, and speaking the other in envy, confusion, strife, etc, only brings violence.

How about living in peace and using only God's Words?

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:

Living a Full Life without Strongholds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oHfyyDl-bo



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

A Woman is to be Valued

A woman is to be valued. She is not the "plaything", an object or the lesser of a man, for God took of Adam a rib and formed Eve.
Yes, woman came from the vision of God and took a rib from man.
Read below:
Genesis 2:19-25
19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.

But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said,

"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman,'
for she was taken out of man."

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.   NIV


Adam saw her, the bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh and he called her woman. Adam was to leave the leadership of his father and create a home for his wife. He was to cleave to her. He was to bring security to the woman. As they were to walk together, him leading, they would work together and build the home.
There was no shame (verse 25). With woman arriving on the scene,  the two would glorify God, but satan came to devalue the woman. He came in with intent to stop the glorification to God that man and wife would bring to the Father who created them.
She was to stand beside him, not behind him!

Genesis 3:1
3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"  NIV

The adversary just asked a question, "did God really say.............'you must not eat from any tree in the garden?"

And what did God really say?

Genesis 2:15-17
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."   NIV

And Eve, the woman spoke:

Genesis 3:2-3

2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"   NIV

Proverbs 31:10-12 Amplified Bible

10 a capable, intelligent and virtuous woman---who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.  11 The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil. 12 She comforts, encourages and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

Proverbs 31:17 Amplified Bible

17 She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

Proverbs 31:25-31 Amplified Bible

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it!] 26 She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction]. 27 She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity), she will not eat. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her [saying], 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all. 30 Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised! 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!

God has more for women. He desires to enrich their lives with the beauty of Who He is and to see them fulfill what He placed in their hearts when they were first formed in their mother's wombs.

When we have the golden threads of diligence, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.......every woman will be neither barren not unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Read below:

2 Peter 1:5-8.....NKJV......5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The "virtuous" woman from Proverbs 31 put a foundation of knowing God under her. She walked and followed truth. She walked side by side with her husband as the intelligent, and she has the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness. 

There was a report out of Hollywood today, that there are just as many women as men who study to be directors of films and movies. They (women) study all aspects of the field, and yet there are very, very few women considered to direct any movie. They have the credentials, yet they fall short in the eyes of the men in the same field. They are not considered "the qualified".

That is why I love God and His Word. I love His justice and how He makes our paths level and straight. We can plan our futures, but our best is that which God planned for us. A woman is not merely a homemaker and should not be considered to be the "all" in the field of homemaker.

God created the garden of Eden.........brought forth the animals and had Adam name them all! In that moment as well, He brought forth Adam a helpmate. No where do I read that she was to clean toilets everyday and cook that bacon up in a pan. It is a 50-50 thing. Each has what they bring to the table. But if the husband has brought what his family raised him to add nothing but some guy thing, and told him in regards to family and cooking, and work...within that home is just women's work is badly mistaken. One can see why so many families fall apart. Marriage is work and it takes both parties to want to maintain a family and look to the reward of seeing Grand-children and Great-grandchildren grow and become what God planned for them as well. It is a "team work effort" and every one fills a role!

Spend some months reading Proverbs 31. Look into that which God showed as an example of that woman who seeks and loves God. Spend time filling your heart what you really look like!

God did not plan for a woman to be the pin-up of the month. He planned her to walk along side and be just as productive as the man. In the woman, is a beautiful and delightful deposit of God Himself. In her heart is what He purposed for her. It takes a real man of God to uncover that beauty that God placed there in the "woman's heart". Taking from his rib, He took that which would or should be closest to his heart. It was to be a fellowship and unity held together as one.

 But satan devised other plans. The thing is, satan directed it to be played out that God would receive no credit and no praise for the man and woman He created. But God!

Woman had fallen through the cracks. And in the coming of Jesus, we read how it took time to talk with them and tell them what was next.

They knew Jesus, the Friend. He restored women back to that of virtue and christian devotion. (Luke 7:37-50)  Women rejoiced when He blessed their children ( Mark 10:13-16) and when He had raised "the dead". (see Luke 7:12-15)

The women in the Bible at the time of Jesus were those who stepped out to see change come. They chose to be clothed in the beauty and simplicity of the character of Jesus Christ. They exchanged their low estate, and a life of paganism......to worship God,  to see their families cared for, their spiritual life nourished in the words of Jesus and be transformed to live lives that still speak today. 

For the agonies, the pain and activity of today is set on degrading women and bringing them lower than dirt is not good and is not of God.

We stand together as women, created by God to speak out in faith, "enough is enough". We speak out that our daughters and their daughters will be looked to in high esteem. We believe for the purity of women to be seen, that women will be seen as those with an undaunted heroism to speak out against injustices to women. May we not shrink in fear, but be bold and show that we are the ever loyal to Christ Jesus. It is in HIM, we live and move and have our being. May we rise and take our place. Not with less clothes and spiked heels, but with a virtue that others will see. May we be those who will desire to be a Christian, to receive Jesus as Lord.
May women rise to honor the King. May they be clothed in His beauty, speak with His wisdom and love others that way He does! Shine Jesus in the hearts YOU know of those Who ARE YOURS!

See other blogs pertaining to women: Standing in Line:Order, Order, Order
Love By Subduing, What?

I HAVE A NEW WEB SITE AVAILABLE NOW WITH OTHER CURRENT BLOGS AND YOUTUBE TEACHINGS. I INVITE YOU TOO CHECK IT OUT.  THERE IS A PRAYER REQUEST SECTION ON THE SITE.
www.godsgoodnessandlove.com

Notice:

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: 

Faith Without Borders: The Experience of Our Faith

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

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

Who is PLOTTING TO KILL JESUS? or I WAS AFRAID!

Who is plotting to kill Jesus?
Anyone who wants their own way, who wants to live as much in sin as they can today, and who will not receive that He is the Son of God.....the sent One!

Luke 22:66-71
66 As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, 67 "If You are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68 And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. 69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God." 70 Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?" So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am." 71 And they said, "What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth."
NKJV

Recognizing truth should be simple. But today we see many wanting to compromise their faith. I like what I heard yesterday of a pastor down in San Diego, California. He said too many believer's are stepping aside in those things which contradict God's Word. Too many, are not speaking out when they should be saying something against that which contradicts.
I never read of Jesus stepping aside.......when anyone was contradicting..........!
Truth was before the chief priests and scribes as they held "their council" and yet none believed. But the scripture would be fulfilled..........

Luke 9:20-22
20 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."               NIV

Matthew 12:9-21

9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"--that they might accuse Him. 11 Then He said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 13 Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. 

15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 

18 "Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen,

My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!

I will put My Spirit upon Him,

And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. 

19 He will not quarrel nor cry out,

Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 

20 A bruised reed He will not break,

And smoking flax He will not quench,

Till He sends forth justice to victory; 

21 And in His name Gentiles will trust."          NKJV

Even the prophet Isaiah spoke that Jesus would declare justice to the Gentiles and they would put their trust in Him. Yet, Israel would not relent. They did not want the carpenter's son.  They were plotting to kill Him......or destroy Him.......verse 14!

John 11:45-57

45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." 49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. 55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, "What do you think--that He will not come to the feast?" 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.   NKJV

Yes, even in Jesus' time we see those of the "me" society. They wanted to keep their preeminence with their long robes, and their loud open prayers in public for all to see, so that they might remain somewhat "important" to their thinking. But God sent His Son to bring love to a dying nation. And they would not receive it.  Even those as the crowd who saw many wonderful signs and wonders had remarks as the one below.

Luke 19:1-10

19:1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" 

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." 

9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."   NIV

Yikes! These who saw gave up to mutter things about Zacchaeus.........the sinner and how Jesus was going to the house of the "sinner".

Now we can see from the Gospels of those plotting against Jesus, but I would like you to walk back into Genesis with me and read what Adam told God.


Genesis 3:6-10
 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" 10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."   NKJV

Now what did Adam say after he and his wife Eve ate the apple?

Let's see: their eyes were opened. They now knew "sin". They were trying to cover themselves so as not to be seen as those who did something wrong. Then...........they heard the sound of the LORD........God walking in the garden. Adam and Eve hid in their sin. They were no longer considering themselves among God's family.

Then God asks: "Where are you?" And Adam responds" I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."  Adam does not mention Eve at all in this, as he is so consumed with the sinning against God. And he was afraid when he heard God's voice in the garden.

Can you imagine that these were probably the saddest words that God would hear? That Adam spoke of being afraid when he heard God's voice in the garden. 

Adam had heard His voice............knew God spoke always in truth..........and now was experiencing what sin meant to someone who had lived in the presence of God! He felt separated, apart from God and left in knowing its affect on him.

How many times have we gone into a service and did not like what the pastor or another was speaking from either the pulpit or just in front of a group of people? How many know that when we are afraid and blame the person who spoke God's Word is not the bad guy, and is not the bad "messenger" who is sent by God. The person who is playing the blame game is the one who is afraid of the Word of God being spoken to them. They try to put up that "wall" that facade (fe' sad) that is just a covering, a mask, an act to cover what is really going on in their life.

These scribes and pharisees sought out Jesus. They plot to do away with Him. They were afraid of truth! Yet, God used all this to fulfill those prophecies of Jesus. He came and they did not see Him, did not receive Him and therefore sought to do away with the Prince of peace.

Luke 20:17-19
17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

"'The stone the builders rejected 
has become the capstone'? 

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.  NIV

In closing: consider this, that Peter and John too faced the same things that Jesus faced when He walked in Jerusalem............

Acts 4:1-21
4:1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'  12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name." 18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.  NKJV

Now is not the time to step aside, and let those who think they are right because they believe a "lie". Eyes certainly need to be opened to truth. That truth is found in the Bible. Paul had warned of a time......and that the "time will come when [believers] will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4)  As the body of believer's we must keep close intimacy with the Lord, and keep that Word before our eyes that keeps us on that straight and narrow path of life.

I like what Steve Hill, Evangelist wrote in " The 7 Great Lies in the Church Today"........"Don't just go through the Word: let the Word go through you. Why are we so afraid in the godless generation to confront fallacies?"

Jesus stood for truth. He was sent to bring restoration to the fallen man. He came to set captives free and to see that the Father desired His family: the sons of God! We come to that place when we believe. Being renewed in our hearts and mind to truth. We are not to live like in our past.........."in the good 'ole days" but by putting on the new man, created in His likeness that is true righteousness and holiness. Live in Christ's love. Our lives should certainly be the fragrant aroma of worship to the Lord and not to ourselves or the "me" society.
I like what my pastor said the other day..........and it is so true. " A cursed tree cannot produce anything but death." 
God's way will always produce in us that of life and holiness.......that speaks wisdom and declares glory to God! Amen.



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