Sacred Cows, Healing and Behaving Badly

Bondage & Lies or Truth & Healing

Many Christians find this a difficult concept, especially when faced with sickness. As Jesus said, "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?" (Matthew 9.5). 

Is it easier to accept salvation through faith in Christ Jesus' sacrifice, but when faced with an illness in the body faith is just too hard to find?

Romans 6:9-11.....9 For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. RSV

According to this verse 11, we must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

So ultimately and foremost we are temples of the Holy Spirit and so are swept clean from sin and sickness. Through His work on the Cross, we are reconciled to God. We stand as the free from sin and sickness.

We must touch heaven to change earth. And with that being said,we are made of earth, changes must come in our thinking and hold God at His Word of truth. In that we are freed from the power of that curse over mankind. Jesus must be the Lord over every part of who we are or we will end up looking like something that maybe the cat dragged in.

We can not take only the part that makes us feel good, but also look at where we must be corrected in that which God speaks for our lives. Sickness for some I have seen of late are the ones who are inflicted by inner  hurts. They are so damaged in their thinking and heart, one who really listens will hear their cry of pain. For whatever they are in bondage to from the past hurts will certainly show up in their daily life in every decision they must make. 

An inner healing must take place for the person to live a victorious Christian life. What comes into play in most instances can be the work of demonic powers. Most do not like that word anymore they want to hear the word "pastor". Not sure why, but whatever has come into play, that mechanism operates producing a friction against others.

One of the most favorite of all scriptures to help for both areas of healing is found in Isaiah 53:4-5. It is both for the physical as well as the inner healing.

Isaiah 53:4-5

4 Surely he has borne our griefs 

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted. 

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,

he was bruised for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that made us whole,

and with his stripes we are healed.  RSV

The word 'sorrows' (v4) is from the Hebrew 'makobah' meaning pains or sorrow or grief. And Jesus was chastened (v5) for our well being (mind and body). Jesus started His public ministry by saying:

'He (God........... His Father) has sent Me to proclaim............. release to the captives … to set free those who are downtrodden …seen in....Luke 4:18-19

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives 

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 

19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." RSV

From Isaiah 61:1-2

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me 

to bring good tidings to the afflicted;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,  RSV

He was sent to bind up the broken in heart.

If it is an emotional hurt, we are to pour it all out to Jesus, we hand it over to Him and let Him carry it, we take His free offer of peace and we take His offer of freedom that is only found in Him. It does no good to spill it upon someone just for us to have a shoulder to cry on. No, we must ultimately bring it to Jesus and lean into His goodness and love.

Really expecting by faith, we allow those chains to be removed, and God can do this.........in a moment of time. If you and I can take our salvation by faith in trust of Him, surely the same should come as quick when we keep our eyes of faith on Him. God is supernatural and His promises are true. We are to rest in Him and trust no matter what else is going on at the time, that God Himself will hear and know our cry.

But should a profound hurt be opened up from the demonic, then this must be dealt with first. It will likely need and require prayer and fasting:

'Is this not the fast which I chose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke?' (Isaiah 58.6)

Many times people will not forgive anyone. They start out with un-forgiveness toward one person and then it can lead into not forgiving anyone, till they have to control every situation in their lives, so that they might protect themselves from everything and everyone God is sending to help them. Because of their insecurities they set to assault others in the same or similar manner that they have been assaulted. It can come in words that only hurt others and for their own protection. They desire to regard those who will be on their side. Remember birds of a feather will flock together?

Scripture tells us in 1 Kings 18: 21...."If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him."

20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."

We have the choice to choose whom we will serve. We must not behave badly before others or allow others to behave badly before us.  If you gossip before me, I will call you on it. 

How can you know if you are dealing with someone with such brokenness? Well it is in the stance they take, and what they speak that is the unreasonable and  is ultimately immune from any opposition. They hold a high regard that the "sacred cow" they have as their custom or their idea is put where they may observe and worship daily. Anyone seeing this will have the desire to pray for them....but we must know God is in it with us to pray for them.

I looked up the synonyms for the "sacred cow"...and the meaning was like this: golden calf, anything that is the object of worship. But I also found these: god, or goddess. Yeah, see those little g's?

Praying for all is paramount and when God gives the direction for us to do so. But if we see someone acting a certain way, and their behavior is not consistent with life to another, but bent on another's destruction, then we must not condone that kind of behavior.

"Well, he acts like that because he had such a terrible childhood!" Or, "she was just having a bad day, so it was okay for her to act like that. Each day we are framing our world and it should be with the Word of God....and not by he said or she said.
It is like seeing children on the playground: one boy of about eight or so has another pinned to the ground while others pour water over him ....making him cough and what .....that he begs them to please stop....but they do not....! That is not boys just being boys....No, they saw that some where and it is a part of them...to act it out in aggression to another boy.

Once heard this man speaking of his son. It seemed every time a meal was prepared, the youngest or what would become the middle child would complain of the food served and  the child would promptly gag at the plate set before them. Now this individual would continue to gag till the parent would coax him into something no one else was having to eat. Ta-dah….another meal being prepared for the “gagger”! Yikes.

Many times, as the parent with more than one child, will try to find an easy solution yet in the long-haul the child will expect the “special “treatment always. This is a destructive pattern for the parent and for the child who would be informed in the year to come another baby was now about to appear.

You can hear the parents cry and the child’s subsequent gagging reflex begin always around the meal time and all are gathered to eat while one is capitalizing on that which “he will not eat”….only to be catered too……while parents are not dealing with this child another smaller baby is now on their way into the same “house”.

The " gagging" child will even venture to speak this: “ mama, why did God make me this way?” or “daddy, why did God do this to me?” YIKES!

Certainly our nature is to become like Jesus. Our born-again man is to resemble Jesus in thought, word and deed. But many time people will resort to that destructive pattern. They receive that “sacred cow”  and believe the child might grow out of it.  But something like this is a deeply embedded thing! And continuing this practice will wear you out!!!!

God has certainly made us and He fashioned us in our mother’s womb. We take the walk of faith daily and obey Him. Now there may some place we might trip, but certainly we get up, dust off the pride thing and know God can help us and our children when we bring these matters to God. Bringing light will dispel the darkness of where you or I may have messed up what God planned for us or for our children. God does not make your child gag!

God can change situations when we allow Him to change them. But pretending our child is just a gagger is like the one who says….”well , boys will be boys”. It is our God who makes the broken new again. He does not approve of boys to participate in water-boarding!

When we allow certain behavior that is not consistent with being righteous before God then we are condoning the false, perpetuating their problems into our lives. We are not to commend the ill bent person for behaving badly and to correct..........for choosing to ignore that bad attitude, then we allow it into our homes and into our children's lives.  God is not mocked, what man sows, he will reap. 

And some men or even women will find themselves in a greater hurt.
Water boarding seen in young boys and never stopped will increase and produce most likely death for another person at a later date!

Jesus gave us authority over sickness.Matthew 10:1-4.

10:1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb'edee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.   RSV

Jesus healed people because God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power .

Acts 10:38-43............RSV..........8 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."    

Healing for those who are oppressed of the devil is available to us. We have been clothed with power from on high. Hallelujah!

So, if you see some sickness caused by an unclean spirit, it is Christ's authority and power that is vital in healing for the person. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17

What that is of God is a spiritual "thing" is truth, is life and brings healing and much change in our lives. Jesus went to the Cross so all could have all the good of God today. It was and is the most marvelous life-changing and yes, life establishing gift a Father could give us. Let's  receive it by faith!

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Am Known By My Own

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Also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching at: 
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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Those Who Consider the Poor

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

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WELCOMING THE STRANGE!

In years long ago, our pastor made note to say some things about those who were the tattooed, those with pierced earrings, and etc. Now, some can complain about those things, and it is because they were not raised up with even a thought towards to putting a ring in the nose. I hated shots as a child. Today, I do not mind needles like for drawing blood as it has been a process to learn sometimes you have to have that shot for something or find out how the blood is doing, right? So some growth has been established in me in the regard to needles.
But in welcoming the strange, what does that look like?

And in some study, I reflect back on those like Jonah, John the Baptist and of course Elijah.
Welcoming the stranger to your meeting with God should be one where all experience God and His love. Our getting to know the stranger may mean we might need to know something of their culture, something of their background, ask the Lord in prayer how we might pray for them, and to pray how to embrace them when they come "to visit that first time." In meeting the new person, will we be the honest,  have the pleasant smile, speak clearly, and be a light of love? Will we be the free to be and look like Jesus to them? Will our eyes be lifted to glorify God or will our eyes be set on our agendas? Or will our thoughts be on "how many colors do they have in that one tattoo"?  In that style and loving way of hospitality, will we be a part of God's plan to bring these people joy and let them know they are welcome to abide with us in Jesus?  In the hearing of our God's heartbeat, we will move closer, not only to God and His plan, but also into that of welcoming the stranger!

Why do I say this? Let's look at Jonah. He was sent by God to Nineveh. He was to give them the "MESSAGE" to repent. He was the most reluctant to go and did everything possible to run the other direction.

Jonah 1:1-17
1:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

4 But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish." 7 And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, "Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?" 9 And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."

10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, "Why have you done this?" For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?"--for the sea was growing more tempestuous. 12 And he said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me." 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, "We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man's life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You." 15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows. 

17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. NKJV

Yes he died! He was swallowed by a great fish.

And in the scripture verses of Jonah 2:5-6

5 "I sank beneath the waves, and death was very near. The waters closed above me; the seaweed wrapped itself around my head. 6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains that rise from off the ocean floor. I was locked out of life and imprisoned in the land of death. But, O Lord my God, you have snatched me from the yawning jaws of death! 

TLB

Jonah 2:10

10 So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.  NKJV

When God really wants us to do something for Him, He will change some things so we come full circle to see Him and His plan for "others".

He was made alive again and probably had a lot to say, but foremost was the "message".

So by first of chapter three, he preached salvation. This man who died in the belly of probably a whale came out stinking like dead and rotted fish that had not been totally digested, and now covered in seaweed........preached the glad tidings. But he still held attitude against Nineveh. He became very angry. And he wanted to die. Jonah left the city, and camped outside. In Jonah 4:5 we read of his shelter and the Lord had a plant to grow where Jonah was at. But verse 7 tells us that a worm was prepared to take out the fine plant. Then one of those nasty, strong east winds blew and of course wiped out that plant.

In verse 9 of chapter 3 God speaks to Jonah. "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" And he said to God......."It is right for me to be angry, even to death!" 

BUT THE LORD; "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, not made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left-----and much livestock?"

God had chosen Jonah to go to the people. This city was a metropolis of the Assyrian monarchy. Although not as big as some cities today, it still had the size of some 48 miles across the great city. It was a city known to be heathen, and without knowledge and the worship of God. As time passed, this city's wickedness had come up to God. The alarm was to be sounded and the call went to Jonah!

Interesting that Jonah refused. He did not want to obey God. He objected because of the cruelty the people of Nineveh were known for and that was "they were terrorists"! They terrorized other people and other lands. Destruction was on the way to Nineveh and God wanted the people to be warned that there was the opportunity to "repent".

So the voice sent by God, Jonah, stunk of dead fish vomit. Yeah, that was a strange thing indeed!

ahh.......welcoming the STRANGE!

THEN we look into see John the Baptist, one clothed in camel hair......

Matthew 3:4-12

4 And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 

NKJV

Yes, the man was one of humility. He denied his own "me, myself and I" agendas to speak only of the one to come. He prepared the way for Jesus. He was characterized as a man of courage and of self-denial.He would not compromise!
 He would be one who was probably talked about a lot! 

"Well, you know that John.......he always wants to be alone" or "John is always yelling, and he really seems to have some issues with those Pharisees!"

He would be the one criticized of his clothing, and his time alone in the wilderness. He would be one others would complain about. He had a force that was "godly" and represented the importance of that which was to come through Jesus, the Messiah! Prepare you the way of the Lord.

What would we say about a John the Baptist today? What about those who dress differently, act differently, that come to a service or those who minster the Word of God there? Are we the quick to judge them? God has either called them to preach or He has destined them to meet up with you and me in the church setting,  minister the Word of God, have a time of prayer and experience the fullness of God together. 

Then I think of Elijah. Did some think him strange? Yes!

He was the prophet who served God. Even as today, the prophet is one who encourages the church goers to not only be transformed by the Word week in and week out, but also to not settle with the agenda, rule makers, and same 'ole thing. As the prophet, Elijah spoke and did things that was the markings of a prophet of God Himself. He was one sent to bring the comfortable out and awaken them. Elijah brought the fire wherever he went and to whoever he had to speak to in those days of his life. And he certainly brought the "pain", did he not? He did not compromise, but gave truth. He was confident in knowing his God.

Yes, it was about "fire".

Not about the strange fire that man can do to initiate his own plan in the earth. But the fire that falls from heaven is that which ignites a town to become the place where the word of God is given, and prayers are answered. It is a place of the revival where people, of all colors, all ethnic backgrounds come together by the power of the Holy Spirit and do the unusual. It is the place where people meet to see others saved, to bless God loudly and see people become responsible for what is their responsibilities where they live, work and play.

Fire represents the holiness of God and is the place found at the altar built by the one who seeks to glorify God. It is that place where one is subjected to the discipline of knowing God and His truth that is spiritual. What we do for God is not by natural materials, but by the Spirit of the Living God! We are to be the obedient and welcome the strange into our lives. The strange is that which is holy unto God for all people are created by Him and for Him. The strange is that which is NOT done by rigorous schedules, an implied and strict code of rules to get to His presence. It is allowing our hearts to draw near to Him in worship and in truth. And it is the place where we will see what those did in the days of Elijah, the days of John the Baptist, and of Jesus Himself. It is where we are measured to that which Jesus established when we are truly disciplined in Him and by Him. Sometimes there is going to be some "pain". And will be that which may look different and sound somewhat different than us.

If they come with purple hair and camel hair clothes, will we welcome them? 

Noah built a boat that took how many years (decades) and when he finished he loaded some animals of nature to take along with him. And he was the obedient! For whatever we think we might have heard about someone, some race, some culture, we need to seek God and His fire to see what is our responsibility to those coming, the teacher, the prophet, the guest with tattoos and a nose ring as well. Lord, what can we pray today that will help us move with the motion of God that is teaching us, growing us up into His image and to help us welcome the strange when it is upon us. For everyone needs Jesus and we all need to obey the Lord's leading! Amen.

Today ask God what strategy you will need in that business meeting with others who do exactly as you do but do not have Jesus. What truth can you do business in and still have that which others will notice? Ask God to direct you through His Word and into His heart how others can be touched by love from God that may seem "the different", the unusual. Ask the Father to show how your speaking to others will spark a fire in them to come out of the comfort zone and embrace the heat and fire of a new life in adventures for God.


Father, thank You for the strange. We have seen them in such creatures of the sea. I am in awe of the black shark that is giving off a fluorescent glow in the dark deep waters of the sea.  I thought there were only white sharks! Now that is lighting the dark in a new way. 

Show us Lord how to touch those with the simple style You made us to be in Your image. Show us what growing we might need in some area we have overlooked and help us embrace that which will bring change in how we reach others for Jesus, in work, in church meetings, on the school ground or in the classrooms and in business meetings.
For Jonah surely captured those he ministered to with seaweed stuck to his clothes and with that dry sticky smell of vomit. Elijah brought others who were conforming to the worlds ideas and idolatry, but what can we bring to the table today that will bring people back around to seeing Jesus. For You LORD have called us in righteousness and You will take hold of our hand. It is You Who keeps us and makes us to be a covenant people and light for the Gentiles to open blind eyes and to set captives free from prison and to release those from the dungeon who sit in darkness.(Isaiah 42:6-7)

We ask in Jesus name. May You be blessed today Lord and May YOUR light shine through us today to the stranger. Amen.

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

UNPRETENTIOUS

1 Samuel 17:31-37...............31 Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. 32 Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." 34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"
1 Samuel 17:38-39
38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor, and he tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off.  NKJV

I have not tested this sword. I have not tested this armor.
"I have not tested them,"......So David took them off!

In the blog I wrote on..."A Zealous Warrior at Dawn, or in the Dark of Night"....inspired by the Holy Spirit to write on that test in wilderness and of the heart!  Like David, out with the sheep,  we can see everything tested in the "wilderness" . I, too, think our hearts are measured in that place like David's was tested. God always comes to check our motives, our devotion, our faith, our relationship with Him and with others. David's skill came from what he used in the "wilderness" of what he had on or in his hand. He had to lean on God alone.

David wrote Psalm 139, and many believe it was written while David was still just a shepherd herding sheep. They believe he wrote it about the.....scene in which he wrote and sang it to God.
For a moment, let's think on the darkness of night and the lights that shine are displayed on the black velvet sky. Let's think on what David probably viewed in the midnight hour, in the solitude, where even the quiet seems loud. For in that moment we can feel that darkness wrap its cover over us. It is in those moments when we note God's omniscience, His omnipresence, and of course of His omnipotence!

Omniscience: 1 Samuel 2:3.............3 "Talk no more so very proudly;
Let no arrogance come from your mouth,..For the LORD is the God of knowledge;
And by Him actions are weighed. .NKJV

Isaiah 46:9-10..........9 Remember the former things of old,   For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 

10 Declaring the end from the beginning,  NKJV

Psalm 139:4.............4 For there is not a word on my tongue,..But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. NKJV

Omnipresence:  Jeremiah 23:23-24.......23 "Am I a God near at hand," says the LORD,

"And not a God afar off? 

24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places,  So I shall not see him?" says the LORD;

"Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the LORD.   NKJV

Proverbs 15:3.....3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,  Keeping watch on the evil and the good.  NKJV

Psalm 139:5.............You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. NKJV

Omnipotent: Luke 1:37........ 37 For with God nothing will be impossible."  NKJV

Jeremiah 10:12........12 He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.  NKJV

Isaiah 43:13.....13 Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?"  NKJV

Colossians 1:16-17.............16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven & that are on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him & for Him. 17 And He is before all things, & in Him all things consist. NKJV

What has been tested when no one sees, when it is just you and God, that is the "thing" God will bring forward in your life?  But Shelley, I have tested nothing. I have not worked on anything and brought it to God!
Do you read the Word of God diligently? Do you ask God about certain scriptures or passages, for He will certainly answer you on them!
"How do you act at the workplace?" Are you giving or taking? (are you taking care of your job and seeing you do your best at it?)   "How do you act around your family"? Is your family surprised when they take you out to church or to a party for a friend? Do you act different when others you do not know are around? "How do you treat your husband or children?" Are they treated the same in a social setting as visiting in someone's home, out to the theater for a movie, etc.?  Is God surprised when you show up for church? How about if God is surprised when you speak in a gentle voice?  As we read in the scriptures above, God created, nothing is impossible with Him, His eyes keep watch on you and me, He knows the evil and the good, and everything I do or you do is weighed by HIM!
David said in Psalm 139...23-24...search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24............23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;  24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.  NKJV

To test something or....To prove it...

David was going against a giant, Goliath, who spoke defiantly against God! (see in  1 Samuel 22-27, 31-54) 

What skills do we hold in the "wilderness" area? Will we search the Word to find what God has already done in the lives of so many? Or would we rather find that remote control and just hibernate and allow another to voice something to us of the world. I like movies too, but there is a fine line we can cross if we are not cautious about what we put before our eye gates!
I found that like a student from 1st grade to graduating the 12th, I loved to study. I liked having plenty of paper, pens and pencils with good erasers. I loved looking in encyclopedias and searching in many informational books I needed for some classes. So, when I started praying in Tongues, (that Baptism in the Holy Spirit) I began to look into the Word of God that perfect law of liberty and find my place. As I did, I kept praying, and found myself leading in places I didn't know I could do!

1 Samuel 17:39-54...........And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off. 

40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" 45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands." 

48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. 53 Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. NKJV

1 Corinthians 1:31... Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  NIV

Amen and Amen! Making our boast in the Lord, like David, he made his boast, used his sling shot and stone, and in the end, carried the giant's head to Jerusalem and the armor he put into his tent. David had drawn the sword from the sheath of Goliath and used Goliath's own sword against him!

UNPRETENTIOUS: Modest, Without Ego, Not Proud, No "flash in the pan", Sincere, HONEST, and BOLD!

David's confidence that he stood with God. He said ," I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." "This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and wild beasts of the earth, that ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW THAT THERE IS A GOD IN ISRAEL. THEN ALL THE ASSEMBLY SHALL KNOW THAT LORD DOES NOT SAVE WITH SWORD OR SPEAR; FOR THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S AND HE WILL GIVE YOU INTO OUR HANDS."

David took care of what he did in the "wilderness" and he got a training in trusting God. He kept his life attached to the God of life, the God of more than enough, the God who does the impossible, and weighs our actions.

Can we like David run to the place where there is a battle going on? Do we not see them everywhere today? Is there something that I have been trained to do in the "wilderness" that qualifies me to take up that which I can use against the enemy of the devil and speak, "NO MORE devil!" Can I move through the crowd and NOT throw my weight around so to speak, but move through like Stealth and take the place that is being bombarded by the devil.? Can we move through our day and speak life over individuals who may never walk into a church setting, but will listen when you speak, because you deal in truth and honesty. They will listen because you speak in love and not to bash someone! In truth I am ready to pray for someone, unless there are more leaders who are over me or who I do not know, say in a church setting and must wait for directions from the pulpit, but if I am out for the day with my husband, we pray for those opportunities that we may seize them and pray for someone in need of encouragement!

All is  not for my glory, but for God's glory.

In closing I mention David's brother, Eliab. In 1 Samuel 17:28-29....when David has first arrived and all the shouting has begun........(1 Sam 17:24-25...........24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 25 So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel." NKJV).....................................we find, that all the men of Israel had fled from him (the giant). (yes, those military men) And it was told what the man would get who would go against the giant Goliath!

In the verses 28-29, we see Eliab aroused to anger against David. ...........he said, "why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."

My question: Why would a military man be envious of David at this point? Was it because David saw it and was ready to take action against it? Was he addressing what needed to be said and done in the power of God? Was Eliab still angered because David had been anointed with a horn of oil by the prophet in 1 Samuel 16:13?
For the Lord certainly refused Eliab........in verses 7-8 of 1 Samuel 16..........But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his 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."

No, God was looking on the heart, and David's was found with God.

God was leading David, and no man got a say, even a military man with some expertise under "his belt" so to speak.  And speaking that David had pride and insolence in his heart was so out of line with what God was showing and doing in Israel through David, the shepherd! Eliab was saying, "David, you are prideful and you are arrogant!" But David was none of those things. David was making his boast in the Lord. There is a lot of difference when standing for truth and justice for all.
It is not being haughty but having a boldness in heart to have courage to stand against the enemy!

God was directing David, because David loved God, had a heart after God and would not settle for less!
David showed up at the right place, at the right time, and would operate in the power of God. David was skilled with the sling and had his five stones. (one for every brother of Goliath, and Goliath himself). We read where David ran to Goliath!
David was the instrument of justice and was ready to face the injustice against Israel. Will we do as much? David was moving into plain view, for people to see and witness God. David had no pretense. They have this undaunted courage from the times they spend with God and hearing Him. They are not discouraged but they keep moving forward. THEY ARE ARMED WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD!

David wrote in Psalm 34:2....I will make my boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice...and in Jeremiah  9:23-24.....................23 This is what the LORD says:

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
 declares the LORD.  NIV


Father, we pray in  Jesus' name to not be wise man who boasts in his wisdom or the strong man who boasts of his strength or of the rich man boasting of all his riches. But we desire to boast in the Lord. It is YOU who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth and in these do you delight. We pray to be diligent to seek You and hear You. We pray to strong and determined to find YOUR thoughts and ways for our lives. For we truly desire to walk in truth and to have a boldness as David did in confronting Goliath. Lord lead us by Your Holy Spirit and help us to see that which must be addressed by us. We pray to be those who are skilled in that which we are about to walk in, faithful to keep our walk with you, considerate of others, and ready to pray for others when the need arises. May we shut out all other voices that do not pertain to where we are going and what You have planned for us. Right now, we give You all the praise and thanks for allowing us to be apart of this great end time move in the harvest for souls. Amen.


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