Choosing Humility Will Produce Astonishment in Others

 Humility was expressed in Jesus : Matthew 13:54-58… NKJV 54 & when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished & said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? & His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 & His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country & in his own house." 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. 

As unbelief, not trusting in God causes us to not hear. Harboring anger, resentment, jealousy and un-forgiveness causes the fruit to develop deafness or the hardness of our hearts. A spirit of deafness, an insensitivity,  is one of hardness and refuses to comply to the Word of God. (from Preparing to Hear)           

     **The people of his hometown knew him so well, being puzzled by His wisdom and His works done in God……they were going to hold Him in their own eyes as they knew Him, the carpenter’s son and in….that they rather cling to ignorance. The people in which He knew as neighbors, had no real need for healing or anything else.  They did not recognize Who He was & they held NO VALUE FOR HIM!

 

·         In His wisdom: Jesus spoke in Matthew 7:24-29….24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, & does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 & the rain descended, the floods came, & the winds blew & beat on that house; & it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, & does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 & the rain descended, the floods came, & the winds blew & beat on that house; & it fell. & great was its fall." 28 & so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, & not as the scribes.  NKJV  the scribes were echoing what they had heard …possibly boring and without power, but Jesus spoke with intensity, passion and power. He had authority in the situation

 

·         Christ’s works (3913) John 10:25-30…… 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, & you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, & I know them, & they follow Me. 28 & I give them eternal life, & they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; & no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 I & My Father are one." NKJV

Bearing witness of Me..Jesus was bearing a good report of the Father God…..

Jesus held not as an echo but a TRUE VOICE!

James 3:9-18 Amplified Bible…………….9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so. 11 Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter?

12 Can a fig tree, my brethren bear olives or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water. 13 Who is there among you who is wise & intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [un-obstrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry) selfish ambition in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it & thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth.

A person with the heart intent of envy, rivalry, that selfishness will be found in pride with lies. Everything he touches will be the “FALSE”, THE PHONEY, THE FAKE... WILL NOT BE REAL.

15 This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal, even devilish (demonical). 16 For wherever there is jealousy (envy) & contention (rivalry & selfish ambition) there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) & all sorts of evil and vile practices. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled) then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion & good fruits: it is wholehearted & straightforward, impartial & unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering & insincerity).  It is God’s Word that propels us into TRUTH…..

18 And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement and harmony between individuals with un-disturbedness in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions & moral conflicts.

C - 1: εἰρηνικός  James 3:17..is peace…without this peace….of God you will have no wisdom of
God.                 

When Jesus prayed, and met with people, lives were changing. In Jesus’ time and as in today’s culture, the world sees the “wise man” as one who will live for the moment, always living by sight, and is devoted to self.   For Jesus, His own neighbors rejected Him. They saw interruption in their lifestyle, in their own thinking, but chose to carry on in their unbelief. The Sadducees’ did as did the Pharisees! Ego will kill you! Some people just want to be right all the time. But we cannot be that way ….we must have God guiding us with His eye. Certainly those who were astonished also became those who were ready to kill Him. They wanted Jesus gone however they had to do it. But truth ruled Jesus’ life. The truth of God carried Him to the Cross and then to the right hand of God in Heaven.

In closing: His prayer time brought power, looked like grace, and caused reactions. In His teaching  the EXTREME was heard, His prayer was for ADVANCEMENT OF THE KINGDOM!

Jesus’ Prayer: John 17:3….(3)& this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, & Jesus Christ whom You have sent. Advancement of the kingdom.                                                                                                                                   

John 17:6  .(6) "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

John 17:11…(11) Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, & I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

John 17:26 ...(26) And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."  NKJV

THE IMPORTANCE in this prayer was that   Jesus spoke what He spent His ministry revealing to us about God His Father. It is in this, that He keeps us through His name, both by our trusting in what it means & by the evidence revealed by living this life in obedience!  This obedience to fellowship, communion, God’s Word in teaching & prayer gives us VOICE! 

In John 17 & verses 6 & 26….the Greek word for Name is onoma. When Jesus spoke this: He was speaking God’s  authority, His character, His  very majesty, & the power of His excellence which belongs to God HIMSELF. Jesus was expanding & advancing God’s name on the earth & in the earth.

When we can see with our eyes & understand in our hearts that being united with the Father presents to us the opportunity to participate with the Son as the Son did with the Father, how much more should we expect to see the astonishment in the faces of those God is touching by His presence in us? Before we go to participate out there, we should have the intimate time to know our Father’s heart.

Father, like Jesus spoke in John 17, I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Jesus through this word given. That they all may be one as You, Father are in Jesus & in me, that the world may believe You sent Jesus. The glory which You gave Jesus I have given  them, that they may be one just as We are one.(John 17:20-23)   Father, thank you for bringing health & healing revealed in Your peace & truth. Captives have been set free to pray.  Thank You for salvation!  For all Your goodness & prosperity You provide, may it be to YOU God a name of joy, praise & an honor before all nations of the earth who hear all the good that You do to them. May they fear & tremble before You in humility knowing that hypocrisy is far & away from You. May we be that voice to carry Your glory forward.

For those who abide in You will have the voice of joy, & the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom & the voice of the Bride, the voice of those who will say:"Praise the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His mercy endures forever"- Oh holy Father, at this juncture of choosing to pray, may we be truly be those who will not find excuse to put off prayer. For those who EMBRACE  the relationship with YOU will know THE VOICE of truth. They will walk TOWARD HOLINESS finding power in prayer! Oh it is in Jesus’ Name we prayer……………… Amen.

 

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God the Father Will Honor

 I love Psalm 27. The activity is tremendous. I always relate it back to the stories my parents told me of my great-grandparents and how they shaped a wilderness into a home for family, a place of work and a place to rest! Many people today love that they can just buy a home and move in. People are happy to shop for furniture and appliances they might desire and just spend money rather than to carve out timbers for walls in a log home. I remember stories of family moving to make a homestead in a barren land. They moved to find a place, to work with their hands and to make a difference in a new land. They had heart for the unknown and it was experienced in life both on the plains and in the southwest.

What applies here is a heart’s desire! The heart wants what it wants. And does not our heart have the light of Christ in it? In thinking of David, we are told he had a heart for God. 1 Samuel 16: 7 “Do not look at his appearance, or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Then.... V. 12 And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one.”

Only with a hearing heart will we discern.  From the book of Proverbs, we find in chapter 3, that the Lord by wisdom founded the earth; and by understanding He established the heavens; 20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew.

Okay, God’s wisdom is His tool. It is His possession and He uses it in wonderful ways. His knowledge will break up the depths of our heart that must be removed to actually hear Him speak.  And when He speaks, He keeps our foot from being caught. We walk safely in His way. We do not stumble. We are not afraid and when we lie down at night our sleep is sweet. We are not to be afraid of sudden terror nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be our confidence, And will keep our foot from being caught.

Hearing God is paramount for living. Going into that "new land", God gives specific instruction. And we are to discern the difference of what is God and what is of the world. The “simple”, considered the empty-headed is void of good sense and he goes his own way daily. But those who have heard God, received His salvation has found God in the new, for the old life is gone. The Lord has  prepared a place for us…and we must know what it looks like and how to operate there!

Proverbs 7:4-12 Amplified Bible 4 Say to skillful & godly Wisdom, You are my sister, & regard understanding or insight as your intimate friend--- 5 That they may keep you from the loose woman,

The KJV speaks of the loose as the “strange”…2114…”zoor”…profane……from the adventuress who flatters with & makes smooth her words. 6 For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice. 7 & among the simple (empty-headed & empty-hearted ones, I perceived (discerned) among the youths a young man ( a son) void of good sense.  …8 Sauntering ( without hurry or effort) through the street near the [loose woman’s] corner; and he went the way to her house. 9 In the twilight, in the evening; night black & dense was falling [over the man’s life]. 10& Behold, there met him a woman, dressed as harlot & sly & cunning (sly) of heart. 11 she is turbulent & willful; her feet stay not in her house; 12 Now in the streets, now in the marketplaces, she sets her ambush at every corner.

Those with a guarded heart have their own agenda. When the man or woman is not committed to the wisdom of God, then they are “meat” for him who is ready for any commotion, any noise and finding mostly those with no sense who speak openly in arrogance and only opinions.  This person has a “religion” but speaks lies with flattery. This person who sets ambushes for others is the one on the hunt for anyone vulnerable to their speech, loud restless movement, including that of suggestive clothing and scents for appeal. The world always holds out great “things” but in them is only emptiness, vanity and no life.

Jesus came to bring light and salvation. And in the darkness He, the Light would bring strength to people’s lives. Jesus came to awaken the dead out of a bad existence. Jesus brought the "new" and we can have them when willing.

In Psalm 27 there is a rescue from danger. Light came to dispel that darkness. And one thing dispelled would be him who devours the innocent without cause.

Psalm 27:1-14  NKJV  The LORD is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me to eat (devour) up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. 4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set my upon a rock. 6 And now my heard shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle, I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me and answer me. 8 When You said, “seek My face,” My heart said to you, “Your face, LORD I will seek.” 9 Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger, You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me. 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say on the LORD!

 

In the verses of 4-6 we find the Lord has deployed a camp around us. In this is the presence of the Lord. It is God’s presence where fellowship is seen. And in that is the man or woman secure. To abide in His presence and to hear Him speak truth ….will keep us secure in His arms. I know of people who have moved from church to church to find the safe church and it is the building not on the main highway but hidden in the back of a neighborhood, behind some big trees and next to a pasture.  To them, this is their security. But here the security is different! Church attendance might be a 100 percent, but how about the heart issue. Has one surrendered to be faithful to the Lord, doing what He said do but also to avoid associations with such people that be murderous to your living for God? The secure will only be secure in God alone and not by any structure or group of people!

We are to be around the Lord, stand in His presence, led by His love for us that He has a place prepared for us and it certainly comes by obeying Him! Can we be distinguished from those who are the worthless, that is, they follow the world and have no hearing for God, nor do they have any thought for His holiness nor His truth. They have no place for Him as they had no place for Jesus in Bethlehem on the night of His birth.

The Innkeeper had much room for those paying to get rooms for the night who came to pay their taxes, but had no room for the birth of a child. Oh so true, even to the individual who goes through the rigorous routine of that schedule and not experience the suddenly from God who has a new life, a new way of living from the old existence!

Are the malicious witnesses hanging close to your doorway? Do they stand close to feel their breath on your face or next to your ear?  David certainly knew about this and he would be king. But David had confidence in the Lord and he withstood the threats of those out of vengeance against him. He would encounter a king who would sit ready to through a spear through him. He would find those who would hate him because he took the throne. Those who loved Saul and wanted his reign to continue will bring out those who desire to sling mud and belittle him who would be kind. Bribes in David’s time is no different than we have seen in the last few years of this nation. Anything to do with bribes will corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely is well documented in the history of world government.

David had a heart’s desire for God and it is made clear as we read of him and the history of his family. David kept the firing burning in prayer to God and he would wait on His word to move him. Many today move on a word from their neighbor or the barista at the coffee shop. But truly only God should move us!

Matthew 15: 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasoning's, disputing & designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander & irreverent speech.  20 These are what make a man unclean & defile [him]; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean or defile [him]. Living righteously comes from the heart: keeps us from irreverent speech. It comes through faith in Jesus that is guarded by God’s love. Righteous actions appear in the born again believer: that new life reborn in Christ Jesus.

Again the heart wants something, and if it is not filled with God, then it is filled with the world.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.  Prov. 18:2 amplified Bible….. A [self-confident] fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his personal opinions & himself.  No opinions please: God’s thoughts only

NKJV of Proverbs 18:2 reads: a fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.  A fool….has no excitement to have God’s understanding. They regard opinions, they regard the caprice, the arguments of their own held opinion…living by impulse! Have you seen someone just leave work to go do something else? What about the man or woman who is leading a group of people and in the middle of the meeting leave to go fishing?

Prov. 9: 6 Leave off, simple ones [forsake the foolish & simpleminded] & live! & walk in the way of insight & understanding.  We do not walk by their ways or their speaking….ruled by God’s Word.

We must live in God’s wisdom. We must forsake the foolish ones and their foolish ways. Proverbs 14:33-34   Amp. Bible 33 Wisdom rests [silently] in the mind and heart of him who has understanding, but that which is in the inward part of [self-confident] fools is made known. 34 Uprightness & right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area & relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

God loves those who listen and obey Him. He lifts our head above our enemies. He brings us to honor. He brings us to joyful shouts in whatever situation or trial may be occurring in our lives. He is for us and will not forsake us. Psalm 3:3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

Our significance is not found in any position, nor in another person, place or thing. It is found only in our relationship with the Father who planned for us! David found an honor in worshiping the Father in the wilderness. He found the strength to face the lion and the bear to protect the sheep in his care. In his beginning with God, he found favor because of a right heart for God. And finding that is everything to having a life filled with the strength of God, to rule and reign in His peace and not be found wanting or as the fool!

Now it is your turn. Will you choose to worship the Lord in His presence and experience the humility of that honor when God lifts you to be in the position He destined you for? It is your move and will you move for His glory and to His plan?

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Forge Ahead to See Him

Matthew 27:21-26
21 The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" 22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" 23 Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!" 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." 25 And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children." 26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.   NKJV

Two futures, one will die! Yes, the people chose Barabbas. The question is what shall we do with Jesus who is called Christ?

Proverbs 16:10-15
10 Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
11 Honest weights and scales are the LORD's;
All the weights in the bag are His work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For a throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.
14 As messengers of death is the king's wrath,
But a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of the king's face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.
NKJV

Perverting justice is a terrible thing! And it brings harm to those who make it a practice to pervert truth. Speaking right things like in verse 13, is that which speaks like God would speak. It is the right standing with God with no sin. Those who practice lawlessness (sin) will not stand before the Lord.
You can have someone in authority, like the governor, asked what they wanted to do with Christ.
Certainly wisdom is found in the wise man. In dealing in truth the wise will appease those angry. Finding favor with the wise would be beneficial. Yet, this ruler was ruled by those who delighted in getting rid of Jesus the Christ.

We are told to enter by the narrow gate...yeah, the way which is the "difficult'.

Matthew 7:13-29

13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 

15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 

24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." 28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.   NKJV

Entering by the narrow I always think of something the size of a tooth paste tube. And if you think about any weight gain, that tube will look really small. It is also listed as "the gate narrow and difficult which leads to life".

Just live with a spouse and you can see how it can become "the difficult". Seriously though marriage is work and life is too. It takes a commitment to live both in the love of God and by the care of His Word in and for it.

Those choosing the wide road may be those looking for the easier and that which looks like having some kind of recognition. Hey yeah any recognition.  But anyone can take the wide road, that high road to destruction. Many will travel that way. Many have already lost their lives on that road. After their life is ended, then one can read in the obituary of the life that went like a shooting star. Or you might read about how they attended such and such CHURCH for thirty years. They attended, but did they really know Jesus?

Knowing that path to walk must be known. It must be the way we know is in truth, the wisdom of God that brings that peace that guards our heart and mind. And following a leader who teaches truth we must understand who teaches truth and who is out just for some wool!

We must always be on the lookout for the false teacher, that false prophet who has no good fruit. They may can spit out pages of scripture but so did satan in the wilderness. Read Luke 4:1-13.

A good tree (individual) bearing good fruit is known. 

The good is slow to anger, they show love in words that encourage and bless. But there are people who have the craft to mix up some truth with a lot of poison. They are speaker of many words, and their hearts are never known. Ever been in a service and you were looking for the anointed Word to release something and instead you got the kiss of Judas Iscariot. His kiss brought death to Jesus.

Titus 1:10-16
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.   NKJV

We see them like in Titus, yes those dressed in sheep's clothing as both idle talkers and deceivers. They teach things for dishonest gain.  Their works deny God. They are abominable, disobedient and disqualified for every good work.

In Proverbs 6:12-15 we find someone who is wicked. They walk with the perverse mouth. They sow discord.

Proverbs 6:12-15

12 A worthless person, a wicked man,

Walks with a perverse mouth; 

13 He winks with his eyes,

He shuffles his feet,

He points with his fingers; 

14 Perversity is in his heart,

He devises evil continually,

He sows discord. 

15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;

Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. NKJV

Then looking further in Proverbs 6 we find this:

Proverbs 6:16-19

16 These six things the LORD hates,

Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 

17 A proud look,

A lying tongue,

Hands that shed innocent blood, 

18 A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil, 

19 A false witness who speaks lies,

And one who sows discord among brethren.  NKJV

Yes, Jesus walked the Via Dolorosa. It was the walk from the place of Pontius Pilate, who sentenced HIM to Golgotha. Jesus was on the path the "way of sorrows". It was not a peace walk nor was it a walk without mockery and loud voices of discontent. No, Jesus walked that final walk with a Cross on His shoulder always thinking of us. In agony and blood draining from His body He thought of those who would follow the way..........down the.....narrow....the difficult way!
Meaning of ....Difficult: not easy to manage..........very stubborn, the unreasonable AND requiring much skill and work

Well, that might leave some folks out of the "life thing". Again, seriously anything worth doing or living for is going to take some effort and we must muster the courage to forge ahead. That is as the woman or man of any marriage and as individuals, we must make a concentrated effort to continue. Quitting should never be an "option". NO, any stopping should not be considered. One cannot make their way through by bluffing. You would be known.

Those in wolves clothing who seek to come eat you for their lunch, are those who will take advantage of the one who believe's every word they speak. Their words are to separate you from your family, from your money and your final destination with God. Their wickedness is tied up in them making a name for themselves. They invest time and much money to find ways to create smokin' mirrors and tricks to do as sleight of hand and make you think they are "great".

But great men or women are established in righteousness. They speak truth. They will not harm nor try to kill you. They desire to only to deliver to you truth, deliver a good product and a good service. We are to be wise and discern that which is to harm another.

Those who want their kingdom and rule in harsh ways will give the kiss of death. They are not "light" but are of the darkness and their father is the father of lies.

But those who love God are of the "light". And they declare light to others. They bring life, and liberty in the words that are God's . They are the words that will heal, make strong and cause you to walk, yes forge ahead to see a better tomorrow.

If you stay by the side of the road, you might find yourself among some "campers" who have come to camp alongside you. And starting again with God might take some extra effort because not everyone wants to go with God, know God or be known by God. But if you keep moving, you can be an encouragement  to another as to keep your walk on that "difficult narrow walk".  Walk with encouragement today, stand tall and kiss yesterday good-bye. Today is a new day. And God has His best for you.

Open the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to breath life into you today. Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort those wounds from those difficult places and remind yourself that the Lord is MIGHTY, HE is the Wonderful, He is the Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Our Lord is a wonderful teacher and gives us wisdom. (Isaiah 28:29 TLB) He will give you wisdom and direct your way.........however difficult it may be, the wonderful Teacher He is ....will show you what to do.

I like what Oswald Chambers wrote..... MY Utmost for His Highest...

If we have never had the experience of taking our commonplace religious shoes off our commonplace religious feet, and getting ride of all the undue familiarity with which we approach God, it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His Presence. The people who are flippant and familiar are those who have never yet been introduced to Jesus Christ. After the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, come the impenetrable darkness of realizing WHO HE IS.

I pray that if you do not know Him, that you would be introduced to Him, for He is my Savior, my Peace and my Healer. He is life to me and to those who desire to live long in Him. He is not a harsh taskmaster. I believe He enjoys life, and breaths His life into us every time we open our mouths to praise and speak His words of life. Truly may you be directed into His love and His life today. May you live strong, walk free and love like there is no tomorrow. Forge Ahead! The best is yet to be. And may you be found, well pass the narrow way and into His loving arms for an eternity. God be with you all who love HIM!

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

Notice:

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: 

Faith Without Borders: The Experience of Our Faith

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

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

A Good Thing Gone Wrong

What kind of production do we put on and expect God to bless it?
What thing do we really push out with the latest technology: like flashing lights and great colors to boot and leave God out of the event? When someone shouts: lights, camera, action, it this what God sees in a church service........when it is suppose to be about HIM!

And those who are trying to lead, or they doing it according to what is expected when serving God or.................?
Those of strength will lead and have "fellow friendly" person next to him, but they leave God behind on a cart driven by an oxen.
Well, read below what happened when the order of which God purposed is not followed. You have a Uzzah (strength) and Ahio (friendly) lead the way which was not order set by God Himself. And then of all things............they set the Ark of God..........on........(are you ready for this????) a new cart!!!!!

Yes that is what happened on the day David wanted to move the ark of God to the "City of David".

2 Samuel 6:1-11
6:1 Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums (castanets), and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 And David became angry because of the LORD's outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9 David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?" 10 So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.   NKJV

Now remember God has rules about moving His Ark of God.  And this fellow Uzzah must have thought he knew much about having this ark since it had BEEN there in his father's house for a long time. For we read it in verse 3, it was brought out of the house.

Numbers 3:27-32

27 From Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites. 28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and above, there were eight thousand six hundred keeping charge of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the children of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle. 30 And the leader of the fathers' house of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 Their duty included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, the screen, and all the work relating to them. 32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, with oversight of those who kept charge of the sanctuary. NKJV

From the above authority in the care of the ark was given to a certain family. And it was this family that was to continue the care.

Exodus 25:10-17

10 "And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. 13 And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. 15 The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. 16 And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.  NKJV

We must have a heart for the things of God and understand that He is holy. He desires them to be done in a manner worthy of honoring Him.

For it is with the mouth our heart speaks.......

Luke 6:45

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 

NKJV

Was Uzzah doing things he regarded as right in his own eyes? Must have, for we find him dying before the Ark of God. In just a short distance from where they started from, his decision to reach out and touch the ark has a detrimental effect on him.

So again, I ask, "is what we do for God, is it done out of the goodness of our heart for God"? Are we really pushing out with the latest technology: like flashing lights and great colors to boot and leave God out of the event?

Are we leading with the person regarded in strength to lead and have "fellow friendly" person next to him, but they leave God behind on a cart driven by an oxen?

In verse 8 of 2 Samuel 6, we understand David to be angry. He was angry because he knew great steps were missed  in moving the Ark of God to the City of David. He realized Uzzah had no honor for God. David knew the Presence of God and he decided to stop everything and move the Ark to Obed-Edom's house. David wanted to please God and to do that would take more time, and do it right that honored God.

Sometimes it is best to make sure before stepping out that what is being done is in the manner of worship to God.

Colossians 3:23-25
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.   NKJV

David waited. He heard the glad report that Obed-Edom had been blessed. Yes, he and all his house were the blessed. And people saw it as they passed by their property!
So David came and did the proper way of moving the Ark. He worshiped with burnt offerings and peace offerings. He danced before the Lord. The whole of those 30 thousand played an instrument and worshiped the Lord all the way to the City of David. The blew the trumpet!  And when David got there, we find he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. He fed an entire nation that day! Read down in verse 19.

2 Samuel 6:16-19

16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house. NKJV

Worshiping God in the right manner, is honoring God for Who He is. He is holy and when He does something, it is in His power and not by anything man can use. May we make our boast in the Lord like David. May we host God's presence, and may other's see that He is with us and we are the blessed. Amen.

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

TRADING GLORY FOR SORROWS

Judges 16:1-5.............16:1 Then Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. 2 When the Gazites were told, "Samson has come here!" they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were quiet all night, saying, "In the morning, when it is daylight, we will kill him." 3 And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

4 Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, "Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver." NKJV

When Samson took hold of that gate of the city, he pulled up the entire gate with the lintels and we are told this gate had a plating of metal throughout. (the gates were done that way so as not to burn completely away when being attacked by foreigners). It was usually a double door and was locked at night by a wooden bar across the middle. We are told that he pulled it up and put in on his shoulders and carried them (the two wooden doors of the gate that was woven throughout with metal) to the top of the hill that faces Hebron! Wow!
Please realize that this carrying of the gate is up a hill all the way and with added weight on the shoulders.

Saw this young woman on the path behind our home. (Thursday noon) as I worked on this passage of scripture. She looks like she was in training for she was jogging with a metal cylinder on her back. I think of all those firefighters who have to get to a terrain where a fire is raging and their work requires an uphill climb, not far from a roadway and yet far enough to require some foot work! And you can at times see some men or women training with those heavy backpacks on their backs.......loaded down with the essentials to rescue someone who is need of help!


Let's think and meditate on this: Samson spent the night with a prostitute. He rises at midnight, to go remove a gate from its foundation, and possibly a locked gate with the cross-bar attached to them. He gathers all this on his shoulders. And he walked or ran it up-hill for about nine miles. ( Hebron was about nine geographical miles. Some think it was to a hill called el Montar, which is 45 minutes from Gaza). Either way this was some feat! Oh, and did I mention the road was made of sand? Gaza was by the sea and Hebron was in the hills.

So if one is deep into sin like he performed with this woman, was he desiring to leave in "the dark" so no one could see him? The scripture plainly points out that those of the Gazites were watching for him and knew when he was in the city with the prostitute. It says they surrounded the place where he had gone into the prostitute.
And what about that gate.....and did he really need to pull it up .........and take it?
Again think about him not destroying the gate, but actually pulling it up together, one piece and carrying it forward away from Gaza and going up to Hebron. What was he thinking?
The city of Gaza was no longer secure. The gate into the city was now gone.

Gaza was a long way from Samson's home. Was he hoping to not be seen by those who knew him or knew of him? Yet, the watchmen knew he was in the city for they set up to ambush him when he came out of the prostitutes place.  Samson was in Gaza for no honorable reason. We read that he took the gate at midnight, so where was the "watchmen"? Was no one watching the city gates? Is it possible that those watching and waiting for Samson saw him lift the entire gate? With their weapons drawn, were they afraid to do anything to him?  
If someone did that today, no doubt, that person would be arrested! So many places today have the cameras that they record 24-hour day periods and pull them up when a death or accident or some other incident occurs.
But in that day, people believed in that Divine Power of God! So many places today have the cameras situated outside businesses to capture traffic on roadway and on the sidewalk. They record 24-hour day periods and pull them up when a death or accident or some other incident occurs. They surely keep an accurate record when placed in right area and right position in front of business or parking lot!

As the Judge over Israel and against the princes of the Philistines, this man had a lot of things going on. Was his counsel now of no effect? Those of that counsel sat at the city gates to exercise government rule.
In meditating this, I thought of how that justice is done today in America. I thought of a "county seat". Growing up in the south, I knew something of the county seat. It was in the main city or town of that county where government order as in justice prevailed. If there arose any complaints through the county area, the complaint was sent to the administrative person in charge. The papers filed were handed to the judge. He would rule either in favor of the complaint or rule against it as the law states in that county or state.
Counties, as like the one in which I lived, would carry out or administer state laws at the local level.
As in our town, the "Court House" was where the government was administered at the township or city level.

When we think of Samson heading for Hebron but never reaching it, was he moving further AWAY from God? Yet, we find in looking at the word Hebron, we see it is as a "community seat of association". Did Samson like being away from the things of God and was he choosing to stay in the polluted world of sin. He could have easily stayed connected with God the Holy Spirit, and give up the fleshly ways of the world to keep a walk of faith and prudence.

HEBRON in Hebrew is (inter alia) and comes from the word for "Friend" (haver). But because of sin, was Samson still bound to the gate he managed to remove from the earth that held it. Even in the size and weight of this major gate with two doorways included, it was still in one piece. Was he still bound to those who he became a friend or an acquaintance of?

Was he angry when finding a gate closed? And was he so proud that "no gate could hold him"?

When we go on to read of Samson, he is entangled with Delilah! He, Samson, went from bad to worse. For in this passage we probably find a woman who had no sinful life, but she was promised the 1100 pieces of silver from each of the princes of the Philistines. And she did it! That made her become a prostitute by being paid a wage for it........to bring Samson down!
I wonder how many get entangled in some little something and think it harmless, when like Samson, they can remove the gate but it still be intact.......and in reality never let anyone through it.
Like this gate, and similar to where he would minister justice, but had justice gone out the way side of things? Again, would he have no power to administer justice in Israel after this?
As a Judge, Samson was to rule righteously. The Judges were to be faithful to Jehovah's righteousness. In Samson, we saw him getting deeper into sin.
Even though the book of Judges is small and lists only a few, there are those who shine like Deborah. (blog: Appointed by God, Deborah the Prophetess) But Samson is remembered as the one who gave in to sin, led by his own fleshly desires and to die while being held captive by those who hated him, the Philistines.
Are we possibly doing something like Samson and not know it? Are we holding up something we like to do, and look good doing it and want others to know how "great" we are doing this thing? It could range from the workplace to church. It could be in music, in sports, in computer work, or even in singing. It could be coming from making 20 cents a day to 2 million dollars in days!

In closing:

Acts 8:9-24.....................9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19 and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

20 Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."

24 Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me." NIV

WOW! It says that Peter told Simon, you are full of bitterness and captive to sin. In the blog "HAPPY ARE THE PEOPLE", the people who know God are those who are not bitter, not after their own thing, but after the glory of God. It is in His glory that we have those radiant faces and the joyful heart that look at doing what God the Lord planned for us to do.

As we look at Simon from Acts 8 and verse 24, we find he asked for Simon to pray..........but Peter told him to repent of the  wickedness and pray to the Lord.....perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart!

It does not say that Simon repented of his act toward the holy things of God and thinking he could buy the Holy Spirit. He asked Peter to pray for him. 
Was not this like Saul?  Have we not read time and again of the pride that Saul got into as he thought he could do without the Lord's leading. He was even giving sacrifice without the priest being present. That which was duly performed was given by God, but it also meant that that sacrificing was as worship and was of the inward heart. Yes, it was a heart issue!  It was not just an outward show to perform something. Obedience with a faithful trusting heart is what pleases God. 

1 Thessalonians 2:4....................4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. NIV
Romans 14:17-20...................17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.  NKJV

I remember this gentleman who was in the church we were attending. He loved to work out. And he did some training in the field of body builders. He had done it for awhile and after an amount of time the Lord told him to stop doing it.
He shared with the body of believer's that his doing it was for his benefit and not God's. He had come to a place where that "thing" was so important that it had become " a god" to him. So he stopped doing it. He obeyed God. We must be those who willing choose to put down that which only glorifies us and pick up that which glorifies the Father. What could possibly be in our lives, that we must put down and move away from to glorify our Father in Heaven? 

Samson did repent at the end. It cost him his life! And it was recorded............for us to read and hear! He traded glory for sorrows!

Father, we are told in Romans 8:8 that those who are in the flesh cannot please God. It is Your Holy Spirit that has come to dwell in our hearts by faith. Today we are alive because the Spirit which is life is in us. Living by YOUR Holy Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body. We have received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, " Abba, Father."
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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. 
Father show us where we might have something that could become a "god" to us. Help us to check our hearts daily and listen to Your rebuke.
We desire not to trade Your glory for sorrows, but we desire to bring praise to YOUR name and shout praise forever!

We pray to be those who will repent when we know we must to stay in Your Presence and YOUR glory. We desire to hear every command and obey them.

We know that You have given us Your Holy Spirit and according to John 3:34,35, "for since he Whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaims God's own message], God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit!

We desire today to bask in the beauty of Who You are. We are expectant to have a life filled with adventure, but also with wisdom, truth and righteousness that keeps us in the shelter of the Almighty God in Jesus' name. Amen and Amen.

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