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

WHAT PLANS?

Jeremiah 29:8-14
8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD.

10 For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.   NKJV

Now most people within the body of Christ can quote this scripture. The most wonderful thing to hear is that God has thoughts toward us and they are of peace and not of evil to give you and  me a future and a hope! That makes you want to smile, give a shout and give thanks for God has thoughts about us.

In truth all of chapter 29 should be read in its entirety to gain the true picture of what is going on here as this was given.

In reality, the text is meaning that which was taught to the people at the time was by those prophets who only spoke what the people wanted to hear. God was wanting their foundation to be built on the truth of what He wanted for them. It was to be by that Word of God to discern the truth and not heed any false teaching or way. 

Psalm 127:1 

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand in guard in vain.

These people had been in captivity and God did not want them to put down roots in Babylon. In a foreign place, these men and women dreamed dreams and had desires of the earlier days of freedom and life they had known. But in the place of the captive, one has only the dreams. As they had thought and then spoke on "what they desired" they came up dreaming about it, but alas it was not from God.

I think of ministering to people and especially those who have come from really hard places. In the jail ministry, I think of those who so desire to go back home to their own thing and ways. They would ask for prayer regarding the life they had. But I would always remind them that God had better for them, and His plan was found when we seek Him with our whole heart. 

For finding those who think as you, do as you, is not always good unity. Enlarging our hearts to receive that which we have already experienced, is never from God. He desires us to have the richness in life that brings change as the seasons change.

I remember this happening twice in the last ten years. I had been praying for these different pastors. They seemed to be going forward in the things of God and after sometime, I noticed they seemed to ask the unusual thing to pray for at the time. The asking is good in prayer, to find God's plan if something seems amiss. But when praying for people and that includes pastors, you must give them that word which is given by God for them.

In the case of these people, they wanted to flatter the false prophets so that the words the prophets spoke to them would be the good, the fun, the joyful and flatter me if you will!

So many today and that includes pastors, are still riding around in that 1963 Chevy Panel Wagon, they call ministry, because someone they liked ministered a word to them, and it was a good word. But they are still running ministry based on that word from that time. God desires us to have a good foundation to build hopes upon.  We must be willing to teach that word that God has placed on our hearts. It is important to share with others what God is speaking. 

Luke 12:1-3

12:1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. 

NKJV

God's Word speaks loudly, and will confirm what He is doing. Though these men and women who were in captivity,  had they kept hearing God, they would not be the deceived. But there are those who, like some pastors, who will give only that word which will soothe the man, to give him something he wants to hear and not give them truth when they really need it. Some pastors will do it to keep people coming back week after week. But if we look at other pastors, and I can think of a few off hand, they are giving the TRUTH and we see them gaining momentum that ONLY COMES FROM GOD!

These men and women being separated from the vast numbers in another country, would all be gathered again together and brought to where they were meant to be from the beginning. We too, have the place to be brought together with other individuals, not of the false and the pretentious, but in the word of God that brings truth and light to us in a walk that is fulfilling.

Yes, Jesus came to set captives free. He even said it TO  those WHO needed it the most and they became unhinged and sought to kill HIM!

Luke 4:17-30

And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 

18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me 

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives 

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;  

19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."  

20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?" 23 He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.' " 24 Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." 28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. NKJV

Yes, rejection was the dominate factor here. They did not want to hear this from the carpenter's son who they knew. They liked the preeminence and gave heed to their own vain appetites. 

Jesus said, "This scripture (this writing) is fulfilled in your hearing". Jesus as the Prophet was giving that which had come. And He was the appointed by God!

"Yes, is not this Joseph's son"? Jesus had spoken with power and was backed up by truth of the Word.

Yes, He came to bring freedom to the captives, to open the eyes that were blind, and especially to those of the oppressed.  Jesus came to show the "new way" to walk, and it was not under a rule of the Pharisees that was hard and very harsh. Jesus bore witness that the Prophet Elijah had been sent to Zarephath in the region of Sidon to the widow. Yes, she was a gentile. And then He brought up the truth that Elijah had seen many lepers in Israel yet, he was sent to Naaman the Syrian. Yikes! GENTILES! THAT WOULD BITE!

So the kindly folk became hostile and wanted Jesus done away with, so they could continue on in their "own way of living".

We must call upon God and hear Him. We must go and pray and seek His plans for us...........that we would not listen to that "smooth talk"..........to stroke that kitty cat fur, but be willing to take a stand with God and find that plan that brings us to freedom for life, to no longer be captive to the past thing or things or held by that last good word spoken decades ago, but to find the fresh Manna that brings us to life and joy in the Holy Ghost! For truly should that Word was given by God decades ago and not by man, it will surely come to pass. It will be fresh, filling, adding zest to make all of our days of wholeness and peace. We should not be weary in this time of season. We should be looking forward to that hope that is within us. For His Word is given to instruct us, leading us in righteousness that is truth and justice, so that we may carry out His plan for us today. So if something does come our way, it will not be because of sin, because we did not want to hear it, but merely be but a very narrow speed bump as we travel on this journey through life with God taking our hand all of the way HOME!

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.   NKJV

Let's remember these people as the ones who sinned against God and they were sent into captivity. They ended up in Babylon, which is serving the world in bondage. Today we are the "new man in Christ" when we have received Him as Lord. We are to remain, abide in the truth of what God has given us, so that we are not carried off by idolatry and into sin. Our sight should be kept on the Lord Who has Come and Know that HE IS COMING AGAIN, SOON!

 REMEMBER THAT NOT ONE OF GOD'S WORDS WILL FAIL WHEN HE GIVES IT TO YOU!

Father, we thank You for the opportunity to become the "new man" in Christ.
We are thankful for His crucifixion and that we can have life abundantly now in this lifetime. We truly seek to find YOU in the Word and in prayer to hear You speak truths to us. Help us when we are weak, for YOU make us strong. Help us when we might become weary,  Refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. (Jeremiah 31:25) Father, today we are reminded of that from Hebrews 12:1-5 that we willing throw  off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, so that we run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Even as Jesus endured such opposition from sinful men, may we continue forward, not growing weary or losing heart, but face the tomorrows with courage in our hearts that God is for us. It is in Jesus' name we have prayed.  Amen.

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

How can a Tire Blow Out Work for Our Good?

Romans 8:26-28.....26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. NKJV

Ever heard someone pray .........and then add this at the end or  even the middle...........and not include the whole scripture in its contexts? "Well, we know that all things work together for good "...........and leave it at that?  What?

Well, I have and it has been given a lot in the last few months........... this Pastor comes up to pray over those in attendance.....congregation becomes silent and prayer begins...........starts out good............covering them with the Word in protection........Psalm 91.....verses 3-8....and then His counsel.......for them........Proverbs 12:15…..15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise. NKJV

And then the gentleman adds:

Proverbs 4:10-13......10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. 

11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. 

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. 

13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.  NIV

ANOTHER good word of promise..........Then the pastor adds:

"Well, we know that all things work together for good "!

WHAT?

And close with amen! Yikes........like what I just saw on the news recently............the new (EXPENSIVE) cars  (2015) those thirty thousand dollar ones have "no spare tire"! What no spare...... (not even one of those dinky donuts to help them get somewhere, NOPE!).....then the story continues how this man bought this expensive car and it blew a tire......he sets his flashers on................then walks to the back of his car...........he opens up the trunk and there is "no spare tire". Wow! And all that money for a vehicle that has no "spare" tire for an emergency. Yes, he had to call for help like Emergency Road Assistance. Someone is going to make a lot of money this year! Well you know all things work together for good..........................! Well, you know this man found out after the problem arose that he had no tire. So all things work together for ..........................Nope, wrong, does not mean that!

This passage is talking about the duty in prayer for every believer........the true Christian. It is the helper, the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weakness when we know not what to pray for at that very moment in time!

If we take note of the verse, and not take it out of context........it talks about those who love God, those called according to His purpose. Are we called to His purpose and walking it out??? Do we love God?

 Each individual has a walk of life and we know not their path they travel. We can pray for those in attendance much as this pastor did in a service. And praise God that they are saved. But there is much more here. BUT THE PASTOR TOO, MUST HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AND MUST BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PRAY SOMETHING AS THIS..........BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE ACCORDING TO THE WORD.

I like what this one Pastor said this week on his teaching. You can have two men come into a service, both in black suits, white shirts, and black/white ties. They can sit side by side one another. They can both lift their hands and worship, and sit to hear the teaching, yet when the service is over, one will go his way and the other his own way! They both can live life, one reflecting Jesus and the other of a dead man walking.
The "stripper" can come in and receive a message, but when one truly receives the message of life, they, "the stripper" can no longer go back to the club for a life of death and destruction. In truth, as the Word works in us, we are knowingly choosing to continue to follow after the old path and the old man' s ways. It is like the two thief's on the Cross of Jesus. Both may have mocked Jesus, but on this death bed conversion.......one chose life with Jesus in Paradise!
And it with those too, who truly follow God, like the  "stripper" can have a testimony of life when following after Jesus and through His shed Blood at Calvary. And there are plenty of testimonies out there of those who follow that pathway of the "stripper" who find life and  how He, the Lord has caused changes to their lives and see them become what God planned for them from the beginning..
Just like the blown tire, and no spare..........this scripture does not mean" well God will work it out for me to find a good..........for a tire at a "very, very super low price" nor that this scripture mean that I will just "be so happy" in the matter of the blown tire.

So from the scripture above, this working out for good , is about those living a holy life in accordance with God's plan and purpose for them. (and I would read all of chapter 8 in your spare time)

To me, the good was receiving Jesus as Lord of my life. Then all that He paid for the Cross is a done deal!   It is accessing the Holy One through prayer and allowing Jesus to intercede for us.

That receiving the Son means now a walk of conforming..............We are to be conformed to the image of His Son. That when we follow Him, conform to Him, we are the brethren of Jesus, those He predestined, justified and glorified.

Those who love God and follow Him. How many really love God everyday of the week? Just a question now? How much time do we actually have in fellowship through prayer alone? How many know they are holy when saved but follow the old man back into pornography or alcohol? Then the question is, did we receive that "message of life"?
It is important that each of us walk each day in the Word of God, so that precious word will wash away the old things, and renew us to life abundantly in God through Jesus our Savior.

We must read on and take in the entire scripture passage.....reading in .......Romans 8:29-30.............

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 

NKJV

Then we have this glory as we are led by the Holy Spirit.................The other major thing is the Holy Spirit working with us. Verse 14....for as many are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

It is important to being led by God the Holy Spirit to do something specific, and not follow the old man back into sin!

According to Romans 8: 12 ......those living according to the flesh will die............so how will things work out for the good, if we live according to the flesh creature? We have to choose everyday who we will serve! Will we serve the world or the Lord? Will I serve Him one day a week or every day?
It appears to be something we must guard and be cautious about just speaking, but in reverence to God in whom He wants these very words spoken and prayed over!

Romans 8:12-17.............12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. NKJV

It is a "NOW" thing, a present ACTIVE moment........living by the Spirit.........to always be putting to death the deeds of the body (SIN)  and receiving the Spirit of adoption.

Romans 8:10-11.............10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. NKJV

You see it will not work, if I am gracious on the Sabbath, and gossiping on Monday or Tuesday.  It is something people might think they can continue to do, but the truth is God is Holy. He desires us to follow His way in holiness and righteousness.

It is that love walk you know that has to be in place. And how many people love God, yes, really love Him?
1 John 4:20-21........20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
NKJV

And as we see from the above scripture, he who loves God must love his brother. You know your brother, is the neighbor across the street, the one you work with five days a week, and he is the one you see daily on I-5 or any other roadway. He is the one you write emails to or send a text from your phone. He is the one is standing on the side of the road begging for a handout!

In serving in the capacity of Jail Ministry on monthly basis, I had opportunity to minister the Word of God in message and prayer. It was always evident those who came to hear and receive and those who did not want to hear or receive anything. Some just came to get out of the module for some time.  But the main thing was evident, those who willing  received the message & the prayer that God orchestrated for them to have,  did receive.......to be justified and glorified as a son of God and brethren of Jesus Christ. In them was found  a continuing foundation of the Word that they received to keep their walk with the Lord. The message and prayer were always delivered with guidance and much help to me by the Holy Spirit. It is always about God, and loving HIM, being led by the Holy Spirit,  AND following after righteousness and abiding in holiness that we see things work together......FOR GOOD.........while life is going on...God moves on behalf of those who are in His image, and OBEDIENT TO HIS PLAN!

Isaiah 55:8-9.........8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 

9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.  NKJV

We have to know that we know that God desires us to pray that over someone. And it is God who searches and tests the hearts of man.................Proverbs 20:27....27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD,  Searching all the inner depths of his heart. NKJV

Jeremiah 20:12................12 But, O LORD of hosts,.You who test the righteous,

And see the mind and heart,.Let me see Your vengeance on them;.For I have pleaded my cause before You. NKJV

1 John 4:20-21  ..................20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
NKJV

Father, according to Romans 8:29-30....For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 

Father, Your Word stands true that we are called to love YOU and become the brethren of Jesus Who is the firstborn of many.  Father, I pray for each individual  who read this, and for me, that we would be those who line up with this word in scripture,.....and that good came through Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory. I pray each of us will live a holy life in accordance with God's plan and purpose for us!

Help us to see and know that we are being changed daily, moment by moment when we spend time with You and Your Word. It is that word that conforms us to the Image of YOUR dear Son!

I pray for each, that our love for YOU  and our neighbor will grow stronger and stronger every day.

Help us to see the loving-kindness You gave to us through Your Son Jesus. We call on You O God, for You will answer us; give ear to us and hear our prayer. Show us (continually) of the wonder of YOUR great love, You who save by Your right hand those who take refuge in You from their foes. Keep us as the apple of Your eye; hide us in the shadow of Your wings. (Psalm 17:6-8)

Help us to keep Your thoughts, and Know Your ways! Continue to search our hearts and lead us in YOUR righteous cause. Come Holy Spirit and abide, YOU are welcome here! Lead us on the straight and narrow path to that obedient walk of life with the Lord. In Jesus Name, we pray and agree. Amen.

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

The Neighborhood Watch

John 1:43-51
43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." 51 And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." NKJV

Can you imagine what the day was like when Jesus showed up in the "neighborhood"?
Can you imagine if He showed up in your neighborhood much like He did when He came through on His way to Galilee?

On this specific day, we find Jesus calling "to follow HIM"! As He traveled through the communities, He was the one who spoke and the first of the day was Philip. Then it mentions that Philip was from Bethsaida much like Peter and Andrew. They were born evidently in a community of fisherman. But later Peter and Andrew are found to reside in Capernaum.

Philip in all his excitement, runs to tell Nathanael. What an exciting time to be alive! He has seen " the promised One".

We are told that Philip found Nathanael. It does not say what else was going on, but in all the excitement Philip tells Nathanael that "we have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote....Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

What excitement and joy that must have filled Philip's heart, that which so many read of and now see before them, that Philip could now share with someone in "the neighborhood"! 

Do we not get excited when we discover something about Jesus that we had not seen before? Are we not elated and motivated to share what we have just received from the Word of God? For certain, Philip was acquainted with scriptures of the Old Testament and he wanted to share. When we visit the passages written in the book of Isaiah and found in chapter 9.......we read starting in verse 6.....

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called 

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

7 Of the increase of his government and peace 

there will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne 

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it 

with justice and righteousness 

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the LORD Almighty 

will accomplish this. NIV

We find Jesus called the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, and the Prince of Peace. 

In the scripture below we find Jesus referred to as a "Branch of righteousness" and His name will be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jeremiah 23:5-6

5 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD,

"That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;

A King shall reign and prosper,

And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 

6 In His days Judah will be saved,

And Israel will dwell safely;

Now this is His name by which He will be called:

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. NKJV

Yes, there are many wonderful things written to show us what God had planned. And Philip shared with Nathanael but all was not truth of what he spoke. Jesus was of Bethlehem and nowhere does it say that Joseph was the "father" As we know from Scripture, the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and she conceived of the "supernatural" and not of the natural man like Joseph. Yes, mistakes can be made when someone may speak and that is why it is good for each of us to go and study the scriptures for ourselves. It is important to read and reread them and plant them deep in our heart so we know "truth" from error!

The other specific was that Jesus "found" them. Jesus came to meet with them face to face. Without an appointment, a phone call, or email..........today........."what if Jesus is coming to meet you face to face"? Jesus found and then "called them"!

Nathanael speaks and the first thing was:" Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"

He wanted Philip to prove what he had spoken previously of Jesus of Nazareth.  In light of what Philip spoke was the part about..... of "Nazareth" and Philip just told him "to come and see".  For in scripture, we know,  in Isaiah 7:13-14..........13 Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David!    Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. NKJV

   Philip knew enough of what he read and understood but not enough for another to be convinced. But Philip knew if Nathanael would just come and see, he would recognize who Jesus was! I can tell what I see of who Jesus is and what He has done for me, but you must really come and see Him for you, yourself! You need to make the connection and a lot of times we think if we do not hear or see, that we have missed Him. Yet here we see Jesus and He had come to make contact with them individually.

 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Jesus already knew where Nathanael was and what he was doing. Jesus called him an Israelite indeed in whom is no deceit. He was calling him the man of prayer, the man who took time under the fig tree to spend time away from others and spend time to hear God speak. Jesus knew "the state of his heart". He knew Nathanael to be one heart with HIM!
And Nathanael answered, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." 51 And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." NKJV

Nathanael was calling Jesus the Teacher when he said, " Rabbi!". He called HIM the Son of God, the King of Israel!
When we believe the greater of Who Jesus is.......we experience seeing the greater for the future.
Telling Nathanael that He saw him under the fig tree, was revealing to more about Jesus knowing the story on Nathanael. He was telling him what had just occurred previously and how the meeting with Philip came about. He revealed that Philip came to tell him the news that Jesus was there.

Jesus saw Nathanael in the "secret place". It was in this place that Nathanael was seeking time with the Lord...............and thinking no one would see, yet Jesus knew where and what he was doing.  Jesus saw in the secret and made it known in the public, in the "neighborhood". Nathanael was different and Jesus made the truth known. In all this, Nathanael knew who Jesus was and embraced Him as the Teacher. He was submitting to the leadership and authority of Jesus, the Son of God. He comes so that our lives will change dramatically from the mundane to the "supernatural".

Nathanael was connected with the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Great "I AM" in our midst! You Nathanael will see the miraculous! We, too, like Nathanael can expect to see the "unseen" manifest in our lives. When it is the Lord who shows up to encourage you and strengthen you in the way to walk and the way to go which is in His truth!

Jesus is seeking those who will submit whole-heartedly to His leadership. He comes to bring strength in our weakness. He comes in our ignorance, to give Light to the word of God and show us the way in which to walk in His wisdom. 

Proverbs 4:10-13

10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,

And the years of your life will be many. 

11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom;

I have led you in right paths. 

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,

And when you run, you will not stumble. 

13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;

Keep her, for she is your life. NKJV

We too, can be like Nathanael and go to the "secret place" and look to find the Lord in the scriptures we read and study. But Jesus will be made known to us when we go to see with others. When we get out of the "secret" place and look expectantly, the Lord will speak to us. Like Nathanael, we may not be looking, but the Lord is looking and ever hearing what we speak when we spend time with Him. Jesus will meet you face to face "in the neighborhood watch". He will make it plain and clear that He comes to seek you out for His plan that you see "greater things".

Jesus, You are Welcome Here!

Father, today, I pray in Jesus' name for us to spend time to separate "truth" from error. May we be like the Berean's who search out the scriptures to find the truth of who You are and what we have today in Your name. I pray that we will submit whole-heartedly to Your leadership and Authority. I pray that as we do, that we sill see our years of life will be many, that our ways will be according to Your wisdom, that we be led on right paths, with nothing hindering us! Today, I pray for Your strength where we are weak and for Your guidance when we think we know all we need to know. Because it is You Who knows the Beginning from the End........we set our sights on YOU and ask YOU to lead us in paths of righteousness. I pray that each of confess Jesus as the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE KING OF ISRAEL, EMMANUEL WITH US! Thank You Lord for Your wisdom that shows where anything is out of alignment in our lives, whether at home, in the work place , school or even in church! I vow to give You praise for all the lives that will be changed because of Your Word of truth. I bless Your name and glorify You. It is Your truth and Light that leads us through the valley of dark shadows and brings into victory. Thank YOU for delivering us from evil work and for the giving us the authority of YOUR Holy name Jesus. Amen.

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

Who is Speaking into Your Life?

Wherever you go today, you can hear so much music and conversation that the mixture is nothing but noise to the ears! Some malls have the sound of music from the time you enter the front entrance and seems to carry from store to store. But at times, there is so much of it, the noise seems to wrap around you making a simple conversation with your husband or friend impossible. When you have to shout to get the person next to you to hear you speak, then it is not worth having the conversation.

Being bombarded with all that noise is not a welcomed thing. If I find I must go to a mall, I always find the shortest distance from an entrance to the store I desire to shop in when looking for a specific item. Today's society seems to shout to get our attention on anything from buying a new car or pickup to a new washer & dryer. But it does not stop there! It goes on in the drive-through window arena, where they shout at you of the new deals they are offering on the early breakfast deal with coffee added.

But sincerely, who do we allow to speak into our lives?  What carries a weight into our listening when someone speaks? Do we have favor with them or do they really dislike us? What if that which they are speaking is not good, but evil and will hurt you or another person? Who is speaking to you?

In church recently, this young man we have known for a short time brought us this word the Lord had spoken for our pastors. That word was "inspire". I continue to hear that word and looked into its meanings in the Bible and in the dictionary.

to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence, 

to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.):

to inspire confidence in others

to inspire someone with hope; to breathe in (air); to inhale

I believe when we look into the Word of God that has been given to inspire us, to gather us and strengthen us into God's bosom and His plan, we allow Him to speak and show us the "destiny" if you will and the way to get there.
I emboldened the words above that so remind me of the inspiration of God and His word. That quickening to live again with the life of God will be air in my lungs. That God-breathed word when spoken is life I am inhaling to be renewed and invigorated for His plan. It is His Word that is always producing in us the power to move forward and declare His goodness to others. God gives us hope in our darkest hours. Scripture tells us in Romans 15:13..........13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NIV
As God fills us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, we are those who overflow with hope by the power of His Holy Spirit. We have a joy unspeakable.
1 Peter 1:8............8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: KJV

Jeremiah 32:40-41...............40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.   NIV

What we allow our ears to hear, invades our hearts! Is what we are hearing, truthful, and helpful? Is it an "inspiring" word that will lift us out of the pit of miry clay or is it a vindictive word of harm and hate?

It was said that Augustine had a sign on his wall that read, " He who speaks evil of an absent man or woman is not welcome at this table."

Spending time with God allows us to hear truth and be moved by truth! If what we are hearing is that of violence, gossip and clamor, then our hearts are overtaken to those things.

I pray that we would be people who would continually seek out the Word that inspires us to "the greatness" God placed in us. I pray that we would become the man and woman who God planned to make a difference for the day and time we live it in. If not us, who, and if not now, when?

John 16:12-15................12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. NIV

If you so allow me to speak into your life today, I pray that the God of glory would dwell in your heart by faith. I pray in Jesus' name that you would be inspired by the written word of God that is God-breathed and brings life to your mortal soul. I pray that you would be strengthened to rise out of mediocrity and soar the heights like an eagle and view the world as God our Father does. I pray that your ears are open to hear Him speak and even more than that...........you would see HIM speak............and know that which is life to you. Lord, thank YOU for revelation knowledge that helps us to see HIM who speaks and declares those things to come. May we ever be moving forward in YOUR plan for our lives, consumed by YOUR love and beauty and compelled to tell others of Your truth! Thank You Lord for this word and for Your precious Holy Spirit who tells us the things we must know. We will know all that YOU speak and receive it deep into our hearts and move in power to see Your kingdom on this earth. Amen.

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