Going Out to See

Are we going out to see, because we have to run errands? Are we going out to see, because we heard something going on? Or are we going out to see just because we can!
Luke 7:24-35
24 After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

"'I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.'

28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

29(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

31 "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

"'We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.'

33 For John The Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
NIV


Going out to see! Taking a real look in the here and now of protests, marches, and many gatherings with many speakers, it is quite an endeavor for those participating. But what did you go out to see?
You can hear all kinds of stories for going out to see! And sometimes those who want to go "see" find themselves in the middle of "harm's way"!

In the time of John the Baptist, people came to hear him speak. He spoke of the kingdom that had come. He talked of the one who was right behind him, and whose sandals he could not lace up.
John had a real relationship with God. He recognized Jesus when He came, and he proved to walk with faith much like Jesus. Severe indeed is the walk John had with the Lord. It cost him his head.
There is a day coming if you read the Bible and it's description of latter day happenings is detailed, but those who love God are the secure.
Those (people) who come in later after the tribulation has started, well, they will have a greater and straighter walk in salvation to walk, and yes, by reading that walk will cost greatly!
Yes, many speakers speak today. They call up marches, and more protests. And if they find no one listening, they keep moving till they find someone who will hear them. Peace will always look like peace done in peaceful ways. But chaos still presents more chaos and sometimes harm and great violence to some or to many people!

I came from a large family and that most of the siblings related to my dad all lived fairly close to one another. They lived in the same town for many years. For us, our family appeared as the 'black sheep" of that family. Not sure why that happened. They are awesome people. They worked hard just like we did. Well, we came to live there when the elder family leader was in poor health.  In that short time of high school period, we came to reside in the same town only to leave again. Our lives surely changed. And in the case of divorces, and of "grown" family,.......you would say "grown", proved our family did not exist in the way it had previous decades to 1970. And in that divorce, the family I knew was sent into 4 different directions.

In our married life, my husband and I encountered many moves. In our first years away from the "home" after our high school years, we encountered a couple of the big cities. And in that encounter we also encountered what would be: long lines of vehicles to get gas for a gas shortage that was on-going in the mid seventies. Then the meat cutters went on strike. And then around the meat cutter's "thing", the dairy folks followed suit. Yes, 4 a.m. it was to "be there" in line to put gas in car, only to leave there and get to the grocery store where crossing lines seemed endless just get to get that gallon of milk that was possibly delivered by "scabs"! NO, we did not call them that. And we certainly prayed for their safety, those men who kept working to deliver all milk products to the grocery stores of that great city. Yes there were those who continued to work, and deliver milk through all obstacles of picket lines, barriers, loud voices, mega phones and the such. Our daughter was barely two and we were making sure she had some meat and some milk. Of course, today giving anyone milk is hazardous. Many people have come to find that they have some kind of lactose intolerance. Well, we still have half and half served here. And it is good in hot cereal!

Going out to see is really living life! In any part of this great country, you can and will come in contact with the most fascinating people. But going out just to see what is going on can prove down right bad for some.  And in some cases, some may just get caught up in what is going on in that which goes viral on the Internet or on T.V.  Being sucked in by so many emotions flaring at once can prove so detrimental to many people.

Crossing those lines can mean life and death to some. Still in the time of Jesus, they faced many opportunities that was hazardous to the health of a person.  Taking sides is important in that we stay with Him Who created and planned. Holding firm to His hand and finding our place is vital. And in it we discover what is important and what is just passing. People can be so funny at times and then be so painfully hurt and so needy the next.
In writing this today, I think of those who hid out when Jesus had been resurrected and took His place in heaven. He appeared and was alive. He had to go into locked houses and rooms to get to the people who knew Him probably the best.
Men hid out when Jesus was put in the tomb. But a woman, Mary by name, came to push a big stone out of the way. Yet, when she arrived the stone was moved. Amazing how God helps you even in the midst of trials. Women were coming to wrap Jesus up, and His body was not found. Amazement! Yes. Problems.....for the military, yes.
Our finding peace in a chaotic world is only found in Jesus. Jesus came to get involved. He did not come to accommodate our culture. He did come to set up His kingdom.

In the time of John the Baptist you find a man on fire to preach about His coming. In that same mode, you find many coming to receive and ready tell others of the "same coming One".
Jesus and John knew the same kingdom. John recognized Jesus as the Coming One! And the religious community showed up to make a comment about it.
It was in the wilderness, it was rugged, and dusty. A river flowed through it and many a man, woman and child stepped into that icy water to "repent" for their sins.

When was the last "call" for repentance at your church? Does anyone talk about it anymore? Is it not a part of the service any more?
In raising families in this century, it will be done in detail that will bring praise to God and His name. Yes lines will be crossed. What barriers are across in your thoroughfare?
Lines must be crossed in those areas that present work at home and work outside. People must provide meals for their loved ones and cross lines that present maybe danger. And the woman, the mother will cross any barriers to keep children out of harm. And she will not deliberately send her child out to the mouth's of lions. A woman will do what it takes to protect the children.
In our way, we see it in prayer. We can reach so many with His Word. We can touch hearts in prayer today by just pleading the Blood of Jesus over our sisters and brother's in Christ. Going to look to find "danger", to find "the chaotic" is just wrong. Society involves a whole group of individuals with different backgrounds and different lives!

 Whether it was stormy on the day you were born or just a sunny day should not matter what affects your life today. Many things can and will occur in our lifetimes. The oil glut hit the U.S. many times. But the 70's ring more of get in line at 4 am, please, than say the 80's ever did. Yet, I meet people from time to time that can tell me how they and theirs was impacted by something such as an oil glut in the eighties! At some point some lines were crossed.
But going out to take care of your own, is not about taking from anyone else. And in the case of Jesus and His body, well the gang showed up to wrap His body for burial. BUT IT WAS NOT NEEDED!

Jesus moved throughout the community and region to tell of His father's love and how people had to believe Him to be the One sent. Salvation was present!

John met the "travelers", he met the poor and possibly those inferior to the palace life IN THE CITY. In this "kingdom" Jesus considered those in the background, those considered as Mary Wallpaper, the hidden, the unwanted. The clearest evidence we have is that the religious men of that day refused the baptism John performed in the Jordan River. They were not giving up their positions to Jesus or John or anyone like them! YIKES!
ALL THEY NEEDED TO DO WAS CROSS A LINE FOR SALVATION AND LIVE FOREVER WITH JESUS!


Jesus concluded with this:
Luke 7:31-35
31 "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

"'We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.'

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children." NIV

For one group they desired the wedding party. They desired to party! For the other group, well, they came to mourn and be sorrowful, in (life) it is a funeral to them. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine and they considered him demonic.

The amplified Bible has it this way: The son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, Behold, a Man Who is a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and notorious sinners. Yet wisdom is vindicated (show to be true and divine) by all her children [their life, character, and deeds].

Joining with others to worship God is commanded in the Word. To join in bringing information is wonderful, but joining to bring chaos and death is not right, is not the given, and is not of God. God is peace and in His Light we will see light. And His light dispels darkness that may be covering our eyes.

I close with this. Had this dream: went into a church building. Was asked,"what can I do you for?"
And saw the young man had something like a rainbow color of match sticks in his hand.
I asked him, "what are you talking about?"
He responds raising up his match sticks...........and he was proud of those sticks.
Well, he said,  holding up a green stick. ""This is green for doing nothing.." "So with this color you should go and be seated in service."
He holds up the blue match stick. "With this, he said, "you have the 20 minute Message". "follow your way that way to the blue stick".
He then held the yellow........"this is for the Sunday School .....30 minutes now," "and you have worship, sprinkled with Word and song/giving.
"But I have only a few of the yellow sticks left. ' "I have three green sticks left and only one of the brown.........."that is for security".

"LOTS of the men like to grab the brown for security and walk the parking lot for an hour or two."
I replied, "really?"
Then he holds up another color. "ORANGE, yeah man, this is Worship". We have very few of those sticks left as well."
Then he holds the purple colored stick. "This is for prayer....before service and after service." We have lots of prayer sticks in purple!"

THEN HE URGES ME TO PICK A SPOT AND MOVE TO THAT PLACE!
Our going to church should not be exactly like going to war. It should NOT be like finding our niche' in just getting through a church service. CROSSING LINES is moving into areas the devil will not go. Crossing lines is about obeying God and doing it no matter how it sounds. AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE OF ORDER AND WITHOUT SWEAT AND WORRY.
IF you worry, then you must find more time to turn to God and fine tune your hearing. It is not about finding where the latest craze has hit the internet, but what you can do to pray for our community, our state and our nation to continue to become all that God intended and it is not to find the orange match stick of worship. Every step we take with God, every decision of our heart should be to influence others to partake in seeing and hearing God: not in rituals or with the "buds" but because we go to honor God where He desires us to be.

Wisdom is vindicated (show to be true and divine) by all her children [their life, character, and deeds]. To worship Him, is to be in spirit and in truth. Our life, our character, and our deeds will certainly shine out for we are on the Lord's side!
Are you on the Lord's side?

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

www.godsgoodnessandlove.com

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published:

AUTHORITY: HIS WISDOM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpvmfoKg98s

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

The Content of the Fool or The Capable Freind

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." quote: Martin Luther King Jr.

I remember the day this gentleman spoke those words. Being a young teen, I could not understand why people could not get along with one another. I knew this man to be a 'pastor' and one who spoke a lot differently than any pastors I had ever known. Yes, this man spoke about life and he spoke about a nation of people living in unity with one another.

The major thing I took from his speech was the above and I thought about it this morning. There have been many church channels carrying it. And in giving it to the "viewer" the importance is stated we must live in unity.
We had church last night and what a time with the Lord and having the opportunity to stop the teaching and pray for a lady officer and the young man with her. And they came in after our "service" had started. Yes, would you stop your "service" to minister to those who walked in off the street? We surely must pray for the Police Officers who police our communities and in that serving, we as the residents can sleep at night!

Yes, there was all ages and a beauty of color and how God worked it all together for those who love God............to those who are the called according to His purpose. (not the plans of man, intentions of those around you or me, not according to circumstances of your vehicle, job, kids or other family, not according to man, but ...according to God's purpose!)

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. NKJV

Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke "out of his heart" that his children would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. 

And that is the way our Father in heaven expects. And that judgment takes place according to the character of your heart and my heart!

What do we hold there in that place we think is hidden from the world?

I see 'protests' today and many speaking loudly of this great man of the 20th century. A man who spoke with the wisdom of God and..........spoke always from his heart. It was his heartfelt words of love, peace and unity that carries to this day. Yet, it was something that cost him his life, just like that of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is all about the content of our "character".

Oh yes, what we harbor in our hearts is seen and heard throughout the year. What we desire, those hurts and even tragedies can be seen and heard decades after the occurrence. Yet we can all bring it to God...........casting it upon Him.

1 Peter 5:6-9
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.   NKJV

Casting something out, away from us can be hard to do. And the main thing from the above scripture is the humbling of ourselves under His mighty Hand. We are to be discreet. That is: to be soft and gentle, to be restrained in walking circumspectly in our speech and in our actions! We remain in His power when we remain in Him and speak as Jesus would speak.


Our pleasing God is making the right choice to do right and receive His praise. The knowledge of God, which is instilled as a gift, compels or constrains one to depart from evil. In other words, it leads one to keep the commandments of God.
Martin Luther King, Jr saw this for his children and for his entire family. He spoke out of the abundance of his heart that was of God and of God alone. His course was set in truth and died because of it. Yet, people still remember of what he spoke of and believed. When God rules our hearts, it shows!

When our hearts are set to obey Him, it will show on the outside of us. That is: what is in your heart will be seen by others see on the outside. It is seen in our conduct.

Departing from evil is paramount for our lives to remain in the peace of God. Being humble before. God is taken into account as we live our life for God in every circumstance, in every aspect, and in every situation, and by choosing His way, we learn to hate evil and to love to do what is right, good, and pleasing to God! Godly living is the fear of the Lord!

If the fear of God is to hate evil, then the fear of God is also to love a godly way of life. The fear of the Lord is filled with moral content. It is a good life where people live in unity and not by playing the "blame game".

Those who abide in God will be the faithful. They are the honest, the happy, the loving, patient, kind, persistent, and satisfied. They seek to honor another. They seek that for others no matter their color or creed. And of course the other side looks like this: they are the selfish, the rude, the grumpy, the dishonest, the wicked, the mean, the unforgiving. And in children one can see if they are the rowdy, the rude, the playful, the fidgety, the funny, the adventurous, the stubborn or the non submissive.

Our belief is to be in God and humbled before Him. When we stay in His kingdom of rule, we abide in His truth, see His justice prevail in our lives, and seek it for others. When we know how much we are loved by Him, we cannot help but please Him.

I believe we pleased Him greatly on Thursday night. We stopped our service to do His bidding for this police officer. Our duty is toward God and His plan, not only for our lives but for those around us who may be: the broken, the abandoned, the weary and the fearful. Can we move into that place to put God first and let Him have His way in everything we do, even in a church setting?

I also believe that people we did not know were touched by God. And His touch means everything. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke a truth and it still rings out today. 

In closing:

Life's most persistent and urgent question, is "What are you doing for others"?

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. 

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.

quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Notice:
The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: Rebuilding The Temple of Praise-Prayer

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

On the Road to Emmaus

Have you ever had a dream and see it come to nothing? Did you have have a desire to complete something and it seemed to ravel and fizzle out? Have you wanted to do something great for God and the vision was there and the dreams, yet it failed to come to pass?
Have you ever been on the road to Emmaus, meaning "warm wells", and found another who reasoned with you about why the things turned out like they did? Did the broken dream bring you to a road that is cluttered with reasoning and depression? Is the road you travel much like these two men traveled when they hit their lowest point of grief and not see "their plans" come to pass?
We read about two who had an idea about what the future was to be for themselves, and were disappointed to say the least.

Luke 24:13-35.......13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" 19 And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." 25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.  NKJV

Jesus hearing this conversation, asks why they are having this talk and with sadness. He wondered why they grieved! Was not Jesus, now the Risen One?

They wanted to know why "this stranger" would not know about the death of Jesus! How could someone not hear all the uproar, and all the talk of the one who just died and had done so much in God's name.

Yes, these two were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. They had hoped He would usher in the Messianic kingdom......But by the third day, all seemed hopeless.

You know those "women" came and told them that His body was gone from the tomb! And so Cleopas and friend went to see for themselves, and these women were right, there was "no body" in the tomb! 

And then Jesus spoke in verse 25 .......and reminds them, "O foolish ones, slow of heart to believe in all the prophets have spoken! 26. Ought not the Christ have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"
Translation of the the word "foolish" is translated wrong. It was never meant for those who are sorrowful and suffering grief. Luke 24:25.... The word is compounded of a (NT:1), "not," and noeoo (NT:3539), which implies, besides "seeing," perception "of the mind" as consequent upon sight. It is therefore equivalent to "dull of perception." They had read what the prophets had spoken, but had failed to "perceive" its application to Christ. 

Understanding what is written in Luke 24:25.......we find that when He spoke......"O foolish",..... was an address to those slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: this O foolish is not the term of reproach denoting any kind of wickedness, but is that which is not connecting the hearing part in relation to Jesus.  Jesus was correcting them in the respect that they did not see and clearly understand that He was going to the Cross. He wanted them to see the clear evidence that they were holding onto to their own opinions and prejudices and were blinded to the truth that He would die and rise again.

Ought not the Christ, stand in fulfilling the prophecies found in Scripture? As Jesus spoke to them, we find He intimated the very truths. He unfolded the "Scriptures" again to them. From the very first of Genesis to the the last of Zechariah, we find many prophecies that were written about Jesus.

These two asked Him to abide with them for the evening. Since travel at night on that road was considered dangerous, they asked Him in to eat with them and have shelter for the night.

As the bread was broken, their eyes were opened, He spoke what He had spoken every time they took bread and broke it.

Things may not turn out like we think they should, but when we have the testimony of Jesus in our hearts then we return to the former thing. We return to His Word that gladdens our hearts, lifts our spirit man and leads us to the greatest time of our history. By faith, engage HIM, and seek the prayer time to have one heart with Him. Enter in and lodge, abide in His presence and see the grief fade away. Stop reasoning...........just continue to......................

BELIEVE!

BELIEVE HE IS YOUR SOURCE!

BELIEVE HE IS YOUR ETERNAL ANSWER!

BELIEVE HE IS FOR YOU!

When you return to do what He asked then the fire will burn brighter and stronger.Joy will flow from your innermost being and a youthful step will found to lead you to the new things in the Lord!

Rise up and go to tell others about  how Jesus rescued you from grief, from disappointment and pain. Go tell others about the answer of Life that comes in knowing Jesus and obeying His commands.

Jesus is still on the scene and is active...........always there to remind us He has the words of eternal life!

Father, thank You for Jesus, the promised One who came to set the captives free. Thank YOU for all that YOU did in getting Your Son to us for salvation. It is His shed blood that claims us for His very own. I pray for each who read this that we will ultimately move forward in the direction You have chosen for us. I pray that we would be those who "press in" to YOU and the Word. Our destiny, our history has its beginning in You. Today we thank You for Your wisdom that is not limited to a measurement in regards and restrictions of a natural world. Help us to see that we should never filter Your Word through our opinions and false beliefs. Help us Lord to know that we are to keep the Word before us and allow that Word to lead us in new paths and freshness of life.You are still in our midst when we speak out Your name, declare Your word and see Your beauty. May we not be taken in by any failures for our God will never fail. YOU are the Faithful One, the Mighty One, the everlasting Father.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know Him better.  I pray also that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which He has called us. 

Father, thank You for Your unfailing love. Your love is UNCONDITIONAL…Thank You that we might know that love and how vast it truly is……….We are thankful that we shall not perish but have everlasting life through YOUR SON JESUS , OUR SAVIOR, AND OUR REDEEMER. We are not ARE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD but we are renewed to the Word our GOD. LORD do not leave us to ourselves. WE DESIRE TO SEE YOUR MAJESTY, YOUR GOODNESS IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING in Jesus' name. Amen

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