Painting Ourselves into a Corner

I bring to you the passage of Peter walking on the water.
Well, he almost walked or did he?
Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."
NKJV

Have you ever thought of the answer Jesus gave to Peter? Knowing Jesus speaks truth, Jesus told Peter to "Come."

Jesus was asked by Peter....."Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."

1. Peter asked "if" it is YOU...????

2. Peter told Jesus to COMMAND him

3. AND to come to Jesus on the water

If Jesus answered "NO" it was not Him......then no truth. Jesus told truth, but Peter the man wrapped up the whole water walking "thing" with COMMAND ME TO COME, AND TO COME TO JESUS ON THE WATER.

Problem? YES!

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
Peter just knew Jesus as friend to friend but really had no one-to-one with Jesus. Jesus had just spoke ;"BE OF GOOD CHEER! IT IS I; DO NOT BE AFRAID."
But Peter did not recognize His voice!

Water walking was accomplished in Jesus. They saw him do it. Yet what background did they have at the time to do that. Yet, we never read of them walking on water at a later date!

We read of Philip having a transportation met by being transported from one location to another to minister to a eunuch of Queen Candace. 

We can certainly see people do things for God that we would love to do. But most can not move away from the T.V., , or the demands of a hard day at work, or the demanding spouse or the demanding kids or the marketplace where all connect for some sense to life.

Jesus found His peace and kept it. It is in God! It is found no other place. Painting ourselves into a corner is a BIG PROBLEM we must try to avoid. Jumping on the bandwagon to try to display something for God must be God's doing and not ours.

Peter failed, but he did it by putting God in a box. He desired to have Jesus say "YES" to all that was on Peter's heart to do in front of the guys. It had no real foundation under him to do that.

Jesus in the midst of turmoil and blustery winds was nothing to Peter. But when Peter experienced the wet beneath his feet, then something changed. Fear took over Peter and he sank in his own plan to walk on water.

Our walk is our choosing. God will not force us. We choose each day who will serve.

In the choice of this day; let us not choose to try water walking without reading the Word, spending time in prayer and praying and reaching those who need a hand up. Touching God's heart is foremost to water walking time with Him.

Doubt is a terrible thing. It is unbelief and it will steal from you. Just like a sickness, unbelief is not believing God or that His Word is true.

And it is true for all situations, not just the hard ones', the ones we think me might handle in the flesh, NO, truly our confidence is to be in God!

Jesus said, "Be of good cheer, it is I....do not be afraid..."

We must be able to recognize His voice. We must not follow "strangers". Many are doing just that today. Many are following the voice of "compromise". They are following the voice of "violence".

Set your heart and hearing on His Word and to hear His voice. Set your heart so when the waves are above you and splashing you in the face, you will say, I know in whom I have believed and I am persuaded that He is more than able to keep what I have committed to Him till that day.

2 Timothy 1:8-12

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 

NKJV

Stepping out of the boat has to be done when the Lord says "GO!" It is a good thing to do. But do it when You KNOW that You KNOW that You KNOW..that YOU KNOW THAT........you are going over, and not going under. Be persuaded and be the wise, speaking words that will build and encourage not drown you or cause you to live with frogs like Pharaoh did.
It takes a personal relationship with Jesus to know the "when" time begins!

Jesus does reach out His hand to save us when we make our daily walk with Him. He shows us light into the places He is directing us by His Holy Spirit.  But painting ourselves into a corner, certainly changes the rules and then limits us to the natural. Let's stay in the supernatural of our supernatural Father and see His will and His kingdom COME, into our lives. Amen.

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The Promise of God"s Spirit In Us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBWQAa5cr9U

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Worshiping The " LUCKY RITUAL"?

A lucky ritual or is JUST ANOTHER WAY TO IMPRESS A CERTAIN AUDIENCE?

From GONE WILD..previous blog. we found out......on making the wrong decisions with those who will agree with us......ultimately for the wrong thing is a terrible road to travel! It will take one to destruction . Here.........we conclude with this lucky ritual thing!
Read below about Zedekiah...........

2 Chronicles 18:6-22
6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?" 7 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!" 8 Then the king of Israel called one of his officers and said, "Bring Micaiah the son of Imla quickly!" 9 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, clothed in their robes, sat each on his throne; and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 10 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.' " 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king's hand." 

12 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement." 13 And Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak." 14 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" And he said, "Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand!" 15 So the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" 16 Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.' " 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" 

18 Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left. 19 And the LORD said, 'Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?' So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, 'I will persuade him.' The LORD said to him, 'In what way?' 21 "So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the LORD said, 'You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so.' 22 "Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you."
NKJV

Was Zedekiah making a "lucky ritual".........and placing it before the crowd, before the kings who sat in the judgement place where the main leaders came together to make their decisions concerning the country and that which the king of Israel wanted to fight, namely the Syrians. (Ramoth Gilead) He,the king of Israel wanted to gain back that which had been lost from Israel in earlier battles.

I point you back to what Micaiah spoke in verse 18........"I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all those of heaven standing on His right hand and His left." And then he said this: " And the LORD said, 'Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?'.......and none could agree, out of 400 men, not one could agree.......!
Micaiah had seen the LORD and spoke what was given him from heaven. Have we not read that of Stephen from the book of Acts in chapter 7:54-56......... "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." NIV

2 Chronicles 18:23-27
23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the spirit from the LORD go from me to speak to you?" 24 And Micaiah said, "Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!" 25 Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son; 26 and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace." ' " 27 Then Micaiah said, "If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Take heed, all you people!"
NKJV

 He who is of the world, wants the glory for himself. Zedekiah struck Micaiah on the cheek and spoke to diminish him before the court.(verse 23)

But he who speaks truth, does not back down from truth, but continues to speak it, no matter the outcome. And Micaiah also told the people to "take heed, all you people!"

2 Chronicles 18:10-11
10 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.' " 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king's hand."
NKJV

Was it a theatrical display that Zedekiah devised to bring his point across? For we know the prophet of truth was Micaiah!

Now we know from other teachings about prophets, God had told some different ones to do something, or create something that would depict that which was occurring in Israel at the time a certain word of the Lord was given. We see below here in Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 13:1-14

13:1 Thus the LORD said to me: "Go and get yourself a linen sash, and put it around your waist, but do not put it in water." 2 So I got a sash according to the word of the LORD, and put it around my waist. 

3 And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, 4 "Take the sash that you acquired, which is around your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole in the rock." 5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me. 6 Now it came to pass after many days that the LORD said to me, "Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take from there the sash which I commanded you to hide there." 7 Then I went to the Euphrates and dug, and I took the sash from the place where I had hidden it; and there was the sash, ruined. It was profitable for nothing. 

8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 "Thus says the LORD: 'In this manner I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear My words, who follow the dictates of their hearts, and walk after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be just like this sash which is profitable for nothing. 11 For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me,' says the LORD, 'that they may become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.' 

12 "Therefore you shall speak to them this word: 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Every bottle shall be filled with wine." ' And they will say to you, 'Do we not certainly know that every bottle will be filled with wine?' 13 "Then you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land--even the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem--with drunkenness! 14 And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together," says the LORD. "I will not pity nor spare nor have mercy, but will destroy them."  NKJV

Yes, certain cases produced the most unusual things for people to see and heed of the Lord, but they just continued to harden their hearts. Jeremiah had taken the linen sash and wrapped around himself as the Lord told him to do. It was not to be washed. So as some time passed, and it was not washed, they then took note that it was not on his person. And they asked about it. God had wanted them to cling to Him for good. But the people would not listen or take note of what He was speaking to them.

In reading further down in Jeremiah 13, we discover something that God said He would do to those who would not listen or adhere to Him........they would be scattered like stubble. Ever seen a tumbleweed and how the wind carries it along for many miles and then only to be stopped by (yikes) a barbed-wire fence? Traveling in areas with many tumbleweeds, you can see them pile high against such a fence.
Their pride was bringing them to judgement!

Their drunkenness in themselves was going to be seen.

Jeremiah 13:24-26

24 "Therefore I will scatter them like stubble 

That passes away by the wind of the wilderness. 

25 This is your lot,

The portion of your measures from Me," says the LORD,

"Because you have forgotten Me 

And trusted in falsehood. 

26 Therefore I will uncover your skirts over your face,

That your shame may appear. 

NKJV

We read what they will be like: stubble!

Then in verse 25....this is your lot..........the portion of your measures from Me, says the LORD. "Because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood, therefore I will uncover your skirts over your face that your shame may appear. Yes another "yikes". He will cause any cover over their backside to be come up over their heads. Their nakedness would be revealed.

The first prophet was a false prophet in that he did not give the word of the Lord. Zedekiah, was probably wanting to make a statement with some grand performance. As the leader and probable spokesman of the entire 400 prophets presiding over this court when Ahab was king in Israel. With land to be conquered, it was evident that the king desired to gain back the land of Ramoth-Gilead.

Did Zedekiah dazzle the hearers in the court of king Ahab? Evidently not, for  king Jehoshaphat of Judah asked for another prophet! And Micaiah was brought out to bring the word of the Lord! When you spend time talking with the Lord, you certainly know His voice.

In the instance of Jeremiah, he just did what he was told to do, by the LORD. And the people would take note. For God's purposes, the Word is evident that the sash being taken from the area of the prophet to the distant river Euphrates.........was that the people of Israel would be placed a greater distance from the LORD. What distance was the sash taken..........some two hundred fifty miles away. And there was no bus, no fast car to drive it there and then what..........go back and take the sash out of the hole that you dug for it, Jeremiah?
What would you have said about the man of God? Would you have called him a fanatic? What about calling him a "fool"? No, Jeremiah obeyed God!
It was not by any "LUCKY RITUAL" like displaying horns out of iron like Zedekiah did.
When God makes a statement of His Word all heaven backs that Word.  Micaiah saw it!

What is the symbolic emblem that God would use to get our attention? He sent His Son to die on the Cross for us? He did not use theatrical devices. He did not use an actor, but the Son of His love.

Each of these had a choice and so do we. In our day to day walk we are to find truth that is wisdom of God. It is found in His Word. In Psalm 81 it tells us this: 10 I am the Lord your God, Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. 11 But My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would have none of Me. 12 So I gave them up to their own hearts' lust and let them go after their own stubborn will, that they might follow their own counsels.[Acts 7:42,43; Acts 14:16; Romans 1:24,26] 13 Oh, that my people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My Ways!
14 Speedily then I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their adversaries. 15 [ Had Israel listened to Me in Egypt, then ] those who hated the Lord would have come cringing before Him, and their defeat would have lasted forever.
If the people had obeyed God when they came out of Egypt, and clung to God,  Egypt could never have a place in them again.

 But alas, they kept going back to worshiping what they thought was the "LUCKY RITUALS'!  It is Intimacy that we see in the walk of Micaiah and Jeremiah. As these two chose to blameless before the Lord, should their fruit be for another persons's good? YES!
Jesus said to his disciples, "but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit" (John 15:16). Therefore we are to go and bear fruit .........as the body of believer's and Jesus as our example to comfort others. He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be the holy and the blamelss in his sight. ( Ephesians 1:3-4)


Wisdom cries out today as it did in the day of Micaiah and Jeremiah!

Proverbs 8:12-14
12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.  NKJV

Father, today in Jesus' name we ask for Your Wisdom as from James 5 that You give liberally. We desire Your knowledge and to be counseled by YOU. We understand that YOU hate pride and arrogance. And the perverse mouth, those things that speak against YOUR Word You hate. We choose to be in the fear of the LORD!  Counsel us Holy Spirit by the Word of God. We desire to move in the sound wisdom of God, to be people of understanding that we would be people of strength. We bless the LORD, with our souls and forget not all His benefits (to us). He forgave all our iniquities, and healed all our diseases. He has redeemed us from destruction and crowned us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. OUR mouths are filled.............satisfied with good things. So that our youth is renewed like the eagle's. NKJV Psalm 103:2-5)
Father, thank You for all that YOU have done for us.........we believe we receive Your wisdom to move in strength today. It is Your counsel we desire. Amen.

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

One Voice, One Loud, One Quiet and which Will We Hear?

John 12:27-31
Now My soul is troubled and distressed, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour [of trial and agony]? But it was this very purpose that I have come to this hour [that I might undergo it]. 28 [Rather, I will say,] glorify (honor and extol)Your [own] name! Then there came a voice out of heaven saying, I have already glorified it, and I will glorify it again. 29 The crowd of bystanders heard the sound and said that it had thundered; others said, An angel has spoken to HIM! 30 This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sake. 31 Now the judgment (crisis) of this world is coming on [sentence is now being passed on this world]. Now the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world shall be of this world shall be cast out (expelled).

This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sake!
This spoken word is spoken right now, because it was proof by the "Father" that Jesus was the sent one, the "Messiah".
When a voice speaks words that are a comfort to those around us.........and not just to confirm us, because God has sent us to speak to the broken, the sick, the lame and see change come.
Glorify Your name God......extol YOUR name, so those who hear will know that God is glorified in this "thing" that has occurred. It is not because of any greatness in any one man, but because of the glory of God!
It is the true witness. It is that which testifies of the holy and against the profane.
And they which heard, heard a sound.
Jesus prayed a prayer!
Some heard, just like in Acts 9:7.....and Acts 22:9...  .

Exodus 19:16-25
16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. 20 Then the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the LORD, and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them." 23 But Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.' " 24 Then the LORD said to him, "Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest He break out against them." 25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.   NKJV

That blast of the trumpet was the VOICE OF GOD. And it came to warn. When there is a unison of many speaking the same words at the same time, can sound like a "loud trumpet" or even "many waters".

Ezekiel  1:22-28
22 The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. 23 And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. 24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings. 

26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking. NKJV

For many, even today, it is by some unusual way they hear about Jesus for "the first time". In the passage from John 12, we have already visited the passages where Lazarus is raised from the dead. And in all those "miracles" that transpired proved Him (Jesus) to be God's Will and Word. They were to provide proof that He was to see believer's as in John 2:23; John 4:48, and in John 11:42.

In demonstration of God's power:John 5:30;John 6:38, and Hebrews 10:7.
In was to also confirm His Son-ship.......in John 5:17-19, and John 5:30-36. See also in Acts 2:32.
It was also proving that the kingdom of God was 'present" in that moment........1 Corinthians 4:20.
We were also to see the work of the Holy Spirit and His power active and operating.... Luke 4:18; John 3:34; Acts 1:4-8


So when the Jews rejected Jesus and His Son-ship, they rejected God....AND......the Salvation came to the Gentile. And in that we find that those in that region, Philip and Andrew came from, was a region where many of the Greek heritage were receptive to Jesus' teachings and they became those who would follow Jesus and help take the word of the Gospel to others. These who stood by heard the "voice" from heaven and why? 

Because they knew Jesus and recognized it to be God speaking. From the Cross the world was judged and the enemy, the evil one, prince of this world was cast out. When the Lord shows up: 1. you will know Him by what He speaks ( out of the pastor, prophet, teacher who gives the word of God) 2. the voice will be of God and not man, 3 will glorify God and not man 4 will be given and ......without doubt others will see and know of that God has entered the situation, the room and He is excited to let everyone know! His Presence will be tangible in every way possible. And 5, when we leave, everyone in the room is "the comforted, " they are the supported", " they are the joyful", they are the fired up ones for God, and they move into their evening and week with a great outlook on their life that God is with them!


We can see at times when God spoke like to Elijah in the still small voice, and to others He gave the direct warning as the trumpet blast to others as we read in Exodus 19:16-25.
We can people be comforted by what we speak, what we give when reading that Holy Word.
Yes, when we think about the Triune God-head do we consider that 1/3 of that God-head resides on our hearts? Do we consider that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead, is the same who comforts us in our day, in our week, helps us make godly decisions each day?



 How do we obtain that relationship?
Well, I think of Kathryn Kuhlman, who was a mighty woman for God. She had an exceptional relationship with the 3rd head of the God -Head. His name is the Holy Spirit.
We should be able to hear the "Voice", the "trumpet" giving warning," the quiet voice when maybe just tired, but we should hear them all.

In reading over her life I am so overwhelmed that one can be so taken over by the Spirit of God. Her love for God was so beautiful, was such a crucial part of who she became, and what a life of grace. The miraculous occurred because she sought the miracle worker! She honored Him and He honored her! If you have opportunity to read on one of the early Generals I would certainly read up on Kathryn Kuhlman.

So is it relationship or is is an acquaintance? 
And what constitutes knowing someone personally or on that intimacy level where only the "secrets" between two are the "known"?

In getting to know our baby, when she was born, was about knowing so much about her. She was the quiet. She slept all the through the night on her second night home. She was up at 6 am every morning. I will not share her favorite foods, but by the teenage years it was cold pizza and I will not mention when she wanted to eat it. We were more than her acquaintance, we were her parents. We knew her everyday of the week and weekend. She had some friends and closest ones would call her Candy, but that was not her name. In years after she left home and went to college, some found calling her Candance as the "thing" to do!  And in meeting some of them, I am not sure why they thought they deserved the familiarity of being a friend when they only talked a couple times a week and no one had cell phones. YIKES! NO CELLS PHONES!
Yes, on a more personal level, with one having a relaxed attitude toward another person, are they satisfied because "they want others to think they know her really well" or are they doing it and happy that they do not have to know anything else about her? And if we find out something about her, is it because her mother told you from first hand experience..........or is it "heard through the grapevine, kind of thing?"Today there is that Facebook society. They will give you all kinds of info on them, but how much is really truth? If you knew each one and spent time with them will they look like that Facebook page or seem more like a stranger?
With all the new technology people are still not meeting one another. With the advantage or disadvantage of the texting idea, many can text one another from the same house, and from the same room. What?
But we cannot text God or send emails!

My grand-parents can say they went to church but that did not make them a real believer in Jesus Christ. My mother took us to church every Sunday and saw to it that we had Sunday School for the youth bible studies, but that did not make us believer's either!
Purging ourselves of that which is not needed may leave us as the ones who only know Joe and know nothing about him, like where he lives, what his occupation is or where his family lives. YOU may not can recognize "Joe" on the street. Why? Well they only text one another!!!!
I guess the best thing I have heard at "church" was this: "well, everyone is jumping in, for the Spirit is here"....and people of the congregation have no idea what the pastor is even mentioning. And in truth most attending right now have not opened a Bible in how many decades? YIKES again!

When God enters the room, we should certainly know His presence. When God is speaking.........well no one else will need to say anything for God will give all we need. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9-16) But God has revealed to us through His Spirit. For it is His Spirit that searches all things, the deep things of God...........to know the things freely given to us by God. And in speaking (verse 13) by the Holy Spirit speak the wisdom of God of the spiritual things.

If I will only read and pray the word, find God and speak as the child with the Father, then I recognize what the Father is saying, whether to correct me or to encourage me. In our approach to God that is not based on any religion, but it is a "personal " relationship with the Lord.........by finding out what pleases Him and what makes Him cry.......what makes HIM laugh and want to dance.


I think of two scriptures I leave with you today:

2 Corinthians 3:17-18     17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. NIV

2 Corinthians 13:14    14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. NIV

Relationship is more than just one person talking all the time. God has much to say and when we spend time in His Word we will see how we measure up or fall really short of the mark of His Word. In the men and women of past centuries we reflect how victorious they lived life, not without mistakes BUT IN SPITE OF THEM, went on to do great things for God.  May the fruit of the Spirit that is humility be that which others will see and begin to know in us. For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory and are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. And May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you and with me.

May we, like children, humble ourselves and expect to hear from our Father as the Father to His son and the son to the Father. Amen.

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

THE GREATEST INJECTION EVER MADE

Fall appears to be in the air! Temperatures have dropped dramatically the last week and we have seen rain which is a good thing. In seeing the season's change, my thoughts come back to people, namely the healthcare, desiring for those "seniors" to get their flu shots, etc.

Those may work for some folks but kill others. Not sure if I know if they have kept a count of how many are helped and how many are not by taking some "shot" in the arm.

But all that aside, I am thinking today of the greatest injection ever made. It came in the form of a man, who came from heaven with a plan only heaven could send to us!

John 12:9-27

9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus. 

12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: 

"Hosanna!

'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'

The King of Israel!" 

14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 

15 "Fear not, daughter of Zion;

Behold, your King is coming,

Sitting on a donkey's colt."  

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!" 

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23 But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." NKJV

Matthew 21:6-16

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: 

"Hosanna to the Son of David!

'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'

Hosanna in the highest!" 

10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" 11 So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee." 

12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" 14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 

'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants 

You have perfected praise'?"                   NKJV

In those days that Jesus walked this earth, those who saw Jesus saw a leadership ability. They saw a man who spoke with wisdom to those who would rebuke Him, and yet Jesus would come back with a word from the Written Word of God and declare it.

When these people laid out their outer garments and spread those palm branches, they were declaring the new "King". And their hope was that Jesus would take His "role" and sit on a throne that would rid the Jews of the Roman rule and much tyranny. When these people laid a pathway, it was to Antonia Fortress.....and.....not to the Temple.........!

These items of clothing and palms were laid toward Antonia Fortress where Pontius Pilate was. It was Herod's palace that was the official residence of the Roman procurator when those visiting dignitaries came to Jerusalem for the major Jewish festival.

It was a place positioned to look over Jerusalem. This Fortress was to have held some 600 + Roman soldiers. As Jesus walked, He had to have broken through this line of people who probably lined both sides of the pathway to Antonio Fortress. Somewhere near the Temple, He broke through the barrier and headed into the Temple.

Those who wanted change and a new leadership in Jesus were probably puzzled in the action occurring in moving through a group of people to get to the Temple. They probably asked themselves, "where is He going?"

In verse 14, we see Jesus has gone into the Temple..........He is NOW HEALING PEOPLE. The blind and the lame had come to HIM and He healed them. Then in verse 15....children were in the Temple........Yikes!
Seeing how Jesus loved the children, and allowed them close to Him, even in this time of travail, the children come in praising Jesus. They were glorifying the One that other men would not glorify!

 Jesus had shown love to those little ones and they came running. However they got to the Temple that day, with parents or with others, still their sight was set on Jesus and they began to sing a song to Him.
These young ones unafraid of the High Priest or Scribes, takes the role front and center to praise the true King. Without fear, the children sang out loudly and those against Jesus, the high priests and Scribes resented this very act they were seeing. Jesus gave an example of what the Temple should be about. He gave something that represented that the kingdom had come.
That "Temple" was not about how many money one was to make, as we saw with Jesus driving out the money changers ( you know those who furnished the proselytes and the Jew who came from other countries, with the current coin in exchange for their own coinage. ) and those that sold the doves or others. It was those who stood in the area of priests. And these men gained a salary by bringing the unmarked and favorable birds and such other animals for the altar. Yes, man was determining whether that sacrifice was a good one or not.

And Jesus spoke of that house being "the House of Prayer". For when we see Jesus overthrow the tables, He then turns and heals the lame and the blind. Jesus called prayer back to the house!

Yes, there were probably many meetings set up that day, I am certain, after Jesus broke through that line of people to get to the Temple, and those upset were rallying others together..............  who wanted a new kingdom set up at that moment and the end to Roman rule. But Jesus was setting one up a kingdom that would not be destroyed. He desired the individual to come to the Temple and to be prayed for. He was the "sacrifice" for all and that it was now time for the change to come to the "Temple".

In the verses below we see Jesus and the children.

Luke 18:15-17

15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. " NKJV

Allowing them in, Jesus was speaking about the "kingdom of God". And those who were certainly breathing out cruelties His way surely did not act as the young children did in those moments at the Temple. Praise was heard, and God heard those children singing it out!

Yes, it was all about love that day. And the greatest injection ever made came at a time when Israel and the city of Jerusalem needed a shot of "love". For the greatest thing that could or would be done from then to this moment in time, is to go and pray for the blind, and the lame and allow the children to praise His name in the Temple. Amen.

For praying for the fellowman, we see great change can come. It surely did when Jesus injected love and gave back to those biting remarks WITH THE SPOKEN Word of God in Wisdom and in the Peace of God. Can we and will we follow that direction and instruction?

Will our lives reflect a holy life, that is leading children to sing praise to God and to pray for our fellowman? When we inject love into a toxic society, we will change the world. We will see things change dramatically as we saw in Jesus as He prayed for those around Him. 

 1 Corinthians 13:3-8

 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.    NKJV

Father, we thank You for Jesus, the greatest sacrifice, the Son of Your love. As Jesus was our example, may our love suffer long and be kind. May our love never envy and never be puffed up. We pray to be those who do not behave rudely, not seek our own agendas, and to think no evil. We desire to be those who will not rejoice in iniquity but always rejoice in truth. May our love never fail. May it never fail toward You or family or friend or stranger. May we always be ready to speak life to someone in need and show the love Jesus did to others. May we embrace the little children, pray for them and send them off in Your word, teaching the right way in which to walk. May we always be ready to inject a shot of love into our community by giving of ourselves to touch another's life with Your holy Word, pray for them and to give to them what they may lack as in clothing or food. May we abound to every good work which is in Christ Jesus. Amen.


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

WHAT WE VALUE: WILL IT BRING US TO GLORY OR DEATH?

Acts 7:51-60.........51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him- 53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."

54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.   NIV

From the last two blogs, we covered in "THE FALLEN" and  "PICKING AND CHOOSING" we discovered those like Saul who kick against what the Lord was wanting established. Saul was breathing out cruelties to those saints of faith who had put their trust in the Lord. And of course in Picking and Choosing, we find those who would rather lie about why they would not attend a service, or attend a Bible study. As we saw in the teaching, what does that make us look like when we would rather lie than tell the truth?

In this scripture we continue to see those outraged by God's anointed. If we are the church, yes those body of believer's in Jesus, then why is there all this judgment going on about who gives the message and if it is the right message. Seems to me, the Word works and is given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to those in need of that specific word of God for that moment in time!

Stephen saw the effect of his speech in that group of people. He saw those enraged and ready to stone him. He saw those call him names and said he had spoke blasphemy. 

Where is that "stone"?

In giving the message of God, presents us with the choice to receive it. Should not matter if the messenger is red, yellow, black or white.............and what is white anyway..........? I know no really white folks. I remember my mom mentioning some blood-bloods once and they were probably the white folks, but I know I have some Spanish background and some Cherokee............so I am what...............?????

Now back to Stephen..........a man being persecuted, and about to be stoned for his speaking truth to them who would deny the Holy Spirit. Stephen even mentions their fathers resisting the Holy Spirit in the prophets God had sent to them.

If we are saved, and have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we can certainly pray in our heavenly language and allow God to pray through us much like he did in those days. We can operate in those same measures that they operated in at the time.

Do we want to be found fighting against God?

Acts 5:33-39................33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."      NIV

If God is directing you to have a Bible study, then have one and invite people to come. Do not pay attention to numbers of those who attend, but do pay attention as the Holy Spirit leads you through God's word.

Stephen was not deterred from speaking.  He spoke truth and continued to lift the name of Jesus. In what transpired in those moments of Stephen's speaking, men were angered seriously because of truth and they did not want to hear it. YOU know those who are called to preach and teach will continue to preach and teach. They will continually lift the name of Jesus and it does not matter the course of those around the "said speaker" of God...........the messenger sent to deliver the "specific message".

Stephen even tells them that he can see Jesus..............He was now at the right hand of God....and in the next breath, he proclaims that he can see Jesus is standing at the right hand of God!

Is it that Jesus now saw His favorite son being stoned, and was ready to receive him to glory?

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.  

Stephen even had time to pray...........! How many of us tell God that we do not have time to pray? What excuse could we use for not praying? 

And how did Stephen do that short prayer while being hit by stones and words of hateful men? He had a prayer life. He had to have sought God and spent time in prayer to have the Holy Spirit on the scene in this situation and for the wisdom Stephen spoke to those men. In those last moments he was praying that the Lord would not hold that sin against them! Wow!

It is like having a baby. It takes nine months. You have to eat the right food, exercise and have regular check-ups with the Doctor. In prayer, we check ourselves into the Word of God, eat precisely what we need and have the Great Physician to come check on us to see how we are doing. Right? 

If a ministry or even a job is like having a baby and caring for the said baby..........is it possible that we could be trying to get everything in before..........like say.....leaving for the day, or for a week off or even for a vacation? Will our absence affect others? What about ministry to others through a specific ministry? Every step.........in a job or ministry always involves others and our time away takes some planning!

For any decision, the leader in business , the church, home, in the mission field, whether Bible studies, ministering in jail, ministering in hospitals, feeding the homeless, for leadership meetings in the church, in big Business, taking care of and leading children (teaching them by example), or caring for an elderly parent, requires each of us to seek God's counsel on these important matters. It will take some prayer time, much like Stephen had to have done in his short life, to maintain the thought process for God to bless the men "who were stoning him."

Whatever we have before us cannot be accomplished without God's help! We cannot expect to accomplish in that "spirit of excellence" in God without consulting God first.

 I think of 2 Kings 5 where Elisha told Naaman to go dip in the Jordan River and he would be healed of leprosy. In all that pride and such of Naaman, still he obeyed and went to dip 7 times in the river Jordan. Naaman wanted to pay Elijah something. (verse 16)

With Naaman being healed in the dirty water of the Jordan, still Naaman wanted to repay the prophet! But the prophet had refused it. But we see something different in Gehazi. But let's read on about Stephen.  We will get to Gehazi!

Acts 6:1-11................6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

8 Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)-Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, 10 but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."   NIV

Stephen full of God's grace and power.......did wonders and miraculous signs and then ............men began to argue with Stephen................but they could not stand up against wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
(read all of Acts 6 when you have time) We can learn a lot by Stephen's example.

 So what do we value? If like Stephen, we will speak with wisdom of God, and be prayer warriors to conduct the affairs of life we must do and do it with ease.

We must evaluate that which is before us............as to study in the Word with others, attending those church services and in going to those "special events".  We must take an evaluation of the thing before us,  its importance & the estimation of its importance to us!

What is the worth of this thing before me? Will I put a worth on the things of God or do I count them as nothing when it is about me and doing my own thing?  Allowing God to ENTER our lives on every decision , we are saying I value YOU God, I value You for the decisions in ministry, in this job, in this department, in this illness, in this problem at work, in this decision for this move to another state, in this hike to the high country! God, we  ask YOU to show us which way to walk in this job, in this ministry of Bible study, in this Prayer meeting, in the department where changes are on the horizon!  If the 11th hour is here, IS God and His wisdom in THE BEGINNING OF THIS DAY?

Well Stephen certainly came to the 11th hour. He lifted Jesus to others and was stoned to death. He left his body in peace knowing that Jesus was ready to receive him to glory.

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Wow! What an ending...........and yet people still study this passage and they receive the effects of truth and the importance of being one with God!

Will we.....yes,.....will we stand one with God .........or will our character show us to be otherwise...........like the liar...........who likes to lie about why they cannot attend some function...........one that we should probably put value on.


2 Kings 5:26-27.....................26 But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? 27 Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow. NIV


The prophet naturally said that he would not accept a thing...........even though Naaman urged him, still Elisha refused the gift.

After Naaman had traveled some distance, Gehazi said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him (Naaman) and get something from him. YIKES!
Gehazi hurried after Naaman, and Naaman saw Gehazi running toward him. He asked Gehazi if everything was all right? Gehazi answered that everything was all right.
BUT HERE GEHAZI LIES..........NOT GOOD! In verse 22 of Chapter 5......"MY master sent me to say, 'two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing."

 "By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha.

"Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked. 

"Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered. 

What Naaman had, now came on Gehazi..........that leprosy was to cling to him and to his descendants forever. Gehazi left Elisha's presence. Just by lying, Gehazi changed the course for his entire descendants.  Again, what value do we place on telling the truth? In Stephen's case, it cost him his life and in the life of Gehazi, well, he chose to lie, and the rest is history..........he and his descendents suffered because of lies!!
In this we finish the series of three........being those teachings about lying and despising those called to minister either at the pulpit or in other areas as in jails or shelter or youth groups! In  THE BLOGS : THE FALLEN, PICKING AND CHOOSING, AND WHAT WE VALUE: WILL IT BRING US TO GLORY OR DEATH? have shown us the importance of not lying to others and how to be effective in ministering life as in Stephen's case.

Father, Your word states in Psalm 24.......asking this question "who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who may stand in His holy place?" " He who has clean hands and a pure heart...........who has not lifted up his soul to an idol nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (3-5) Father ,we seek that which is of value to us. We do not desire the worthless thing, the idol which may speak but brings no life to our existence. Help us Holy Spirit to hear and obey. We know it is a choice..........but give us those needed warnings like YOU do, so that we do not miss one direction from You.

We desire our character to be that which is not a liar, but truthful. We desire not to be caustic, not to be the obnoxious and the grumpy. We desire to not be like Gehazi and seek out goods rather than seeking God.

Our desire is to be holy as You are holy..........and that we have understanding of that Word in our lives. We want to be the devoted, the determined and the persistent in seeking, finding and receiving Your truth into our hearts where real change takes place.

To YOU be all the glory for all that happens in our lives as we take these needed steps toward having the character that is the faithful! It is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen and Amen.

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

Delight and Pleasant Brings Life!

In earlier blogs I have written about the beauty of grace. Today I add another writing on the importance grace is to our lives.
Acts 4:32-37......
32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

NKJV

2 Peter 1:2-4..........  2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.   NKJV

Escaping the world is a good thing AND according to this it looks like we are to partake of the divine nature through all the precious promises given to us by God Himself.

If we sound like the world, does that bring any real change for good to anyone? If I just spend time telling you of my day and how I am doing my day, how does that help you or anyone? 

But what if I am filled with the Holy Spirit, speak as I am directed by the Holy Spirit, to declare what God has done for me, and give you hope for your outcome of good in whatever situation or problem you face or see on the horizon, then you have been given that which is of a delight, pleasant, and brings life to you as it did to those who followed, not only David, BUT JESUS AS WELL! TESTIMONIES ARE GOD'S IDEA!

1 Thessalonians 5:5-24.................11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 

12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 

16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 

19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. 

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. NIV

So how are we looking in regard to the scripture above? Do we look good and sound good? Does everything go back to God and to His glory or is it about how good I am and how good I am doing?

In praying for others, do we operate in the love that was displayed at the cross at Calvary? Do we exemplify the truth of love that was displayed? 

Verse 12..........live in peace with others.......that means husbands, and with our children as well.

Verse 13..........holding them who are over us, those in ministry, the work place, or again the husband. Do we highly esteem our husband?  Do our words keep us in the peace of God, or we doing something other like King Saul did and cause tyranny in every direction?

Verse 16..........be joyful always. It says joyful ...........even when we have something we do not like to do, it is best to keep a cheerful heart. For when we smile, we can brighten other people's faces as well!

Verse 17..........pray continually. Are WE praying continually for people, those God has caused to surround us on every side? IT IS IN HIM, WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING.

Verse 18..........give thanks in all circumstances. It says to give thanks in all circumstances NOT FOR ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. So many times, people are giving thanks for the disease they have in their body. We do not lie about the disease and say it is not there if it does exist, BUT WE DO DENY IT'S RIGHT TO EXIST ANYWHERE IN OUR BODIES!

Verse 19.........pray to Not put out the Holy Spirit's fire ever and never treat prophecies with contempt.

The Holy Spirit enlightens us to the ways AND THOUGHTS OF GOD ......TO God's workings in His kingdom. He gives us details on what is on our pathway and it would not be good to douse the fire out with any carnal lusts.

Any teachings and preaching of the word is that which we are given as to prophecies. We are to not despise those teachings, but value the Word of God. It is His Word that is given by the Holy Spirit to increase our knowledge and grace.

Verse 21............hold on to good. Hold onto the good Word of God and let loose that which binds you to the world!

Verse 22.. ........avoid every kind of evil.........We have to remember people are watching us. We do not want to lead weak people back into the world if they just came out. What testimony could you give about how God has kept you from the world?

 Verse 23..........May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 

Sanctified to do God's will for our lives. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8...............3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. NIV

God is faithful and He will do it!

It takes God's Grace to attract others to Him through us! How are we doing in this one thing? Are we giving a testimony of life or are we just whining how unfair life is to us? What do we expect from God as He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness?

Father, thank You for grace. for we certainly see the advantage grace has for our lives. We give thanks for this attractiveness to others and that we can draw others to YOU always through this divine favor. We also understand that is by having a holy life before YOU. In Jesus' name, we pray to be those who will humble ourselves to be holy as YOU are holy. We seek to have the manifestation of the grace of God in our lives. For any Lord who have the favor to minister to others either through the pulpit, within homes, or on the street, we thank YOU for the light of YOUR graciousness toward us. We pray to not be those who would blow off an opportunity to give a testimony of YOUR goodness to us in the land of the living. We pray together for a unity with YOU and for truth of Your love that when we speak, people will see what is in our hearts. May people see YOUR word that is unfailing, dependable, and absolute. We pray that every testimony given will be with fire of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Grace. We pray also to be those who bring glory to YOU Lord. We are set apart for Your purpose and plan. We are to be different than that of the world. It is our desire today to live, act and think according to how YOUR Word directs us to live, act and think. May our love be that people will know as God's love that is merciful and always forgiving. May we keep our eyes on YOU, and not enter the path of the wicked and in the way of evil. FOR we do not want to eat the bread of wickedness and drink of the wine of violence. We believe our path of the just is like the shining of the sun that shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. We give thanks for the Spirit of Grace, our comforter, our friend, and we loose Him now into our lives and every area we step into today. Have YOUR way Holy Spirit and we will speak boldly the things God has done for us as our testimony of faith. Amen.

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