AWESTRUCK!

 

Jesus before Pilate.

Heard this woman speak this past Wednesday the fifth of April. She a Jew, mentioned her time during Holocaust and her seeking this week in the Vatican.  She wanted to worship. Interesting but she looked younger than myself. She mentioned her faith in God and in man. That is what stopped me in my tracks regarding her speech. Faith in God, in the Lord, faith in the bloodshed at Calvary and that given for us to walk in freedom of sin indeed, but knowing she has faith in man was regarding earthly things.

She had faith in man!

In remembering the great sacrifice of Jesus for mankind and referencing nothing toward Him but only for faith in man brings tears indeed. What death occurred and what horrendous hate accumulated in the flesh of Jesus to be hung on a Cross for all the world to view at that time.

Mark 14:32-42 NKJV 32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And He took Peter, James and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 34 The He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” 35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You, Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” 37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak. 39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not what to answer Him. 41 Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.” 42 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Are we keeping watch today? Do we note what to pray for?

Mark 14:43 And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.” 45 As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him. “Rabbi, Rabbi! And kissed Him. 46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. 47 And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber with swords and clubs to take Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then they all forsook Him and fled.

 Do we pay attention when things are about to change? Do we know those who are against us? But we walk like Jesus, we walk forward with truth! Jesus went voluntarily. He went to do the Father's will!

Mark 14:53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders and the scribes. 54 But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.

Peter followed at a distance. He was lagging behind and when he sat, he sat to warm himself. Not with his peers but with others trying to be lost in a crowd!

Mark 15:6-15  NKJV  6 Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" 13 So they cried out again, "Crucify Him!" 14 Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, "Crucify Him!" 15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

Pilate recognized the envy of the Jews at this time. The chief priests stirred up the crowds to release the rebellious one and crucify the humble and faithful One. 

Mark 15:33 Now when the sixth hour had come there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabacthani?” which is translated :MY God, My God why have You forsaken Me?” 35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then someone ran and filled sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.” 37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. 38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So when the centurion who stood opposite Him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” 40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses and Salome, 41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

 

As Jesus hung on the Cross, & darkness took over for 3 hours, the depths Jesus went was the very place where Lazarus was placed in the Bosom of Abraham.  Noise filled the place, & vicious hatred came out against Jesus. Only His body remaining on the Cross, his soul was taken by the dogs of damnation to be punished because of man’s sin. Yes, when Jesus cried out “It is Finished”, those that filled the depths of hell came to take Jesus to hell. The ground shook as the bulls of Bashan came out. The stout-hearted devil angels of hell held Jesus in Sheol.    Deut. 32:22-24 For a fire is kindled in mine anger and shall burn unto the lowest hell[Sheol]…they shall be burnt with hunger, & devoured with burning heat, & with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with poison of serpents of the dust. Amos 5:18-19 For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness & not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion & a bear met him! & a serpent bit him! That takes place in hell is the evil demonic force in their hatred of men made in the image of God is horrific. The extent of your anger & hate is the depth of your flame! 

Mark 16: 1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tome when the sun had risen. 3 And they said themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away----for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white role sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples-----and Peter-----that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tome, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

 

Nothing was found in Jesus to crucify Him on the Cross. They chose the “world”, they chose Barabbas! That Passover day in AD 31, there was a guilty "son of the father"—Barabbas—and a totally innocent "Son of the Father"—Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Ancient texts say that Barabbas' full name was Jesus Barabbas. If that is correct—and it may be—then the crowd picked the wrong Jesus to be freed! Is that not typical of human nature? On our own, we too would choose the wrong savior and doom ourselves to bondage to sin and death rather than freedom from sin and eternal life (John 6:44; Romans 2:4).

Our faith is to be in Jesus! He stood before the Pharisees and the governor Pilate! He stood and spoke nothing to bring accusation to Him. Man brought false accusations.

Mark 16:5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples-----and Peter-----that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Awestruck: an angel appearing to them. He is clothed in a long white robe. He brought alarm to those seeing him. Anyone seeking Jesus: He is not here. But is risen. Jesus of Nazareth is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter. He is going before you into Galilee. There YOU will see Him as He said to you.

Jesus was on the move. He was not held by nails, nor a Roman cross! Coming and finding an open tomb, they were bringing spices to bind that which was now dead for the bones to appear. But an angel, with lightning appearance spoke to them. An angel who had no work to open that tomb to some light. He spoke instructions that Jesus had given earlier to them. Tell His disciples and tell Peter. Jesus would see them in Galilee.  Jesus would appear to them and His wounds would verify His last moments on the Cross! He gave instructions to them. Scatter they did, and scatter they will do today. If they scatter like the disciples, as they did then, they will do now. For many hide to not be found, but Jesus is alive and He expects us to deliver His message. For things changed certainly, but Jesus is alive and His message is important to live and declare His very works to the lost. We will do this to the end of the age!

 

His is exclusive and not inclusive. His kingdom is truth and only His truth. We listen, we obey and become more like Him, to abide in the kingdom of God that is coming. We abide in His truth now, knowing people stood against Him then and they will do it again in this time. But God is everlasting. His truth endures to all generations.

This woman of Jewish heritage made it known she came through Holocaust. Praise the Lord. She waits for Jesus. We are to be diligent and honest in our search for a true shepherd of the church of God. It is everyone's responsibility. It is imperative that we find a fold where we can be properly fed and where we can serve. The enemy has scattered the flock through the extensive doctrinal changes, and God has permitted it for our good.

Faith holds us together in His grace. But only Jesus leads us. And man should know the Lord by his heart. WE are to remain constant in our call and the place God has placed us. How necessary this is in the heart and life of every believer. Yet, in many of the churches of our land; the radio and TV programs together with statements and articles coming from the lips and pens of the most popular and influential “Christian leaders” in our day make it crystal clear that “church growth” and “success” in the eyes of men has replaced absolute fidelity to the Word of God! The Word of God is never replaced. Men move from the peace of God to living outside Him in their own sufficiency.

We as believers who refuse to bow the knee to Baal—those who will not go along with the crowd are a great blessing and encouragement. WE hear from and correspond with an increasing number of others of like precious faith and we give thanks to God our Father in Jesus’ name. As we believers increase in that developing spiritual discernment  as the group in the Lord, we will no longer follow and support those leaders who glorify the psychological approach and depend upon every trick of modern advertising and salesmanship to broaden their sphere of influence and increase their prestige and following. We are thankful that God always maintains and sustains His faithful remnant in every generation.

Awestruck, yes, that God Himself sent the Son of His love, to bring the presence of the Father to a lost people, to bring Holy Spirit for change and bring the doctrine of life for us to become the image of our Father God. Awestruck, an angel appeared, Jesus not there, but Jesus alive and speaking, eating and enjoying His disciples. Jesus alive with wounds of the world to point to way in Him to heaven, to hearing His voice and know the truth. It was a babe in a manger, a twelve year old with God’s wisdom, it was signs and wonders to the interest of God for people, it was the blood shed for humanity and it was love that ruled through it all.

Awestruck! If God be for us, who can be against us?

 

 

 

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WE Heard the Message!

WE heard the Message!

John 10:9-17 NKJV 9 I am the door: If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved; and will go in and out and find pasture.  10  The thief does not come except to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling , he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, & the wolf catches the sheep & scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling & does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd & I know My sheep,& am known by My own. 15  As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;& I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring,& they will hear My voice; & there will be one flock & one shepherd. 17 Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

Jesus the Shepherd called those to hear Him. It was and is for the intimate and personal terms. Specifically He called us out of a dying world to go to live in His spiritual kingdom which will come to earth after the Tribulation.

God enabled us to hear ....yes, those to whom He would call to be His own. 

The Startling Truth: Romans 8:30 : "Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and who He justified, these He also glorified." Only the called are justified! Justification through repentance and by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ is what permits us into the presence of God, enabling further growth to glorification in God's Kingdom! WE heard the Message!

AND God says Come Come,  unto Me. Spend that time with Me. I will put that ring on your finger, the robe on your shoulders, the sandals on your feet. We will slay the "fatten" calf and have sweet fellowship together. Come, says the Lord. Come.  …………………..Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

God likes that time to spend with us. We find in Matthew 6:6 that when we pray, we are to go into our room, and when we have shut the door, we pray to our Father which is in the secret place; and He our Father which sees in secret shall reward us openly.

The Miraculous Occurred: for you and I to see Him and  to hear His voice. Salvation came to us when others refused it: Acts 28:28  therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles and they will hear it!”

Jesus Told Us In John 14:15…that if we love Him, we should keep His commands. Today you and I know there is a “war of words” going on!  Men are trying to change what the Bible speaks about life and death and those who are God's children.

But God sent forth His word and healed … Psalm 107:20 -22 He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction's. 21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men. 22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. 

You and I should not be acting like the world, but receiving the kingdom which has come through Jesus. 

Jesus spoke this: Matthew 13: 10-17 NKJV And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 “for whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

Yes, the miraculous to hear and to hear more has been given us…..ARE we excited about this?  Matthew 13: 13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled , which says:

Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.

Their ears are hard of hearing. And their eyes they have closed.

Lest they should see with their eyes & hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts & turn, so that I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, & your ears for they hear. 17 For assuredly, I say to you, that many prophets & righteous men desired to see what you see, & did not see it, & to hear what you hear, & did not hear it.

Yes, prophets and those righteous men desired to see what the disciples saw in Jesus. He was the One who came to save the lost. They were excited for the day to have that same relationship always with the Lord God.  If our hope is in the Kingdom of God, the resurrection of the dead, and sharing life with God eternally are not sufficient to motivate us to repent, perhaps the fear of a terrible calamity, the Great Tribulation, the Day of the Lord, or that being spewed from God's mouth as a Laodicean will move us to use the present to secure the future.

The word going out today is that the church has become the Laodicean church. But God is so loving and merciful, would not staying out of hell and away from His presence propel us into His goodness quicker? Pharaoh had to know the plagues coming his way when he harden his heart toward God. Even Cain drew that breath of hardness in refusing life with God to do his own thing.

God prophesies motivates us to cling to Him and His Word right now, and He is willing to scare us nearly to death in order to save us.

If we think long on the Israelites and remember their desire was to be known as seekers of the truth, but in reality they did not want it. Their pride would not allow them to pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the truth, for that meant they would need to humble themselves before the Word of God.

Amos 8:11-12 NKJV  11 "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD,

"That I will send a famine on the land,

Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water,

But of hearing the words of the LORD.

12 They shall wander from sea to sea,

And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD,

But shall not find it.

Yes, there is a thirst today for the man or the woman as they cannot find the teaching that Jesus came to set down. The gospel was not to be changed nor was it to ever be set aside for men to just have testimony time and not know what God has spoken from those Scriptures He set down for us to adhere to for life. Yes, we have heard the Message, but what have we done with it? Do we share it with others, read it faithfully knowing God sent it faithfully to earth by His Holy Spirit. For there is one thing we should never lack and that is God's word that have released us from captivity to live for Him, to live in power and have healthy bodies to glorify Him. I do not know about you, but I am grateful today for the Message that has been sent to this world and that I heard it. For in it we are empowered to be all that God purposed for our lives and that means a lot more than anything the world can dish out. I will take the truth of God every time.

Father, thank You for the good Shepherd.  We are thankful for the Open door for Your kingdom that has come……Your words are top priority to us. They are spirit and they are life. WE let the Word of God dwell  in us richly in all wisdom. The ability of God is released within us by the words of our mouth and by the Word of God.  WE speak YOUR words out of our mouth. They are alive in us. You are alive and working in us now, so WE can boldly say that OUR words are words of faith, words of power, words of love, and words of life. They produce good things in our life and in the lives of others. Because WE choose Your Words for our lips, WE choose Your will for our life, and WE go forth in that power of those words & to see them performed in Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

O, Father, may we make a beautiful sound for You! We heard the message.

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Earthly Good and Heaven Bound Too!

Luke 12:27-40
27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 

32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

35 "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."  NIV

Seek His kingdom and these things will be given to you..........not like the pagan who runs after the world and the things of the world, but we seek those things that bring life to us.

What God provides for us is that which always gives us life! It is that which will multiply us and not subtract from us. It is having a faith in the life God meant for us to have. It is place where there is an abundance of treasure that never runs out. It is a place where nothing wears out..............including you and me! Amen. Like Moses, we too, can be 120 years of age and our eyes are not dim, our vigor is not diminished and our youth is restored to us.

Deuteronomy 34:7-8
7 Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was perfect and he was as strong as a young man. 8 The people of Israel mourned for him for thirty days on the plains of Moab.  TLB

Now this man was as strong as a young man, his eyesight was perfect...........ah yes, he attained his youth in his body. How? By submitting to Him, and having faith that God would do what He said He would do for Moses himself and for Israel!

Psalm 138:2-3

2 I will worship toward Your holy temple,

And praise Your name 

For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. 

3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me,

And made me bold with strength in my soul.    NKJV

As the psalmist wrote, You have magnified Your word above all Your name. In the day when I cried out, You answered me and made me bold with strength in my soul. 

God's Word strengthens us in our mind, will and emotions. And we certainly need His power in our lives bringing health and strength when facing that bad report or trying to get past some PTSD.........that post traumatic stress syndrome or any other traumatic hurt or injury.

Because, like any abuse to another, we must forgive them, move on, and live for God.
Well, that certainly sounds simple.............Shelley, but in truth, when one is hurt so bad, many feel hurt long after those who afflicted the pain are dead and gone for good.
 But that is why it is important that we have knowledge of the Holy One that helps us in that self-control issue. Many who are hurt will try to put up those walls to keep them safe! In reality though, that living with a lack of control in our daily lives causes us to fall short!  It is only God Who can give us peace and control in dealing with traumatic issues in our lives. Our trying to handle it our way can and will cause more injury to us, and hurt us worse than that caused by another person in time of war, abuse within families, or just being abandoned by a parent or a spouse!

Peter told us in 2 Peter 1:1-11.........that those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you and me in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.........! 

We are to have knowledge of Him, spend time so our faith grows.  We....who..have been given divine promises...those precious promise are for the righteous.....(verse 4) who have become partakers with God and no longer operate in the world or its ways. So in that gaining knowledge of God, we should be the 1. diligent.....in everything we do as the individual, as the spouse, as the parent, in our jobs or in ministry. WE are to be the DILIGENT! AND IN OUR FAITH, we are to put on that moral excellence. 2. Those morals should be a behavior and belief........in that which is acceptable to God. And that code is found in His Word! He speaks of those values, especially in the book of Proverbs. 3. Then self-control is put on or applied to our lives. That control is dependent on us being disciplined in the Word. It is that ability to control with God's Word any one emotion or any desires that may be harmful to us. We can usually find the "real us" in a difficult situation. Especially if we have built a safe place with just certain "peeps" and hear only what Word of God makes us feel good. Again that is Picking and Choosing what comforts us instead of allowing God to heal what is broken in us.

From there we put on.........add to our faith........that perseverance (5).......that we never stop doing what we know we are to do. Spend time with God........Know His (6) godliness............have brotherly kindness (7) and add love to our faith. (8)

For when we have these.........and this is Peter speaking in verse 8 of same chapter 1.......Yes, having these qualities and are increasing in us...........we will never be the blind or short-sighted........still the one dealing with sin..........not letting go of old situations and difficult situations as well. Because verse 11 says that when we PRACTICE THESE THINGS........WE WILL NEVER STUMBLE........AND (11) AND ENTRANCE IS SHOWN TO US..........a way into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who will abundantly supply us. Amen.

Jesus said that we were to keep our lamps burning like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet.  So that when He comes and knocks, they (you and I) can open the door immediately. He who is expecting the Lord is the one who dresses himself to serve. He is the one ready for action. And ready for His return. 

Luke 12:32-40

32 "So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will fatten your purses in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no rips or holes in them. Your treasures there will never disappear; no thief can steal them; no moth can destroy them. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. 

35 "Be prepared-all dressed and ready- 36 for your Lord's return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 There will be great joy for those who are ready and waiting for his return. He himself will seat them and put on a waiter's uniform and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come at nine o'clock at night-or even at midnight. But whenever he comes, there will be joy for his servants who are ready! 

39 "Everyone would be ready for him if they knew the exact hour of his return-just as they would be ready for a thief if they knew when he was coming. 40 So be ready all the time. For I, the Messiah, will come when least expected."    TLB

So be ready........be the equipped, ............the armed and dangerous with God's Word...and with....the breastplate of righteousness. Our moving forward is always an action move..........it is a move against the enemy, the devil.  Putting on truth around our waist...........to gird up..........shod with the gospel of peace...........wearing the helmet of salvation and carrying the sword of the Spirit that Word of God in our hearts and speaking it loudly as we move continually forward to meeting Christ at His return! We are to be the fearless. We are to speak of all those mysteries of the gospel and give people the Word of the hope in our hearts.

We are to be the alert and always praying for all saints. (Ephesians 6:18)

Below: we see that being self-controlled...........not throwing temper tantrums, but ready for action, holding on to hope on the grace given to you and me when Jesus is revealed.

1 Peter 1:13-25

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."  

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 

22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.  23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, 

"All men are like grass, 

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; 

the grass withers and the flowers fall, 

25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." 

And this is the word that was preached to you. NIV

Obeying truth, is purifying ourselves from the world. We are to live as strangers here in a reverential fear toward God. We were purchased with the precious Blood of Christ, that lamb without blemish or defect. Our faith and our hope are to be in God, not in the things of this world. We are to be ready for action, setting our minds on the things of God, to be self-controlled.

So we know " all men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field". "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." So knowing all this, we should not desire to move off the word of the Lord that stands forever, right? It is through Him that we believe in God, who raised him (Jesus) from the dead and glorified him, and so our faith and hope are in God. TRUTH!

Our faith is to be in the One True God! Our faith should be established and growing. It should be in that which is in imperishable............the living and enduring of God...........His Word! Our abiding is in that which brings life to what God desires for us. It is not in "old wive's tales".

1 John 2:24-29

24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us--eternal life. 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.    NKJV

That anointing is truth.........it is not a lie.

Our abiding.........means that we believe.........with no doubting and we put His Word first in everything we do and everything we speak.  For those who truly have faith abide in Him and will abide alive eternally. Those who do not abide in Him, abide in death.....with no life!

If we know the Holy Spirit is in us.......then would we be so lax to mention His name or think about to  mention how glad we are that He is with us?  That anointing came through Jesus. And He sent the Comforter to reside with us. That anointing is powerful and it is within us. That new and living way is into the Kingdom of God through the salvation we received when we first believed.

If we would only realize, our faith can grow and when it does, we can see what we read in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 54:2-5

2 "Enlarge the place of your tent,

stretch your tent curtains wide,

do not hold back;

lengthen your cords,

strengthen your stakes. 

3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left;

your descendants will dispossess nations 

and settle in their desolate cities. 

4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame.

Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.

You will forget the shame of your youth 

and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. 

5 For your Maker is your husband--

the LORD Almighty is his name--

the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;

he is called the God of all the earth.    NIV

The place we stand when we receive Jesus is the place we grow up in. We leave the baby side of things and grow with the "meat" of the Word. When we choose to use our faith, we can see the place we stand enlarge............like a tent if you will! Stretch it out...........your growing up...........stretching........changing, becoming who God planned us to be. Now do not hold back.........lengthen those cords..........strengthen those stakes.........for you and I will surely spread out to the right and to the left.................our descendants will dispossess nations.............and settle those desolate cities..............Do NOT be afraid...........YOU will suffer no shame.............YOU will not be humiliated...........YOU will forget the shame of Your youth and remember no more reproach.........for the Maker is our husband...........the LORD Almighty is his name.........the Redeemer..............is called the God of all the earth. Amen.

 We are built up as living stones (1 Peter 2:5) As the spiritual temple..........we sound like Jesus, act like Jesus, and have momentum. We are moving to the place of those who are taught by God.........(Isaiah 54:13)

John 6:45

45 It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. NIV

May we not forget from where we came from. May we never forget the Cross and the Blood shed for us on that eventful day.............when man was saved  who would believe............forever.........who would receive the Son of God, the Savior of the world. 

Ephesians 2:8-10

 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.   NKJV

For it is truly by faith that we gained a gift..........life eternal with the God of love, with the Son of His love........empowered by the Holy Spirit.............to stand, face the enemy..............and be victorious..........as He our Lord Jesus was victorious on that day that forever changed our destiny. Ah yes, that we are His workmanship.............created in Christ Jesus for good works...............which God prepared beforehand that you and I should walk in them. 

Come on, let's go together now..............forgetting what lies behind and reach for that call in Jesus Christ...............Philippians 3:13-14

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

As Jesus was led by the Spirit in Matthew 4:1 and Luke 4:1.....may we be led by the Spirit of the Living God.........Romans 8:13-15
 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.

Come Kingdom of God, be done will of God in our lives, in our families, our children, our jobs and in ministry. May we have full knowledge of the Holy One who shows us how to have self-control in the most difficult situations. We have not been given a spirit to fear, to lash out to others when someone is giving us God's word that corrects us, but we have been given the Spirit of son-ship. We are to act like YOUR sons Father God. Truly we have gained a gift of eternal life with You the God of love with the Son of YOUR love.  We are...the.....empowered! We are led by Your Holy Spirit today.Father we, desire to be producers in the fruit that is life in God and bring a good to those dwelling on this earth. Help us to be bold to talk about YOUR kingdom, and how faith is to operate in our lives. For we are to agree with sound instruction and  godly teaching ( 1 Timothy 6:3) We are not to heed anything false.   For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.
Our treasure is what is laid up in our hearts and where our heart is found, Jesus will be in the midst to us for life eternally. We now give You all the praise for what You are doing in this place right now and give YOU all our thanks for Jesus and the opportunity to have a life of faith...............and may we too, be found with those in the Hall of Faith in Jesus' name we pray. Amen!

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