What I have Written, I have Written

What do we see as the enemy? What do we see that we honor without really knowing what it or they represent to us and to others?

It was evident that the Jews had a direction they decided to travel and Jesus was not a part of their plan. Yet, He was and is truth and life to them and they refused Him!

John 19:17-22 NKJV And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of the Skull, which called in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. 20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. 21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, "The King of the Jews." 22 Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

Each of us can give voice to that which is desirous to our heart. What do we celebrate but is really death to us?  We can give our opinion or view of any subject that we think we have great knowledge of and on. And if we appear in a place of position, somehow that place seems to give more credence to what we may believe and trust in our heart. So if we are giving voice to something, have we started in the place of prayer? It is important hat God's love shows up in that which we pray for and seek to know that is the knowledge of God where insight is given to help us discern the best, the pure and the blameless way of walking while presenting truth to any  situation and possibly the world?
To give voice to the right thing, means we give it in the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ who is the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)

But there are those who abuse their power to exert their own agenda in having things their way even if it brings death to another!

Have we bound mercy and truth around our neck and written them on the tablet of our heart so that we find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Or are we going about to make a statement about someone or something just to exert that "our will" is exerted on another person? (For that is sin) You and I are to trust in the Lord with all of our heart and not to lean on that which is known as the human living in a humanistic world, but we are to acknowledge Him in all that we do in the ways of walking through this world into the next place in our future.

For if we acknowledge Him, then He is directing our path and He can do for us that is life,  for that relationship with our spouse that is a marriage founded on His word of truth. Acknowledging Him in raising children for Him, or even to acknowledge what our place in Him is to look like and how we get there without exerting pain on others.  So, as we choose not to be "wise in our own eyes" we fear the Lord and depart from evil to find health for our flesh and strength to our bones. In this we look to honor Him with our possessions and with the first fruits of all our increase. (Proverbs 3:3-10)

Acknowledging Him is to be our thought and to be our way. It is not making Him aware to be on guard for us on this, but that we make our heart aware to follow Jesus, counsel with Him, and that we make our own heart know His truth and His thoughts to walk in His ways while we travel a lifetime to eternity! Continuing in His righteousness, we see the reward of that effect. And when correction comes and it will most certainly come, we are to heed that is of God's love and His concern for us as individuals that the correction comes. And then how you and I respond to that correction will reveal what path we truly travel on: either for Him and His glory or for ourselves and for our own glory!

In Matthew 27:15-26 NKJV Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."
Matthew 27: 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 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!" 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."
Matthew 27:25 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.

Pilate's wife sent word to tell him of her dream the night before. He is given a word by her not to have anything to do with Him because of what she experienced while dreaming of Jesus.

In remembrance of all the things that occurred to Jesus, we consider Peter denying him and Judas betraying him for monetary gain. It was Pilate who declared Jesus the Christ to have no fault in him. And for Pilate’s wife a dream was given. How much previous knowledge would she have had of Jesus before that night? It is possible she had heard many voices speak of Him, but did she regard the voices?

If we view the whole of the written word of God, it is God Himself who will not leave himself without witnesses to the truth of what He is giving to a people. “Have nothing to do with the just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”  Pilates’ wife gave a caution of warning what would be wrapped up in Jesus the Christ. 

In regard to others, do we regard that friendship to be foremost and given especially when so many things are appearing around us? Pilate was bombarded on all sides: the Jews who desired by envy to put Jesus away for good, the Sanhedrin who were led by Caiaphas the high priest and elders present were active to influence the people in favor of Barabbas. Then there was also the Roman government with its rules and own law.  And we know Jesus was led to Annas first .( John 18:12-14) 

The detachment of troops and its captain and officers of the Jews arrested Jesus. And bound they led Him away. This Annas asked Jesus information of His disciples and His doctrine. And Jesus answered that He had spoken openly to the world. He told him that He had taught in synagogues and in the temple where the Jews always met and in secret He told Annas that He had spoken nothing.  In John 18: 21 “Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.” Because of Jesus’ answer to Annas, He was struck by an officer who stood by, but Jesus' answer was: “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but if well, why do you strike Me?”

And of course, then Jesus is sent to the court of Pilate!

What lay ahead was a view of people who asked for the evil of Barabbas to be released and to destroy the just Man Jesus.  These were corrupt leaders who set themselves to show Jesus as the corrupt, the Man who did wrong, was spoken of as a deceiver and was in league with the devil. This people became those who managed mobs at the expense of the innocent man.

In truth, the High Priest Caiaphas was never to tear his garments. And some have written that he most likely did not have on his priestly garment at the time…..not sure why that would have been since he was High Priest! But we do know that the High Priest was present and that Jesus Christ stood before him.  And what was to be regarded as truth, these priests did wickedly. In  Deuteronomy 17:8-9 If a matter arises which is too hard for you to judge, between degrees of guilt for bloodshed, between one judgment or another, matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the Lord your God chooses. 9 and you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge there in those days, and inquire of them; they shall pronounce upon you then sentence of judgment.

A witness was required to initiate the penalty by casting the first stones, thus subjecting himself to blood revenge should his testimony prove to be false. (Deut. 19:15-21)

The witness was to give truth!

Some people love having the power but they choose to abuse by lies exerting that power bringing pain or even death it upon those who would be the “innocent”. Those with the abusive power do come to their end in the error of their ways when causing such wicked things on the innocent.
Within these scenes that led up to Jesus' crucifixion we find a group of people who moved hurriedly to make decisions  that revealed violence not only on Jesus, but also that which ultimately would come to their nation. They were the blind leading the blind!

Even though Pilate did not regard the warning from his wife, he did see something in the Just Man. But choosing to disregard the good Man , the Just Man sin is expressed and multiplied indeed.

Proverbs 8: 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, 31 rejoicing in His inhabited world, and my delight was with the sons of men.

God's wisdom is a life-giver. He enriches us with His wisdom when we seek His counsel and when we seek to be the witness that declares His goodness to man. Peace on earth comes when men have the Prince of Peace on their hearts. When the water represents man, then those people should not transgress the Lord's boundaries for safety!
 Psalm 93:2-5 NKJV Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, they floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves,  4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea. 5 Your testimonies are very sure; holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, forever.
Things are swept away by floods of adversity, swept away by those with hostile natures against other men and when they all make their voices heard, it is only God Who is established and His word stands sure!

Pilate had sought to release Jesus: John 19:12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a kings speaks against Caesar."

 The pronouncement: "What I have written, I have written." Roman law forbade the sentence written to be altered in any manner or form. It was an inscription pronouncing something against Jesus. BUT what was given was prophetic indeed. The kingdom of the Jews would have no other Messiah. Jesus was crucified because He was the king of the Jews. In the book of Matthew it was given as an accusation against Him, but in the book of John it is given as His title!

 What do we profess? What does our day, week or year look like in regards to Jesus? Do you and I regard Jesus by His title in all we do and how we regard others when making appointments with them? Do we consider those things as important as enjoying the world and its positions for such a limited time to leave Jesus behind and do our own thing?
Again, do we give regard to Him or do we take account of choosing Barabbas to serve the world? There was no crime in Jesus, and that innocence when it was written of Him, that sign would be revealed upon the cross of the dying Messiah. 
Yes, Caiaphas pronounced someone had to die for the good of the people. In meaning: these men in some form of witness  but not for the good of Jesus, but as the witness against Him, that which was the written proved to be that which prophesied of His title. Yes, the Jews rejected Christ Jesus and would not have Him for their king. And Pilate the Gentile knew this, still he remained to give an earnest account of the king of the Jews.

John 19:19 Pilate wrote the sign himself: Jesus of Nazareth , the king of the Jews. And verse 21 "the chief priest of the Jews" meant they were no longer priests of the Lord.

What is written on your heart?  Have you written on your heart: "Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews"? What appears written if we take a look into that arena of your heart?

In 1 Kings 3:9 Solomon as king asked for a hearing heart. "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?" Whatever our walk, whatever is given to you and me we are to deal in that knowing our limitations are there no matter what and ultimately we are to rely on the Lord to have victory in this lifetime. In His wisdom we gain even more wisdom and discernment of the King, and we discern the importance to honor Jesus and to honor relationships that He has given into our hands. If we do not honor them, then how much less do we honor HIM?
What I have written, I have written!

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

What is the Terror of the Lord?

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Also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

What is a Hero When Unfaithfulness is Judged

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The Public Display

The Public Display

Matthew 15:2-3 Why do Your disciples transgress and violate the rules handed down by the elders of the past? For they do not practice [ceremonially] washing their hands before they eat. 3 He replied to them, And why do you transgress and violate the commandment of God for the sake of the rules handed down to you by your forefathers (the elders)?
Thayers Lexicon:3845 (parabaino) to overstep, to neglect, to violate...to transgress...

Jesus was reminding them it was of more importance to obey the commandments of God than to obey those ceremonially rules set down by men!
2 John 9 Amplified Bible 9 anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son.

Willing to transgress what God has given is foolish indeed!

willful: with set purpose; self-determined; without yielding to reason; obstinate; stubborn
From 3845 parabaino :to transgress in a defiant will; someone who knows the right way but chooses to go their own way in contrariness
Psalm 101:2 I will behave myself wisely and give heed to the blameless way---O when will You come to me? I will walk within my house in integrity and with a blameless heart.

Yeah the heart has a lot to do with our following God. Staying in His protection, knowing Him is to give heed to His way of righteousness! That if we are in Him, we are to remain within that righteous walk that is holiness!  He is perfection, He is the mighty God, our Counsel.
Filling our heart with His kind of peace and wisdom, then we will truly know Him and follow a good path!

If you read on in Psalm 101 you become aware that following God is really about having nothing to do with evil and the evil person or thing close to us. Being aware of what God has given those who follow Him are those who will not slander his neighbor and will not tolerate the haughty look. For truly our eyes should be on those who walk faithfully with God and always looking out for the neighbor.

Was thinking of all the headlines today and those marching for some cause! Then I remembered the one anchor person of a news program mentioned a 'peaceful protest'. Now how did they come up with that?
Let's see: protest has the meaning of complaint, objection, or display of unwillingness usually to an idea or to course of action . Will publicly display their approval....by an organized demonstration of their disapproval.
Then peaceful has the meaning: a peaceful place; not involving war, violence; without worry and excitement.
The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English: peaceful people do not like violence and do not behave in a violent manner.

God is not only supreme in power and authority, but He is also supreme in judgment. In the greatness of God,  His very mind pierces through all of the justifications we make to excuse our bad attitudes and conduct as measured against His righteous standard.

Oh yeah, God has a righteous standard!

If we are truly followers and find our trust wholly in Him, then we would have faith to recognize and know His justice and be willing to operate in it.

We are not be followers of the world, but followers of Jesus Christ. And just like Jesus, we can come under persecution. But we are to remain faithful to God and know He loves us greatly to send His Son to die for us. So being reminded of God and His sense of justice, we must consider carefully what it is we are focused on and is it for His glory or for me to make a stand for me?
Again, it comes back to the attitude of our heart.

So in planning to go out for a 'march' we must consider is this a small thing. Could this be something of an event that will make no impact if it is done in being peaceful? Do we ask Him if it is good for us to do this? Or is this just a whim? Certainly there are many causes in the world today, but what we think of as the little matter may turn out for bad thing, the bad road and destruction to us.

Facing serious consequences will truly be known when we go outside the boundary of God. He is firm about us being obedient to His word. We are reminded in Romans 1: 18-21 Amplified Bible this: 18 For God's  [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative. 19 For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them. 20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes , that is, His eternal power and divinity have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the thing that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse (altogether with any defense or justification. 21 Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.

Yikes! Without God who is Light, then man's mind is darkened. The man operating out of  "the darkened mind" is given over to speculation. In their speculating, they will act out as the fool for they are given no firm evidence. They operate out of wrong beliefs, that false evidence and move in places void of peace, or life! Without the truth of God, they move into the arena of their own opinion, explore by taking a hunch and end up in jeopardy. Destruction!

To whom much is given, of him shall be much required. ….What of Jesus are we giving to people? Are we being easy & trying to make our Lord and Savior more digestible to others? Are we Dressing HIM up or changing His character to suit their character & ours? 

Do we go out to march and say it is for the Lord? Or do we just go out for the 'march' just for the sake of people seeing us "march"?

 Is our culture so steeped in convenience…that we neglect the spiritual of Jesus & follow a culture that is bankrupt because we left God out.  When we try bringing entertainment, we can totally reduce our involvement and our expectations in reaching others for Him.  If we really look at what is going on today, we would focus on that if Jesus is not the center of any family, then chaos can ensue. You can see that from guns in schools to people taking a motor vehicle to run someone else down. If we don't have our salvation, have our hearts set with Jesus allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to us and live by the commands given, then most likely we resemble the world!

We are reminded of this: Proverbs 24:1-4 Amplified Bible BE not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them; 2 for their minds plot oppression and devise violence and their lips talk of causing trouble and vexation. 3 Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house ( a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], 4 And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area]be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

If we are going out in our name, then this is easily viewed as one in immoral conduct. Understand that people who know not God pay little attention. And they have no responsibilities to Him or for Him. He is disregarded.....again yikes! Remember He can cast one into Hell! And He certainly deserves our praise for all that His love has given to us especially for that displayed on the Cross! If one would take a moment to look into the face of a newborn baby, see the beauty of magnificent colors at sunset, and realize this was not a 'big bang' thing! 
If making a difference is important find out where you play the part in the plan God has in motion. Ask Him if that is where you belong! So if God is not vital to this and within this very cause to march about, then we find no cause to be obedient to His will being done on earth in us as it is in heaven. Being willful is having the face of attitude that which is considered serious indeed.  Bad attitude is always bad, causes problems, and will defy life for the good. Knowing that God is committed to us, then we should also remember He is serious. AND He is very serious about fulfilling His purposes on earth.

In receiving salvation, our walk was and is as the "disciple". Disciples are followers of Jesus. Our focus priority is Jesus as He was, is and will always BE the LIFE! Taking the territory for Jesus is that we are not on the sidelines cheering others on. We are to be the church without walls! It looks like the committed with an undivided and a dedicated life humbled to seeing His kingdom come.
So  if you are going out for that "march" consider talking to the Father about it. Tell Him your concerns and what troubles you about what is going on in the 'streets'. Ask Him if you will be safe and wise to go! And if He is for you going out, then ask what you will speak by the Holy Spirit to others that will bring them to God.

 Pray and ask Him what your step might be in this "coming march". For our greatest value to God our Father is in the here and now of this moment on earth. It certainly should be for His glory if we dare go out. And when going out in His name, then certainly is the glory due to His holy name.

Certainly engage culture but understand it is not for the fainthearted. If you go out in your name and being willful not to obey God then you go it alone!

That is not a safe place to be, outside the will of God. Another question to ask, especially to you is will you influence by  the speaking of peace, the good in God or you just going to be influenced by the world.

Each of us has role to participate for God and His glory and the world is opposed and contrary to God. But ours is not to make the gospel acceptable to man but just to make it available to those who does not know God!

Proverbs 26:27 whoever digs a pit [for another man's feet] shall fall into himself and he who rolls a stone [up a height to do mischief]; it will return upon him.

Proverbs 28:10 whoever leads the upright astray into an evil way, be will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

Rest tonight, pray and tomorrow rise to live the life Jesus came to give us. Rise to be the blameless. Shine in His glory, prosper in His word, and deliver His truth to your community.And then do it because He said it was a "good thing to do".

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

The Wonder of God & His Instruction

https://youtu.be/BrnI4LPfL2k 

You can also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer 

for more teaching at:  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

In Order With God: Being Established

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2It_I6W1-g&t=180s

Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching:

http://bit.ly/2wgu1kw

What KIND OF PEACE?

HOW many kinds of peace exist?
Is there just the one kind or are there many kinds of God's peace?
I had read recently of a peace of God, is one that is active in maintaining peace. I had this vision of the word "peace' dressed in military camouflage.
We can pray for people to have the "peace" of God and many take His promise and hold it close. But others have His peace as their "badge of honor"!
But God's peace is so much more than we can wrap our heads around.
There are those who bless God and then turn their thoughts over to how they might fix a "situation" that calls for God' s intervention.

In writing on peace, I always think of that Jesus spoke about in John 14:27...His peace. John 16:33............33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."    NKJV

I guess the one I really love is this one:


Isaiah 32:17-20
17 The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,
In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,
19 Though hail comes down on the forest,
And the city is brought low in humiliation.
20 Blessed are you who sow beside all waters,
Who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey.
NKJV

To me, that work of righteousness in peace is like wrapping up in warm sheets taken from the dryer. And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever, is like being wrapped again in a warm comforter over the warm sheets.

Heard of this disease. Did not know it even existed? But a part of the brain can be affected and that makes the brain unable to rest or allow the body to rest. So the body just keeps operating without sleep. What a terrible situation for people with that dreadful disease.

I like coming to the end of the day. It is the sun giving its final salute to the blackness of night. And it the night, finding that place that I rest in quiet, rest in Who God is, I find peace. In thinking on Him, I abide. And in that abiding I find the security of His Word holds me in a place of strength, joy and much love.

Wrapping up in God, is that we sound like Him and look like Him.

2 Peter 1:2-7  Amplified Bible:

2 May grace (God's favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full], personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). 4 By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, to that through them you may escape [by flight] from moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakes) of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith  to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy) and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge, (intelligence)

6 And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance) and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety). 7 And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in  [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love.

Our staying in peace, look a lot like how much we love our neighbor.

And in a lot of grocery stores, one sees another try to run down the other shopper while shopping for the "organic" label.

L-O-V-E is woven throughout the Bible. It is woven throughout lives by those who loved so much, their lives changed dramatically. Can we love another without expecting our way to be done? After all, we are talking about being led out into the peace of God, right?

It was seen as " a humbling", as a sacrifice, as something to help another, and the fruit is remembered to this day. Joshua and Caleb saw giants, but remained in faith and love toward God and His plan.

What kind of peace...did they have?

What kind of peace.....did Mary have when Joseph was wanting to put her away privily?

What KIND OF PEACE did Jesus have on the Cross?

Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

KJV

What KIND of PEACE is seen in your life and mine?

What kind of peace is evident, or is it?

What fruit is evident in our lives? Does anything speak of us?

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.  NIV

May the Lord make our love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else. May He strengthen our hearts so we will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 

May our hearts be the behaving and on the look-out for our Lord's imminent return. Being led by His Presence, we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. We become intentional in pursuing God and in finding those perfect relationships to help us grow in the Lord. We have the active goal of spreading the knowledge of His glory to other nations. And we are the restored to the new in and by the Holy Spirit. Being grateful, we find Him standing in Peace. Expressing our joy to be in His peace, we find ourselves leading a parade of the goodness of God for our lives and for others.

2 Peter 3:14  Amplified Bible ...So beloved, since you are expecting these things be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts.

Father, in Jesus' name we have seen the wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, but soon passed away and was no more. Though we looked for him he could not be found. Father consider the blameless man, observe the upright. There is a future for the man of peace. (Psalm 37:35-40) 

Our salvation has come from the LORD. He is our stronghold in time of trouble. Our refuge is in the Lord. Father, thank You for Jesus and the Blood of the Lamb. We are thankful to YOU for salvation and for YOUR grace and mercy.

May Your divine message be in our hearts. And may we even here and now, Your children resemble You. As Your children, we abide and remain with You Lord, having a perfect confidence (boldness and assurance) and not ashamed or shrink from His presence. Come Lord Jesus Come. Amen.

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The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published:

POWERED BY FAITH and Governed by the Love of God

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Worshiping The " LUCKY RITUAL"?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jeremiah 13:1-14

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

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

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

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

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

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

Their drunkenness in themselves was going to be seen.

Jeremiah 13:24-26

24 "Therefore I will scatter them like stubble 

That passes away by the wind of the wilderness. 

25 This is your lot,

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

"Because you have forgotten Me 

And trusted in falsehood. 

26 Therefore I will uncover your skirts over your face,

That your shame may appear. 

NKJV

We read what they will be like: stubble!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

PICKING AND CHOOSING

ARE we picky about what we want to participate in and are we choosing only those things that stroke our fur? Well, Shelley, I have no fur............really?
"Well, the pastor will not be there, so I am not going either!" "Well, they really are not saying or teaching anything I want to hear, so I am not going to go this Bible Study!" "Well, I think I can do better than they can, so I will not attend this one thing." "Well, I want time away from "them", even though I know I should attend, but..............!!!"
EXCUSES AND MORE EXCUSES..........and it all has to do with the "me, myself, and I"..........and that always stinks, does it not?
I was finding time to go over the regular duty of clearing old emails out...........and I always try to read over them before deleting them forever. But one remained that I thought interesting. It was written awhile ago and it mentions a person's intention of not attending this function at church because of issues with something.........yet, the next thing in their writing, they changed it and made it "their thing" the very next night. Well that issue had to do with the body, a sickness coming on, but in less than 24 hours they were all better and let their "buds" know to be out for their "thing" on the following evening.
What is wrong with being honest? Why can't someone just say, " I did not want to attend because.........." and fill in why they do not want to attend!
Are we dealing with pride, or with a reluctance to be truthful about anything? "Well, I do not want to hurt their feelings." "Well, I.............!" "Well, I.....".

DISCERNMENT!
Discernment comes by spending time in the Word of God. Believer's gain understanding and truth through that Word. In that, we find judging the right course to stay with God, and not follow man!


I always think of this scripture...................

Ezekiel 33:30-33................30 "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

33 "When all this comes true-and it surely will-then they will know that a prophet has been among them."   NIV


Ever been around someone who tells you that ....."this word was certainly given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit".....but yet....you see them........leave and................go about finding that which brings them only gain?
Now, come on.............be honest with yourself!
In some of the early churches I attended in my youth, no one had a Bible study. I had not heard of one till the 90's. Seriously! I kid you not!
And then, my thought process was one that I could study at home and usually did for I love to read and search things out from scripture. But I found that when I attended, I could have this light of revelation come on some verse we were looking at together. And in spending time with others over the Word of God, I found that study time was a time that culminated into what would be this beautiful tapestry being built together that would glorify God!
So many times, I would volunteer to have a study in our home. Then it became a prayer meeting time. But the study continued, and I was always ready to invite people to come!
In those cases, I would find the two or three gather from maybe the original five............well, the other two had other things to do!
I remember this one time of having a study in April 2007. It was to be a teaching on Deborah, the Prophetess. Snow began to fall, and two came. We still had a party over the Word of God. We had great fellowship and enjoyed some great finger sandwiches. Yes, those two left some two or three hours later in a snowstorm, but God got them home safe and sound!
Yes, there are those who desire to hear the Word............to seek God and then there are those who find one excuse after another of why they should not attend.
Then you will hear of those that will say they will come to a study but later you find them choosing something else because of ...........EXCUSE..........! 
To me, it seems more appropriate to say they are too busy and do not have time for the Word!

The Word teaches us that one day in the courts (house) of the Lord is better than a thousand anywhere else!


Psalm 84:10-12.........10 Better is one day in your courts 
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God 
than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold 
from those whose walk is blameless. 

12 O LORD Almighty,
blessed is the man who trusts in you.   NIV

In that one day God can save us years of work and more work. He can show us ways to get that new job, how to gain favor at work (and not through the flesh thing), He can show us how to know that He seeks our good and will bring to us honor and favor that we never dreamed we could have in our lifetimes. In His presence, we find answers to things that may have plagued us for years. In that time of receiving a teaching on a passage from the Word of God, we can move quickly through something without even pausing for a breath of air! God can show us where to go for the best prices in town when shopping for our children's back to school items. He can show us the best place to purchase a home and which neighborhood to live or He can show us the best place to rent and live far out in the country and enjoy the beauty of what He has created. He is God and He is great and His thoughts for us are wonderful!
But many times, people choose "to skip" it today because we are really "busy". Today I cannot get to church or that study because............."EXCUSE". WHAT MAKES IT SAD, IS THAT GOD, HIMSELF, COULD BE WANTING TO GIVE YOU A GOD-IDEA FOR A NEW INVENTION SO YOU MAKE ALL THE MONEY YOU NEED AND STILL FULFILL HIS PLAN FOR YOU IN MINISTRY!!!! HE COULD BE SHOWING YOU HOW TO STILL MAKE A LIVING BUT WORK LESS HOURS A DAY! HE COULD BE TRYING TO GET INTO THAT HEAD AND HEART OF OURS, THAT HIS PLAN IS A PLACE OF EASE, WITHOUT STRESS AND WE COULD SEE GREAT BENEFITS FROM FOLLOWING WHAT HE DESIRES FOR OUR GOOD.

Characteristics of discerning people are this:
Proverbs 1:5-6.....
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance-- 
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.    NIV

People become the wise to listen and add to their learning.........gaining discernment in being guided into the affairs of life...........making decisions that must be made!

Proverbs 15:14-15..............14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.       NIV

Discerning heart is the one seeking knowledge about God, His truth, and His way of doing. Again, He can certainly save us time and energy when we seek His plan. AND all our days are to have the look of the continual feast with a happy heart. We are to have a feast always on the word of God and having the happy heart knowing He is with us today!

Proverbs 17:24..........24 A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.    NIV

A Discerning man will keep wisdom in view. THAT look is one that is steadfast, and not wandering. One who is wandering is "unsettled" and is restless! People sometimes think that by connecting with some family member is keeping the communication lines open, but in reality, the part being played out is the one thinking that by reaching for "that family member" is trying to bring to the present something the two had together in the past.....(the said family member may not even keep in contact now, not by phone, email or otherwise)............AND THAT DOES NOT WORK OUT FOR THE GOOD FOR ANYONE! Some people are resistant to change. They like things the way they are and desire for no change to take place. But if you are fifty and are still acting like a 5 year old, wow, something needs to change.
IF both hearts are on the same page, let's say like serving the Lord, having gladness in their heart, they certainly can and will connect. But if one tries in their own effort to reach one who is far from God, and wandering, the saved one may now be connecting with the wandering one and his wandering eyes and not with the "family member" but only what they remember from the past.

Again, if we say, this person (man or woman) is trying to connect with "family member" who is far from God and who lives a lifestyle that is on the pretty wild and crazy....side of life.........the saved one may continue to try reaching and many times it is like trying to drive forward but looking back in your rear view mirror all the time.  That person without wisdom of God is fluttering around from place to place all the while restless ...........ALWAYS WANDERING.........SEARCHING.......LOOKING BUT NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE. They cannot keep their mind on the "one important" thing in life. That is God!
It is good for butterflies to flutter from place to place, from flower to flower, but when a man or woman wanders it's because of a restless attitude.
You have seen them. They are the anxious, the agitated, and ill-at-ease around you. That driving forward while continually looking back, will "wreck" you.

Our son-in-law did this teaching with the "compass" a few weeks ago for the entire group attending the church service. It was awesome for the youth to see how the direction from the compass would steer them! They read the directions of the compass to get from point A to point B and so on.  I thought of that today, and how many people really need that compass of God's word to steer us in the right direction. He wants to help us avoid overworking something.  When the person is not fixed on the "one thing" but rambling about, only viewing that they need like the paycheck, a need to please mommy dearest, and keep family together, we can certainly come up short in the wise department.

God desires us to aim at that which He has placed before us. He desires us to keep that focus and not look back at "the past". And that applies to our job, our ministry, if you have one, and applies to raising our children. If you were raised without God while growing up, the best thing for your children is to bring them to God and have them hear about Him, day in and day out, week in and week out! But if we are raised in the church, and take on that holier than thou attitude, that stinks to high heaven. We may certainly quote the Word of God and still tell lies, AND what does that make us? 

I remember this lady..........some years ago, she desired to do something and had great ideas, and they would probably work well at that time. She said wanted to clone some certain people who she had known from her past, but the best thing for us today is to embrace those around us now.

Who has God placed around us that we should embrace? Too many times, people really liked their past better than their present. But if one keeps looking back to the past how can they be effective in this day which the Lord has given them?

Too many times, we are trying to make yesterday work for today and that will not work and is not a good thing to do. You can look at some ministries TODAY, many are trying to make today work out of yesterday's or last years ideas!

Next time you attend a church service, a Bible study or even a Prayer Meeting, consider this. From Ezekiel 33......ask yourself..." Am I interested in God and all that He has for me?" " Am I shallow in my thinking less toward.....Sister......"so and so"........in her teaching or her leading in this area that I desire?" Lord, " Am I just being superficial about Sister...."so and so"?

"Is my enthusiasm lacking life to it?"  "Am I loving more earthly things and avoiding those heavenly ones that I should be cherishing?"

"Am I judging pastor........."so and so".......or Sister........"so and so" because of their manner of teaching or delivering a message from God? 
" Am I Lord, seeking my favorite past times and those indulgences that come when I do my "own thing?"
"Is my interest a distraction that needs to stop right now?"

"Or do I just want my say that has no wisdom of God, but certainly carries things from the world?"

Proverbs 17:7.....7 Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
Much less lying lips to a prince.   NKJV


A common truth: if you have a despicable man and he appears to speak as the educated man,  the elected official, a scholar, or say even an administrator of a hospital and no one pays attention to him because of his character, how much more so will the same thing apply to say the "believer"....who knows the word of God, and still tells lies so blatantly . Will someone heed the hateful (the despicable) man when he tries to appear......as the reputable, the kind and the worthy?
In the verse below, we find the child is known by his actions.............by looking at his conduct!


Proverbs 20:11.............11 Even a child is known by his actions,
by whether his conduct is pure and right.   NIV

Is the child behaving as he ought to behave? Is he being disciplined by the Lord?  Because whatever he speaks comes straight from the heart.  How he acts at home, he will act in public! Not sure why some seem so surprised when their child throws a hissy fit at the grocery store or the mall, for they evidently have been brought up that way. (But right now we are looking at why we choose to avoid church and some pastors or teachers. )


Psalm 101:1-8......I will sing of your love and justice;to you, O LORD, I will sing praise. 2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life--when will you come to me?
I will walk in my house with blameless heart. 3 I will set before my eyes no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate;they will not cling to me. 4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;I will have nothing to do with evil.
5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,him will I put to silence;whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,him will I not endure.
6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land,that they may dwell with me;he whose walk is blameless will minister to me. 
7 No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house;no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.
8 Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land;I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the LORD.   NIV

From the above scripture passage, the blameless life is one that has a blameless heart, that has no vile, and they have their eyes on the faithful in the land. Who is the faithful in the land? Who surrounds them? Are they the faithful? Are they in church, and leading? They are those that are the faithful and who are to minister to you and me!

The action of not presenting truth is telling lies, but does not lie fully on that "lie" itself, but on the character of the man or woman and with the harmony of each as that character plays out in their speech.

AM I speaking and doing...........do I have action to what I write? 

In closing: God loves the faithful, and He is ever-present in today. Are we ready to face the day with His Word and to heed those teachers and pastor or pastors He has provided for us to hear?

From what we have seen in scripture, that perfect way, that walk is sincere. It is not being masked either before God or with our fellow believers. If we truly have the Word of God and live by it, then it should rule........and will be........ bringing all the glory to God.............and in that we see the "perfect heart".

Behaving ourselves wisely, is walking without any pretense toward anyone. We are to be those who are as wise as serpents. If you correct a child, you have him look into your eyes while you speak. If you do not do that, he will not hear, but just be active in what he was doing before the discipline started as pertaining to his behavior. I know some ladies who live up north, who attended the same church as we did for many years, and if they desired not to hear.........they would simply lift their hand up to you and say "speak to the hand". Yikes!

From the previous blog, THE FALLEN, we looked at Saul and how Jesus came to change his attitude toward those who lead in the church. In the following is an excerpt from that blog:

If we run from church to church and trying to destroy those called by the Lord for the purpose of bringing the Kingdom of God to others, we too become like a "Saul". Are we complaining of the teaching or preaching from the pulpit? Are we trying to bring shame on one who is called by God to deliver the message of salvation to the world?

If you or I treat others with lies, then what does that speak about us?  Our duty to our neighbor is to be truthful. And in that duty, people will see our character .......and how will they see us?

Father, we pray in Jesus' name, and seek what are we disposed to , what do we have a tendency toward that will bring us to defeat. What do we conceal or keep under pretense in dealing with pastors or teachers You have sent our way?
Father, our desire is to be truthful all the days of our lives. We are examples to our children and their children. We desire to bring edification and life to those we minister life to on a daily basis. Help us to not be the liar, the grumbler, or even the complainer. Help us and remind us daily to use those words we have been disciplined by from YOUR Word of truth.
Your Word says a man who desires a long life must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit (Psalm 34:12-13). Show us where we may be missing the mark on that word.
 May Your Spirit of Love reign in the words we speak so that we do not  have a miscommunication or wound one another. Help us to show each other respect, speak words that encourage, share our feelings openly; and come to mutual agreements without strife. Help us to be honest!
Show us what we may be indulging in that is bad for us and show us the right place to be in hearing and doing Your Word. And Father, let your face shine on us Your servants, and thank You for Your unfailing love. Let us not be put to shame, for we have cried out to You today. Let lying lips be silenced who may speak arrogantly against the righteous. (Psalm 31:16-18). Amen and Amen.

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