The Ability to Say NO

There are times we must say "NO"!

Proverbs 13: 16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool lays open his folly.

Proverbs 13:16 Message Bible: A commonsense person lives good sense; fools litter the country with silliness.

He who follows after the Lord considers the path set before him. We are to act in each step of life in the knowledge of God. We are not to act on what the local news is giving if it operates in false news. Our God is spirit and truth and He will lead us on level paths in His peace and truth!

Proverbs 2:11 Discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, 12 to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, 13 from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; 

Understanding that   discretion will facilitate a way of escape from those who are evil, who speaks perverse things, it will also preserve us from those who choose to walk away from upright behavior into the ways of darkness! Those who compromise will be either male or female.   

Of the female: Proverbs 11:22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion. (taste) Yes, that discretion is like taste. It is what taste we have for fine furniture, fine dining or what is considered that which wealth can buy for the most elegant tastes in luxury living with penthouses, jets, and big yachts! Still God is to lead us in that which is discrete. He directs us by leading us to hear Him. That will appear as the Shepherd leads us by still waters, to lie down in green grass where our needs are met without the extra hassle of adding extra expense to taking care of all the luxury when the greatest gift is God's Son to us. Things are good but they should not have us, but we should have them and limit the amount of them in our lives when it proves to appear as an important priority in our lives that includes the extreme in luxury and prestige. For in this man can fall into the pride thing indeed!

 Of the male: Proverbs 19:11 the discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Discretion of a man is to make him slow to anger and it mentions that his glory is to overlook a transgression!

In the New Birth (John 3:3) those of the New testament …and us who have received Jesus as Lord, have repented sin, and have the Holy Spirit. And by the Holy Spirit of Grace we walk in the Spirit and we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. As we read of in Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

It is the Holy Spirit Who will subdue the lust of the flesh when we continually submit ourselves to His power and to His control!

Reading again Proverbs 16:32, it does not say “He who never gets angry is better than the mighty”. It says that “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty!

Jesus got Angry: Mark 11:15-16 NKJV So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Luke 19:45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it.   In this Jesus was cleansing the temple: the priests had benefited financially by vendors and dishonest practices to put money in their pockets. It was using business in the temple area! Jesus took an authority to say NO to that which interrupted the House of Prayer. Business is to be done outside. The relationship with God is our prayer life and anything that intrudes on that is out of order and out of bounds!

          

Commanded to Be Angry without Sinning: Ephesians 4:26 “ Be angry, and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” As  Christians, we are to avoid intense wrath.  That raging wrath is a desire for revenge. It is of an intense passion that can “kill”.

Wisdom Keeps Anger under Control: Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. Solomon made an observance of anger: Ecclesiastes 7:9 do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.  James 1:19-20 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

We are to listen before we speak. We keep anger under the control of the Holy Spirit. In that respect we appear as the wise! Let's understand that any help from God is a plus for you and me. When we stay connected, we can ask Him to show us things we need to know and ask about those things that conflict with His word. We know that human beings can be unreliable. One writer wrote they blow hot and cold! And that is true if you have been alive as long as I have been. They are those who have their self-interests and sometimes they can align with what God is doing but other times it is the heart issue if they are deciding to go for self-satisfaction.

Psalm 146:3   NKJV   3 Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.

Those who might have titles or listed as the leader may not always have the best interests in mind for those involved in goal setting, financial aspects of spending too much and lack of counsel. They will most likely have their personal agenda and possible political goals to chase after. They will desire to spend too much and put a cap on that counsel!

But God, however, is the greatest Leader in this world and all the other world's He created! The "I AM" in our midst is always about what is best for us. It is the level path where the light grows brighter to the full light of day. Moreover, He is always faithful to what He has promised (I Corinthians 1:9), so if we go to Him and ask Him for help that He has pledged to us, He will give it.

In the New Birth, we regained sanity! And we certainly know from scripture that it is the fool who rejects God and not the wise man or wise men. Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, "there is no God." They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.
And in keeping with sanity, we replace or put in what is of God! We put in spirit and truth. We also know of "right mind" listed in Mark 5:15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

Can you imagine that when people are in their right minds, those who have Jesus as Lord can scare those who do not have Jesus?
This man who had been taken over by demons was now in his right mind, dressed and seated and he scares folks! So being or having self-control is that where our thoughts and actions align with the Lord's thoughts and ways. For that which was not controllable is now under control.

When evil is revealed it is seen in those who cannot control their desires. We have heard of this "madness" that is seen today in the streets of every large city in this country. It is seen in those where crime of the criminal is listed as their profile. Yet we have a living way of God that is revealed in the life of Christ Jesus, where the captives are set free. Within that it is almighty God Who provides the right mind to produce the fruit of Spirit.

I do not want to be the fool who litters the country with silliness. I desire to make a difference that speaks God is in my life, I have on the full armor of God and I set my mind and heart on things that are above and not scattered around my feet. I will know that which God reveals as the path in which to walk and I will have the ability to speak "NO" to the enemy and rise like an edifice in my faith walk, knowing God is with me because He has called me to this day and to this walk by faith in Him. Amen.

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Paying it Forward

Proverbs 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has slaughtered her meat,
She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5 "Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.
NKJV

Hebrews 3:3-6

 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. 

NKJV

Building anything takes a lot of time and hard, sweaty work! It costs you something to build. If you have something that you did not labor with, then I would doubt it is really yours.

We are told wisdom has built her house.

She has hewn out her seven pillars. Our family built a garage once when our daughter was in Jr. High School. We had needed an extra garage and had ample room to build another. We got the permit and started to get the lumber and siding, plus rafters and roofing material. Yes, it was labor intensive. The foundation was poured, and allowed to set some two-three week time. Then the actual work began. I was not the person who could to those high places when placing the rafters. I left that entirely to my husband and daughter.  They had no problem dealing with high places. I did help with hanging the siding. The day finally came for the paint job to match the house and I could participate in that job.

In that scripture that we read above about Moses as the prophet spoke about that which concerned the plan for the Tabernacle and all that God had given him to do. And Moses was faithful to do that which God commanded him to do. And for a testimony of those which would be spoken afterward.....that he followed God and His plan!

Yes, anything worthwhile will take some time, money, and lots of sacrifice in time. It is committing oneself to the task ahead.

We see from the scripture passage above, that Wisdom has built her house and has hewn out her seven pillars. Many years ago, we had a pastor who had some of those fancy pillars placed inside the sanctuary on the platform........as to decorate with, but also to give people the picture of what beauty those pillars displayed, and how when we keep that which is God's Word will keep us in the fear of the Lord.

We spent much time on studying those passage of that Wisdom and studied that attributes which comprise Wisdom. We find those listed in the earlier chapter 8 and verse 12-14. See below:

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  

The Message Bible says this: Proverbs 8:12-21...."I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next to Sanity; Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street. The Fear-of-God means hating Evil, whose ways I hate with a passion-----pride and arrogance and crooked talk. Good counsel and common sense are my characteristics; I am both Insight and the Virtue to live it out.
With my help, leaders rule, and lawmakers legislate fairly; With my help, governors govern, along with all in legitimate authority. I love those who love me; those who look for me, find me.Wealth and Glory accompany me---also substantial Honor and a Good Name. My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary; the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus. You can find me on Righteous Road----that's where I walk-----at the intersection of Justice Avenue, Handing out life to those who love me, filling their arms with life----armloads of life!



Paying it forward is giving that wisdom to those who are still young and learning. That paying it forward is doing for another, and who you may not know personally. They speak about "paying it forward" today and generally refers to someone ahead of you in line that is buying you a coffee at a drive-up window at known coffee place or even someone paying the "toll" for you when going across a Toll Bridge, but that paying it forward was something that was done way back in the 20th century. Doing something for someone who needs the help, or just to do something they did not expect you to do and never know your face. There were instances when I saw one farmer bring in the "neighbor's crop" when said neighbor was too sick to work. Yes, that crop came in due to someone else who cared about their neighbor and his family!

We can do that for our "kids" and grandchildren as well! We can equip them with the Word of Wisdom that will establish them permanently in God's house of Wisdom.

First, you must speak it over them. When they hear you speak that way, they will be getting to the roadway to go somewhere with God. And the more you speak it over your children, and they hear, it is getting planted in them. They have to be given opportunities to help around the house and when at church or even in working at an event to reach people for Jesus.

As I sometimes tell our grand-daughter is that her Mom is not the maid and is not cleaning up after her. Children must be shown how to care for themselves and their siblings and to see about good for others.  My routine growing up was to see that my sister was up and preparing to dress for school. But the rest was left to my Mom. She prepared the breakfast and then drove us to school. But my responsibility was to keep watch at school for my little sister. Yes, that was work. She was very active on the playground. And as we got older, I still tried to watch out for her.  It was planted in me to think about her first and then myself. And in truth, I still watch over her today in prayer.

Paying it forward, is giving our family and those around a taste of what God desires for us all!
AND second, I have learned over the years, that knowing wisdom and instruction looks much like correction. It is that which is always aligning ourselves with God's thoughts and ways. We must always have the Word of God to have the complete picture of what God desires for us and those who follow after us!

Do we or our children act more like the "cave man" and have no special place to walk or journey through life? Are our lives flat, without zest or any appeal to others that God is real in our lives?
Or are we "the silent ones" and our kids cannot figure out if we are the sulking, or just plain cruel and desire to keep to "ourselves"?

 In reading about Israel, they were those who were God's chosen. They were meant to act like He desired them to act and that was according to truth. They were those who "like those in Jericho saw" and heard that God was with them and many miracles were done. And those of Jericho lost courage.

Joshua 2:2-14
2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land."

4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." 6(But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.  11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."

14 "Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land."
NIV

People should see us as being the "peculiar". When we follow God and His plan we have every instruction of God before us and before our eyes. In applying His wisdom, justice, judgment and equity we flourish. Are people melting with fear when you come into a place............not because you are "the bully" or your kids act that way, but because God is with you? Does anyone say to you, "your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below"?

In spending time with Wisdom, we become that house with seven pillars........the full .....the satisfied. We are the built and the permanent!
Reaching back into the book of Amos and in the fifth chapter, the prophet tells us in verse 24 to "let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. We are not to be those out for justice, but those who know God seek the other's good by doing justice.

Having a heart of prudence seeks the knowledge of God.

John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
NKJV

 It is that truth which you abide and become very familiar with. You live it, and breath it everyday. You speak it over your children, over your circumstances and live to see a bright future.

Forsake foolishness and live! (verse 6) Go in the way of Understanding. Yes, our foundation scripture from Proverbs 9, speaks of going in the way of understanding.
Let's get that Word of Wisdom spoken over them, and rehearse in their hearing. So that when they are the grown, the young adult, they will seek in doing justice that is God's way. It will be that which looks nothing like the world's way of doing justice.

Paying it forward is blessing another. Will we do it for our "kids" and grand-children? For me and mine, we have voice and we give "vision" today for them that is that which is God's idea and plan. That prescribed plan, is that which we write out today as "a vision" for their lives and to see it manifested. Their future will be upon them very soon. And we speak: as to make as of a fire.........and we see that God's Will come as a gate opening.  
To me , writing the vision is the same as writing out that prayer for someone or something of which we are believing for at this moment. In respect to writing it down, I like the word prescribe, given as a meaning. As a Dr. would prescribe something in the form of medicine. One might have need of taking it to get control of an issue in the body. So likewise taking a prescribed Word of God and taking it, (speaking it) every day will change things. Right? So make it plain so that others might know what you are believing! Take it, write it out and show it to your husband, or maybe a mentor, a sister or even a brother. Say it loud! Proclaiming it, is to speak it day and night. It will come and will be known by others. And a gate will be opened. It will be a a supernatural gate, and will have life in it for the one you have spoke for. May our offspring delight the Lord! May they have regard for Him all the days of their lives. May they flourish by streams of living water that brings forth fruit in their season.....not to that which is of the fool....to destruction and death, but that which brings glory to God. May it be that which they still bear fruit in their old age, to be the fresh and the green. (Psalm 92:12-15) And may they proclaim: "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock and there is no wickedness in him.'" NIV

Father, in Jesus Name, we pray for greater wisdom and power for our children and grand-children today according to Ephesians 1:18-19...that the eyes of their heart being flooded with light, so that they can know how rich is His glorious inheritance  in the saints (His set apart ones). And so they can know and  understand what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength. May they abide with discernment, that approval of what is excellent, filling with the fruits of righteousness.......according to Philippians 1:9-11...so that they will surely learn what is vital and approve and prize what is excellent and real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that they may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [ so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, they may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]. May they abound in fruits of righteousness to the glory of God. May they have the knowledge of God's will, a life pleasing to God, with fruitfulness and endurance, with patience and joy (Col. 1:9-12) May they have a love for God in the steadfastness of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5). May they be established in every good word and work according to 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 that speaks this: Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through [His] grace (unmerited favor). Father, we also pray that their participation in and sharing of their faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good [thing] that is ours in [identification with] Christ Jesus [and unto His glory].
Father, now may Your peace [Who is the Author and Giver of Peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament), strengthen (complete, perfect) and make them what they ought to be and equip them with everything good that they may carry out YOUR will, [while he Himself] works in them and accomplishes that which pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ,(the Messiah);  (Hebrews 13:20-21)..........................to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages. Amen (so be it)

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