Itching Ears

2 Timothy 4: 2-5 NKJV Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Yes, this letter was written to Timothy ...the up and coming leader in a specific church body. He was to endure sound doctrine and he was taught by his mother and grandmother. We read about them in 2 Timothy 1:5....when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in the your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
Apostle Paul is guiding the young preacher to be ready for those with itching ears will appear. They would be people who turn aside to fables. ( I heard recently that ministries are using Tarot cards with God's word...what?)
That is so wrong in so many ways....especially when we are told not to go after the flesh in Deuteronomy 18.
Deuteronomy 18: 9-14 NKJV When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10 there shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire or the one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium or a spiritist or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. 14 For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you.
AS He appointed truth to us, then we are to obey Him.


There is a group of people who do not want the youth to know of the godly heritage that began this nation. There is group set on changing this nation to look like every other nation. BUT what makes America stand out is its beginning  in God! And even the first McGuffy readers were put into the school systems so that Scripture would be available to put into the hands and eyes of the budding new leaders of the future. But alas that changed as the 20th century rolled around. Men loved themselves more than God and took off into the crooked ways of greed and changing what was originally set in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In the 20th century, technology soared as did those things mentioned in Deuteronomy 18 that we were not to do!
Like putting your children through the fire....that was Molech and it is a spirit today where abortions are desired greatly. The spirit of divination is satanic  that involves enchanters, wizards, witches and witchcraft. Magicians, astrologers, nor false prophets are to be followed.

I do not do much on the 'Twitter' thing. I found that what I consider truth (heeding and speaking God's truth) is not what someone else considers truth. And then when I put something on there, I find a load of 'stuff' I really should not hear or read and language that no one should speak or write out for all to see!

The word of God tells us to preach the word of God boldly. That means we can also give truth to our neighbors and those we work with whether at work or even when volunteering for a detail within the community.
We must be able to recognize truth and stay out of fable alley and deceit communication center found on Crooked Street in Negative City. The only way to recognize truth is to read truth from the Bible that God provided for us. In finding truth within the pages of the Bible we find a life to pursue that is one of holiness, enriched with spiritual wisdom, where we can daily be infused with spiritual discernment and gain a very wise value system for living.

In this culture, you can see what most people value and how much they are willing to give for that which they desire greatly! They sacrifice the lives of children for their own 'rights' but betray that for which they were created. Men today are seen as only in the way, but God placed them to be leaders as the spiritual man who is led by God to lead the spouse (his wife) and his children by a rich heritage of knowing the Father who created people and desired the relationship with those who would be His spiritual children...the sons of God!


What we communicate is to be with truth and accuracy and to train others to do the same. But do we do that? Do we train our children to operate in truth or "white killer lies" that can cause a whole box of problems much later down the road to Crookedville township ending up in Trouble City in the state of decomposing attitude!
Proverbs 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.

Yes, that means the one who lies will be found out that they lied! Knowing this verse is true according to God. Do we also remember Matthew 12:36-37 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.


In receiving Jesus, we are justified. We live by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us as our Comforter. He is here to guide us and teach us that which was given by Jesus while He walked on earth. And it is how we react to the Holy Spirit that we are either justified or condemned. We should not be led by the flesh creature but by the Holy Spirit of God to do that purpose God set forth for us to do. You have an assignment as well as I have an assignment. Life is more than just waking and doing. Life is the true and is relationship with God our Father. It is a conversation daily with prayer indeed to find the freedom that came through Jesus Christ.


1 John 2:21-23 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is anti-christ who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

For without God and that relationship we can find life to be but a blur! That 'itching ears' person is looking for that which will give them a platform for their own idea of position in their family, community and maybe within the vastness of the world. But there is no song, no idea, no new thing as great as our God. There is no man or thing greater than our God.There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel  against the LORD. (Proverbs 21:30)  We are to Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that we be wise in our latter days. ( Proverbs 19:20)
We know that having 'itching ears' is seeking that which feeds the lust of those who seek that lust!  John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, because their deeds were evil. 21 But he Who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen that they have been done in God.

Jesus was Light and will always be Light. He did the will of Father that was done in deeds clearly seen. It was God given to Jesus to declare and to do for the glory of God.
Jeremiah 17:5-10   NKJV

5 This is what the LORD says:

"Cursed is the man who trusts in man, And makes flesh his strength

Whose heart departs from the LORD.

6 He will be like a shrub in the desert (wastelands); and shall not see when good (prosperity) comes.

But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness (desert), in a salt land which is not inhabited.

7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope ( confidence ) is the LORD.

8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters which spreads out its roots by the river.

And will not fear when heat comes and its leaf will be green.

And will not be anxious in a year of drought  nor will cease from yielding fruit."

9 The heart is deceitful above all things  and desperately wicked.

Who can know (understand) it?

10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind (secret parts) Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

A tree will never fear, but a man will. And when heat comes, and it certainly will come, we are to be planted by the river of living waters where our roots go deep into God. We must go deep into His wisdom and hear the Holy Spirit direct us.

Yes, the heart is central to man. It is the inner self that which thinks, feels, and acts. Proverbs 4:23-27 NKJV  Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; remover your foot from evil.

For you and I: our mouth, lips, eyes and feet are physical symbols for that of communication, is it for attention and behavior. An open rebellion to God is seen in those who resist God and His standard. They will not marry but live outside that God commanded. They will have children outside that institution of marriage and call it their 'right'. Or if the child does not fit...they abort and call it their 'right'. They will try to change their gender because they believe God made a mistake. But God never makes mistakes. He is right, He is righteous and holy........is everlasting!

The heart that is right will follow what God placed for our protection. For His word leads us down the street called Straight.
Psalm 125:4-5 Do good, O LORD to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts. 5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, The LORD shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity.
Luke 43: 4b-6 NKJV Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.


In thinking about today, many children have been raised without a father to lead and in some cases the mother was absent as well, only to be raised by a grandmother or the 'state'. The difference is to be in leadership that God commanded from the beginning. Outside of that we live by the flesh creature, have itching ears, seeking platforms to make our name great when our true assignment is to shine the light of what God planned for a 'family', what is relationship with God almighty and live under the protection of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Without this.......we live like crooked people, in crooked houses with crooked ways and die that way.
Father....thank YOU for loving us first! (1 John 4:19)

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What then is the Bleating of Sheep in My Ears?

What instructions do we hear and respond to act on in accord with what God speaks to us? Do we initiate (to begin) and complete the said instruction to our hearts or do we find ourselves like King Saul? Did Saul turn toward man and those he led? Did he consider pleasing them more than pleasing God?



1 Samuel 15:1-23...................15:1 Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. 2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'" 
4 So Saul summoned the men and mustered them at Telaim-two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. 5 Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. 6 Then he said to the Kenites, "Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites. 
7 Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. 8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs-everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. 
10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: 11 "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night. 
12 Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, "Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal." 
13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD's instructions." 
14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?" 
15 Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest." 
16 "Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." 
"Tell me," Saul replied. 
17 Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.' 19 Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?" 
20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal." 
22 But Samuel replied: 
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."   NIV

Every time we visit the pages of scripture passages, we are given instructions of which the Father wants for His children. Each time we dwell in verses either for healing, strength and courage, or for loss, we seek to find that which strengthens us in the area we need it at the time. Just like trees and plants need water, so to, we need that which brings life to our spirit, soul and body.
The prophet Samuel asks, "what then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?"

Verse 9 says they were unwilling to destroy completely........!

In speaking about his obedience, it was the king's flesh that spoke a stink to heaven. It was that indulgence to please other men that proved a witness against Saul himself. What looked good to Saul and the other men? 

Nothing was to be spared of the Amalekites. The relationship between King Saul and his allowing Agag, the king of the Amalekites to live and to not only live, but live in Israel brings the same issues to the time of Esther and her relative Mordechai. 

Both of these were of the same lineage of King Saul, the tribe of Benjamin, and of Saul who was going to let the Amalekites live. But Samuel made sure the king Agag would die. In a later time, we see Haman who shows up bringing much hardship and pain as he came breathing out cruelties to the time of the Book of Esther. (he was some relative of the king Agag)

I have known when the Lord wants to correct something I am taking way too far in giving my time or even extra focus to. We can demonstrate obedience or we can demonstrate disobedience. The noise within King Saul's camp was the a noise of sheep and cattle that were to be destroyed and not used for any kind of sacrifice. God did not want anything those Amalekites had. It was King Saul's character we see showing it's true colors to pleasing man and not God! He was bringing problems to Israel. As Samuel spoke in verse 23 to Saul, that Saul's rebellion was that as the sin of divination, and his arrogance was sin so evil as idolatry!



Wow! that is really strong! So what is the sin of divination? Any obtainable knowledge of a present or future tense is that of paganism (of the profane) and is opposite of that which we know in "church" when a prophecy is given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Divination is the speaking spirit that is demonic, is not from God, and the knowledge or information is counterfeit and is of the profane. It is opposite of the truth of the godly heritage. You can see in the story of one such instance in the Book of Acts.

Acts 16:16-24..........16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe." 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.  NKJV

This divination was practiced by the slave girl. She knew enough by the demon spirit that Paul and Silas were men or servants of the Most High God. This was done to show to those of the community "who watched" that she followed those godly men. But in truth when these servants would have left the area, the slave girl's talent would have a step up to a greater degree of use for the enemy instead. She would have continued to make money for those her masters. But any prophecy later would be of the divination given by the devil himself either for individuals or for groups of people!

All would be under the guise of "good" but of evil intent in any knowledge to any people after Silas and Paul were gone. But the teaching tells us that Paul cast that spirit of divination out of the slave girl!

In reality, Saul had future information, and it was that which God chose to do away with the Amalekites once and for all. He knew this group of people to be the epitome of evil and of the blackest hearts.

Saul's arrogance was so evil as the sin of idolatry. He was serving himself. He had those around him, that he listened to more than he listened to God for instructions. God had the idea of how He wanted any sacrifice given, and Saul and these men were going to do it their way and call it "good". But they erred in their thinking that a good God would go along with this.......for how can you want what this group or tribe of people had accumulated according to the sin that filled lives they led?  How could Saul think that God would want any part in the use of the Amalekites resources of cattle, sheep, camels and donkeys for a source for good? 

Yes, Saul was overtaken in his arrogance. He felt superior to others, and held a conceit that showed in his actions. In verse 12, we find Saul going to Carmel to build a monument to himself. Not to glorify God, but himself. In receiving God's commands to do something where is the "heart issue" on the matter? Do we really want to serve God and do His command or do we do something and finish up with what we think is best?  When Samuel charged Saul of his disobedience, Saul charged back in his own hypocritical nature. For what was displayed was that which was a witness against him. He proved he wanted the glory and to be "the BIG MAN" on the scene. But his arrogance got the kingdom torn away from him! Bad move on the part of Saul, yet, this was always in him to do!

What was it that T. S. Eliot wrote? "Most of the evil in this world is done by people with good intentions."

Yes, good intentions was what Saul was demonstrating. He thought that keeping the livestock would benefit them all and bring a good meal. Barbecued steak anyone? 

Aahh....intentions......you know that one of the meanings is "purpose"......something that is purposed. God has things He has purposed for our lives!
Seeking the purpose, not just living, but why we are set here for this time, just before the Lord's return!
But the purpose God intends for each of us is by truth in His Word, by the Blood of Jesus and by power of the Holy Spirit to see the instruction completed.

What do we allow to keep our focus and allow to live that needs to be put away from us? Could we doing something today, that could bring us harm or even death in a few days, a few months, or even in a few years? Even in the account of all that transpires in the book of Esther, there is no mention of any of Haman's nieces or nephews or aunts or uncles being taken to the gallows. It only mentions Haman and his ten sons! So many of them were allowed to live and have problems with Israel that have continued through the centuries even to this day and time!

When following God's instructions, are we following it to the letter as He speaks it?

If I buy all the ingredients to make a chocolate cake, but do not follow the instructions, then what do I have at the end? Probably the finished product will be anything but an actual cake.  I remember making this one recipe many years ago, but it did not turn out. It was suppose to be an airy type cake texture, but in reality it was FLAT as a pancake and thinner than a pancake! It was a recipe given to me by another person. I told them about it and guess what? They had left out ONE of the most vital ingredients I needed to make that recipe. It was the buttermilk! It was one of the those Texas Sheet Cakes! They are very good if you have never made one! But you need all the ingredients to see a "good" finished product.

I have this green chile recipe that was given to me by my mother and her mother many years ago. I have certainly made it a lot and am showing my husband how to make it as well since he wants to eat it more often with our meals. But in making it, you make sure you have the right Anaheim peppers and garlic cloves for the recipe. If you veer off that ever so slightly, as our daughter says, "it tastes bland". And she is right! 

Following instructions and heeding what it tells us to do will keep us out of harm's way. I am in no means a chef, or the cook like my sister is, but I do try new things to prepare. My husband looks for recipes for soups and has found some we like to eat.

Proverbs 1:2-6.............2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding, 
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity; 
4 To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion-- 
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.    NKJV

I have learned over the years, that knowing wisdom and instruction looks much like correction. Whatever may have been taught us from our mother's knee, must always have the Word of God to have the complete picture of what God desires for us and those who follow after us!

In realizing a recipe could be FLAT like what I had experienced, I think how our lives could become flat without life or any zest to them. We could look pretty much like the world looks, with no difference at all.

 We were meant to look different and sound different! People should see us as being different than the world. We are to be those who follow instruction in applying God's wisdom, justice, judgment and equity to every aspect of our lives. In the book of Amos and the fifth chapter, the prophet tell 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.
God knew the Amalekites as those who were destructive in their hearts. These people of any age, held a most evil heart against other living human beings. God Himself wanted an end to them because of the vile hatred they held toward those who came around them. But Saul disregarded the instructions and Samuel the prophet had to end Agag's life. 
Still today we see all the hatred toward Israel and those which want them gone for good. But God is making sure His chosen will stand in even the harshest moments of hatred, hostility, and abominations against the Lord and His people.

Will what we choose to do today in regard to God's instruction to us be honorable or of the profane? I really do not want to hear something like Saul heard from Samuel............
16 "Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." 
"Tell me," Saul replied. 

22 But Samuel replied: 
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."   


Would surely not want the Lord to reject me in something He has purposed for my life, would you?

Father, in Jesus' name, we pray to be those who heed and obey YOUR instructions regarding our lives and the lives of others. We desire to be disciplined in the Word of God and be renewed daily in our minds to see transformation come. Today we desire to be those who would be quick to say yes to YOUR commands, and follow them closely.
Help us today to see if we are on the wrong schedule for life. We know serving is a choice and does not start when the kids are back in school or when a New Year comes on January 1. We know it is a "heart issue".

Help us to see the right time is right now! That in choosing to follow YOUR instructions we are choosing the things of YOUR way and doing that which will bring us to honor.

We desire to be a catalyst that will spark the importance of following Jesus and imitate HIM. In doing that, the world will see us as different and living different kind of lives than that of the world.

We know some can always find excuse and blame another, as Saul chose to put some of the blame back on those men who followed him.(verse 21) But we are not those speaking of there always being a lion in the street or the Jordan is always overflowing its banks! No, today we are those who speak......and believe......that Your Word is true. Whatever You instruct us to do, we know we have the ability to see it completed for Your glory. No matter the odds, no matter the intensity of war, no matter the level or any correction God is our Father and He is for us!

WE understand that Chaos is our enemy. We determine to be men and women who will triumph in YOU. Today we fight with the fight of faith and arise to take our place.

We have discernment and have the wisdom of God to make the decisions to keep to the course set before us. Whatever we have allowed into our camp, show us what needs to be killed or moved out entirely never to be returned to our home and family again. We give praise and glory to YOUR name! Amen.

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