NEVER a Quickening

Recently I had written on a blog called "Generic" and of that person who lingers long. It is from Proverbs 23:29-32
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper. NIV

They, the man or woman know God the Father has quickened them in their "spirit man", yet they  continue to ponder. They move at the speed of slow snail.  They love making decisions, but will take great amounts of time to make a decision for or against something specific!
Their eyes grow bloodshot while they continue to look upon what will benefit them for their good without costing them anything.
In the preparation of this day, I meditated on scripture from that specific blog Generic. (I would read it before reading this one.)

Making decisions is all about being on time whether it is with paying your bills, helping others, and praying for others than our selves. It is about being a part of a group of believer's who really love God and cherish time with Him and with others and obey His every command.
In thinking on this specific area, I wondered about Judas Iscariot. I wondered why he so loved being the money handler!

From that time until now, some men and women have possibly taken up that exact form of godliness Judas displayed. They did it as gaining something for their benefit.  But this gaining as a form of godliness is the very example of imitating Judas Iscariot. How would you know if you are walking with one who loves or has that "zeal" for the real like gold and money?
People's hearts in some respect can hide behind their real endeavors. Like Judas, they maintain one exact cause, and that is their own! Judas followed Jesus for the love of Jesus' money bag and not for Jesus Himself. (He even complained about the expensive perfume poured on Jesus. )John 12:3-8
3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 

7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." NIV

Yes, Jesus said you always have the poor among you and I believe you always have those like Judas with you as well!
In that "hesitation" in making a specific decision, pay attention to the person or person's behavior regarding the money. Is he hesitating to see whether the "thing" done will bring benefit to him?
Will he see fortune come his way in the way of greater influence that benefits himself? Do you see one giving out " of a false eagerness" but that which brings him something. That one thing will answer "his purpose".

Have you ever asked another in leadership to bless another "pastor" of another church, and see them turn a shade of very pale? I mean, their very lips turn from blue to a whiter shade of pale, indeed!
Those with you as "believer's" do as the Lord had commanded. They are ready to lay down their lives and run with what God has asked. Ah, but the one who has that form of godliness lingers. They take time to see how an activity will benefit them. They also speak in the moment of their being "spiritual minded". And in respect of that, they can look a lot like the Pharisee, who thanked God that they are in no way like other men.
Like the hypocrite, they profess to be with the numbered who are saved, yes, with believer's but their hearts are really far from God.

Another look at this person reveals they are generally out of reach to hear the Gospel preached. They may show up, yes inside the building, but not within distance to hear any rebukes from the given word for that day. They do not want to hear it. They believe they are right.

Can you imagine not being moved by the Holy Spirit to do something for someone else? I cannot imagine that. I love being apart of what God is doing, and it is in His love, that I see God's hurting people, God's broken people, and God's servants come to a place to meet God and see their need met, their life changed, and their faith grow even greater. When we truly obey God, we find ourselves at someone's home to pray for the woman who has no home! It presents itself and you find yourself praying for someone you did not know, but God does. In that moment they are touched by God and you find you heard God's voice to obey quickly.  It comes by seeing a "new friend" touched by God too, and you get to have that front row seat giving you view to see his family touched by God in ways that no one else would understand. But God in all His mercy and love seeks to touch man everyday and in many ways. The evident thing is, that only that person in a need, the person who prayed for him/her and God know that love showed up in the miraculous way!

Godliness is allowing the Holy Spirit free reign in our lives! It is the Holy Spirit that is the life and the force of it as we saw in Jesus when resurrected to life by Him the Holy Spirit.

I saw a teaching recently by Spurgeon.  In this sermon he taught on godliness. It was titled "The Form of Godliness Without the Power". Spurgeon said this:" godliness is the power which brings a man to God and binds him to Him; godliness is that which creates repentance towards God and faith in Him; godliness is the result of great change of heart in reference to God and His character."
Judas spent time with Jesus but his heart was not changed.

 So do we really look like God? Do we act like Jesus would act? Do we put aside our stuff and lives and live life through Jesus? 

Coming to the end of another year, I reflect on that which the Lord by His Holy Spirit gave me to teach on. In that I reflect also on the relationship we have with God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. You should not have just one of them in your life, but all 3, the God-head of God in your life. At the end of this year, I am reminded of one teaching the Lord gave me as Jesus the prayer warrior. At this time, I am grateful for Him and for the opportunities that have been given me and my loved ones to live out their lives for God. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life for 2017 and every year after that. I am thankful to give the Word He planned for people to receive this year and that word is to bring change to us all! Amen.

When Jesus came into the "ministry" He cleansed a leper, healed a centurion's servant, healed Peter's mother-in-law, calmed a storm, drove out demons, healed paralytics, caused two blind men to see, and caused another to speak. And this is just an example that is found in Matthew 8-9.

Rely on God. Receive Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to reign. Tremble at His word, and remember He paid a high price for you and for me. Remember to allow the Word of God to search your heart. I like cleaning at times. I like painting a room and decorating with maybe new floral arrangements and a new rug. The room takes on a cleanness and a new light to shine in.
In that respect God's Word will continually clean our hearts. He will make it strong by His word given. As you allow His Word to pass and examine you, you will find what must be removed. If we truly seek that "quiet place", that secret time with Him, we will be led to cry for ourselves and for others. In truth, we are to advance His kingdom and a good cry benefits everyone. We are to pray and seek Him while He may be found. We are to reside in holiness, and that holy life is one that has "the power" of the Holy Spirit. And Trust Him to know what is best for you! In truth He is a benefit to all who believe. Thank God I am not where I was forty years ago! I am living in heaven on earth.

 But for the " Judas' " , well they live in themselves, and void of power. They rely on themselves and their thoughts to gain some momentum, but it will be short-lived.

In the Spirit of God we have power and He can work in us and through us. And it will be that something that pleases God. In His momentum, people are saved, healed, made whole, and sent to tell others about it.

God, the Holy Spirit always represents power and if you are in a service and you leave the way you came in to that service, then check your heart or leave quickly!

The apostle or/and the prophet within that group should have heaven come for every service. The apostle and/or prophet will touch heaven and the result is always PEACE. It is heaven's touch to lead and influence. It is allowing the Holy Spirit His way to bring God's agenda and not man's to the service in the here and now! There is always joy in the Holy Spirit. It is not merely a service but a place where God meets man and demonstrates His power to heal and make whole. The prophet will apprehend the promises of God. He or she will declare them aloud. They speak often of God's return, will share their testimonies they experienced and with these two, an infusion is produced making others sensitive toward Heaven's activities and of God's plan. These two look into heaven and they see what God wants on earth.

Let's allow the quickening of God the Holy Spirit. Let's allow life to permeate everything we touch and do for His kingdom. May you be quickened and enlightened on what part you play in this adventure. And remember He is returning for His Bride without wrinkle or spot. Let's go together and expect His power to come for all to receive the benefits of a good and faithful God! Amen.

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has two new teaching published:
Meekness: Not Weakness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckFuD-ZaDxE


Christmas Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKXnnlvjAVA


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

TREMBLE!

Jeremiah 33:9

9 And [Jerusalem] shall be to Me a name of joy, praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth that hear of all the good I do for it, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace, prosperity, security and stability I provide for it.

 Psalm 105:1-4

Oh, give thanks to the LORD!

Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;

Talk of all His wondrous works!

3 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!

4 Seek the LORD and His strength;

Seek His face evermore!  NKJV

Jesus spoke of His desire that we would all be in unity. And what does the scripture say that He prayed? 

John 17:20-26

20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."  NKJV

Unity….Faith……Glory…..Jesus said, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word (message) 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in M, and I in YOU; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them. That they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

I take you back to the moment when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. People were laying palm leaves and their outer garments or tunics on the pathway……….and was being laid down toward Antonia Fortress. But Jesus had to have gotten off the donkey………pushed through and broke the line right in front of the temple and went in to do some things.

Matthew 21:6-17

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

"Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

"Hosanna in the highest!"

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"

11 The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

16 "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.

"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "'From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praise'?"

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. NIV

What will we recognize in another person? Will jealousy reveal its ugly head or will people see Jesus in us? Over the weekend we had were invited out to this new restaurant we had not been to before. It was great food, a really awesome atmosphere and the time flew by so quickly. In the upstairs dining area there was one wall of all different kinds and styles of mirrors. Some had gold frames, some were of black frames, and some were antique-like frames. It was done so well and the decorating style had a wonderful appeal for the eyes to take in for that size of wall. With all the different sized mirrors, the arrangement of them certainly made the room look bigger. And I thought of Jesus and how He reflected God to those around Him.

In the amount of time of Jesus’ life and His ministry to those around Him, the children certainly had praise in their mouths. I could see those money-changers being driven out. Jesus was re-directing them from the money venture that they had imposed in that place. In Jesus, we saw how zealous He was that the temple would become what it was always to be……….a House of Prayer and a place where even the children would raise their voices in praise to God. The children had to have danced around Jesus when He was disturbing those upright tables and bringing all that money to the floor of the Temple. Jesus was there to show the way. As Jesus was spoken of by the prophets, Jesus was now speaking His language toward that which revered God, lifted His Holy Name, and brought glory to HIM.

For people were all watching and saw what might have seemed like a great disturbance at the same time many were trying to direct Jesus to Antonio Fortress. The city was full of people for the Passover that was about to begin.  Jesus was pointing the way to God and how God was to be given all the praise for who He was. He was pointing to JUSTICE AND GOVERNMENT THAT was of God Himself! Jesus was pointing to prayer/relationship.........not taking over a government that was representing man. 

Our assignment is to recognize and know Jesus has come, tell others about Him, give them the salvation message and show them His love. We are to direct them, not to the hurts from the world but the power of God that supersedes every name in the earth, (on it and in it)

Ministry is that which points every person back to Jesus, the plan of Redemption, and once obtaining Salvation, to walk as He, Jesus, Who was, is, and is to come and always will be Holy!

Jesus did not command people by rules or regulations. He came to set people free from religiosity. You know that which is, children hidden in the back rooms, dim lights, slow music to begin worship……….okay, enough worship, let’s talk money………announcements. Message and done. Oh, did we have time for prayer tonight?

We were told in Jeremiah 33:3 amp…that we are to call to God and He would answer us and show us great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which we do not know or recognize, have knowledge of and understand.

In my estimation of the passage, it is for us to call to God……Jeremiah 33:2-9

2 "The Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth-Jehovah is his name-says this: 3'Ask me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here. 4 For though you have torn down the houses of this city, and the king's palace too, for materials to strengthen the walls against the siege weapons of the enemy, 5 yet the Babylonians will enter, and the men of this city are already as good as dead, for I have determined to destroy them in my furious anger. I have abandoned them because of all their wickedness, and I will not pity them when they cry for help.'

6 "Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem's damage and give her prosperity and peace. 7 I will rebuild the cities of both Judah and Israel and restore their fortunes. 8 And I will cleanse away all their sins against me and pardon them. 9 Then this city will be an honor to me, and it will give me joy and be a source of praise and glory to me before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see the good I do for my people and will tremble with awe! TLB

In spending time over this passage……one thing was evident and that was that God Himself wanted to show the people what trouble they were in and how the whole of what they had done to themselves would play out.

In the course of this reading, we know the prophet Jeremiah was to call upon God in prayer as we all are called to pray!  In this we have the Holy God, His character, we have His covenant, and we have His glory. In the crucifixion of Jesus we saw the crown of thorns that surrounded His head…..His whole thinking process that represented man in his sickness, his disease, his lack of strength because of hurtful experiences or painful memories of things past.

I do not know about you, but I want to know my future. And I can declare all those promises but they will not supersede my prayer time with God.
2 Peter 1:3-4
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. NIV

 It is that abide word again. It is that declaring those promises to Him, but also communicating….”Father, this is my heart today!”

So when we ask God……our Father will show us what things we have gotten ourselves into that will probably one day be a message to others……”Don’t do what I did”……”but seek God with all your hearts”.

In the Amplified, verse 6 and following reads this way: (Jeremiah 33:6) Behold, [in the future restored Jerusalem] I will lay upon it health and healing, and I will cure them and will reveal to them the abundance of peace (prosperity, security, stability) and truth. 7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to be reverse and will rebuild them as they were at the first. 8 And I will cleanse them from all the guilt and iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will forgive all their guilt and iniquities by which they have sinned and rebelled against Me. 9 And [Jerusalem] shall be to Me a name of joy, praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth that hear of all the good I do for it, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace, prosperity, security and stability I provide for it.

In short, yes a timely word indeed to what was about to transpire in the seeing of those who had fallen away. For those who had come from the “old man” to become the new man in Christ experience this. For calling on God and His holiness (righteousness) we take hold of that new covenant man, and experience health and healing. In each of our lives, our serving becomes that when we partake of His broken body and shed Blood. In that we experience His prosperity, His security and the truth (revelation knowledge). From verse 7 the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to be reversed. We as individuals will praise God for His goodness, no longer held in captivity.

“JUDAH”- was considered the noble one. What occurred before Joseph in Egypt, Judah was the one that truth would be revealed. Judah did not desire harm on another as we look back at Genesis 37:26-28

26 So Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brothers listened. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt. NKJV

As we read throughout Genesis and of Jacob’s family, who had become Israel…….yes that name change, remember?

Jacob’s oldest son Reuben gave up his birthright to lead the family by engaging in incest. (Remember what we had read on Esau and Jacob? The birthright was to be given Esau, but he lost it because his need for a bowl of lentil soup. (Genesis 25:31-34)  31 Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." 32 "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" 33 But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.  So Esau despised his birthright.  NIV

Genesis 27:36

36 Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?" NIV

Simeon and Levi committed murder. So it was in Judah to receive that blessing from the father. Judah was one who was seen as the “lion”…..and the image of that was painted for us in……Revelation 5:5

5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."NIV

In Moses' dying blessing (Deuteronomy 33:7) he prays: "Hear Lord the voice of Judah (in prayer) and bring him (marching at the head of the tribes back again victorious) unto his people."

As do each of us have a place in the body of Christ, those of the spiritual reside in the place of praise to our God, we have the place of authority and royal priesthood. As that of Israel…….we are those united as one family in God. When we recognize His voice, obey His commands, we know He is delighted that we are following in the way we are to go. (Psalm 37:23) God does not kill, steal or destroy. Anything or anyone declaring these things are not of God, but of the devil. It is in our recognizing Him, and telling others about Him, that they hear that spiritual joy in our voices. We dance like David danced, and we will never back down when giving truth of Jesus Christ the Lord of glory. We have the opportunity to have a birthright in God through Jesus………and have the blessing too!

When we are in unity…….that harmony……..we co-operate with God and receive His instructions for our lives. And as we keep leaning on…….our trust growing in Him, we grow in faith!

9 And [Jerusalem] shall be to Me a name of joy, praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth that hear of all the good I do for it, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace, prosperity, security and stability I provide for it.

And that holy house……that noble sanctuary is to God a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth that hear of all the good that God does for it………..and we His people shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace, prosperity, security and stability God our Father provides for it.  Amen.

And this he [Moses] said of Judah: “hear O Lord, the voice of Judah (prayer), and bring him to his people! With his hands he contended for himself; but may You be a help against his enemies.”

Father, may our voices be heard as one in unity……..not of noise, or of confusion. But no matter whether we are yellow, black, white, red……..we all matter in Your sight. We desire to be that one with Jesus…..abiding in that place of “fearing You in all Your glory and holiness” and trembling because of Your great good to us. May our eyes always be opened to see You in our lives and may we never act like the “lost”. May we hold You in high esteem because You are God. That we hold our gaze upon You who is awesome in splendor,  power and might. We desire to be prayer warriors who tremble in Your presence………and seek Your plan, seeing our place and stand to defend with the Word of God that prevails. May we ever be mindful, if God be for us, who can (possibly) stand against us? He Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all---how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? God, You are our JUSTICE. In Jesus name we stand as One. Amen.

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

Responding in Faith

What is fighting the "good fight of faith"?
Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith!

Hebrews 12:1-2.....................12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV

When we read verse 12, we are to lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us to run an endurance race that is set before us! That race is a life journey, a walk of faith with the Lord entrusting our every step into His confident hands!

1 Timothy 6:11-16.................11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.    NKJV

Lay hold of a life that pursues righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith holding onto that eternal life through Jesus.

Matthew 27:11-14.....................11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. 

12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge-to the great amazement of the governor. 

NIV

Life can seem unfair! But as we see with Jesus, we must choose how to deal with people in fairness, patience, truth, gentleness, righteousness and godliness seasoned with much love!
What if Jesus chose to speak against those bringing accusations? What if He wanted His say at that moment in time? What if He just let "loose" and told them it was about Him? No, because Jesus was led by love to forgive and to continue obeying His Father who directed Him to the Cross!

If there is something going on in the workplace or at home, do we look at the circumstance instead of looking into the face of Jesus?

Do we throw all caution to the wind, so to speak and dwell on the circumstance or situation or will we keep the faith and keep a good confession in the presence of many witnesses?

Will we confess:

Ephesians 5:1…..I am Your follower.

Ephesians 5:2……. I walk in love.

Ephesians 5:8….. I am light in You.

Ephesians 5:15…. I walk circumspectly.

Ephesians 5:18…...I am filled with the Spirit.

Revelation 12:11…..I am an overcomer.

1 Peter 2:24…..I am healed.

John 8:36….I am free.

Matthew 5:13…...I am salt.

1 Corinthians 6:11 amp……..I am consecrated.

1 Corinthians 6:11…...I am sanctified.

1 John 5:4….. I am victorious.

Everything You say about me is true, Lord. In Your name I pray. amen

Or will we let it "all hang out"? Will our words, sound like God our Father or the world?

It is important to fight with the faith in God's Word. To do anything else is like committing a spiritual suicide. We should always be determined to respond by holding onto joy in Jesus.

So what if it looks like things will never change? NOW would not be the time to stop believing! Only meditating on the world's view of things can lead people into bitterness and conjure a false view of God. God is good and He is good all the time, every day and in every circumstance. We must align ourselves with His truth and thoughts by confessing what He says about us. Bitterness about a situation will only cause one to lose direction in life and that moves one into the "enemy's camp".

Psalm 68:1-3......Let God arise,

Let His enemies be scattered;

Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. 

2 As smoke is driven away,

So drive them away;

As wax melts before the fire,

So let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 

3 But let the righteous be glad;

Let them rejoice before God;

Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. 

NKJV

Bitterness about a situation will cause one to be a wanderer with no certain path on which to walk.

Isaiah 38:15-19............15 "What shall I say?

He has both spoken to me,

And He Himself has done it.

I shall walk carefully all my years 

In the bitterness of my soul. 

16 O LORD, by these things men live;

And in all these things is the life of my spirit;

So You will restore me and make me live. 

17 Indeed it was for my own peace 

That I had great bitterness;

But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption,

For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. 

18 For Sheol cannot thank You,

Death cannot praise You;

Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth. 

19 The living, the living man, he shall praise You,

As I do this day;

The father shall make known Your truth to the children.   NKJV

In verse 17, the writer tells of us choosing his peace but his peace had great bitterness. But he goes on to tell that the Lord delivered his soul from that corruption, that sin which ensnares one.

Here we find that the Lord restores us day by day not to wander in bitterness of the soul but to live. He wants us alive to Him and give thanks for His goodness in delivering us from the things of the world.

We must understand that "bitterness" is a self-inflected venom that will kill.  Staying in bitterness will only lead one into more troubles and forget how to forgive others.

How does our faith measure up today? Is our trust in God alone? Do I think God needs my help to get things moving in this situation or circumstance at home or in the workplace? Do I think I need it done "my way"? Am I declaring it is "all about me"? Yikes! That would be a bad place to be in the journey of life. Are we putting on the confession to many witnesses of those listed above like being one who walks in love, is filled with the Spirit, am an overcomer or does something else spew out of our mouths? Am I thinking I deserve something that was given to someone else? Do I think I need to speak every thought I think out loud?

When we choose to say that we walk circumspectly, we walk as in the way of the Lord being mindful of others. It is bringing others to His word as well. To be an example of what a "Christian" looks like in living life, and not as a distraction, or something that belongs of this world.
Ephesians 5:15...."see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as the wise."
"Circumspectly"...... Greek word..."Akribos"....means diligently, perfectly, circumspectly......
"see then"..........Greek words "Blepo oun" .......take heed, take action or make sure
"walk" ....Greek word..."peripateo" ....to live, or to be occupied with"

TAKE HEED TO BE OCCUPIED WITH DILIGENT, PERFECT (INSTRUCTION)


Confessing God's Word, His power, His goodness and faithfulness to us is a choice even when it appears that bullets are flying in our direction. The Word of God is the same yesterday, today and forever. It will always remain the same in the face of any cultural disintegration, and moral upheaval. It is following Jesus daily and keeping that faith which brings victory to us in any circumstance or situation.

The choices we make today toward holding onto the Author and the Finisher of our FAITH will instill in us a strength and courage to know that we are walking the way Jesus walked. This walk involves not only us but in also involves all our future generations!

1 John 5:4….. I am victorious.

Father, today in Jesus' name, I pray for those who are bowed down. May their hearts take courage to know that You are their strength. Your thoughts and ways are the way to life with joy and peace. Father thank You for all who read and pray this out today. May they know You have not given them a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. I pray Father they would hold onto Your thoughts, feelings and purposes for them from Your heart. I pray they will be renewed with the fresh mental and spiritual attitude as they run to Your Word of safety.
Father, thank You that Your children are set free from every evil work. We praise You that the joy of the Lord is our strength and stronghold!
The things of this world are put to death today. Our fellowship, we pray is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Today we are alive from the dead and we walk circumspectly with others understanding there are witnesses to our faith walk. We move away from that which is past and move forward into the future, to that which lies ahead. Yes we strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which You are calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us! Our hope is in You. That hope which never disappoints or deludes or shames us for YOUR love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. Whatever the circumstance we face today, Lord we roll that work upon You, commit and trust it wholly to You; and believe that You will cause our thoughts to be come agreeable to Your will and so our plans will be established and succeed. Amen.


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

Being Trained in Godliness is Walking with God

Do we learn from church service, that which strengthens to know the Lord and His ways? If we are instructed in the Word, do we seek to follow that path set before us?
Do we expect to come away from the church service and return home to resume the "business as usual" or actually follow God?

Do we hear the Word, but shun the obedient part of doing it? It is when we submit to God as we read in James 4:7-17......
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (NKJV)

YIKES! IF WE KNOW TO DO GOOD....and do not......follow the Word to do it........it is sin.

Another question: Do we change by being a part of a wonderful worship service or do we change when we witness miracles? The worship services are wonderful. It is such joy to worship our God in song and in the lifting of our hands, but that does not bring the needed Word for change. For me, I certainly have seen miracles and know them to occur frequently, but that does not bring the needed change I need on a daily basis.

No, it it the "secret place" encounter with God that brings the needed change. It is the time of study and knowing what He has spoken and done!

From my own experiences with the Lord, the more I study and confess scripture, the more I see HIM and the more I enjoy knowing He is with me! A relationship is the give and take, but do we find ourselves more of the taking side of things than of the giving to someone else?
I have to ask myself that question a lot and remind myself, that all this is not about me. It is important for us to know the Lord and understand His purpose for our lives.
No, it should not be the "business as usual" for the Lord has the plan that brings us into knowing Him more fully and will propel us into what He planned for us to do here on earth.
Our going to a church service does not make us any more a Christian than us going to the hamburger place makes us a hamburger.
What makes you and me a "Christian" is that we know the Lord intimately, and that WE follow closely to what He has said and done. We are to set our course, much as Jesus did, and that was to follow and have THE intimate time with the Father.

I like the recent  teachings on " hearing God speak" and yet in all of these I hear nothing on PEOPLE being obedient to the Word taught. Are we discarding the truth, to walk in the worldliness and gratify our senses with the foolish things of the world?
Are we resounding brass and just making noise, or are we making a difference for the kingdom of God? Are we really practicing what we "preach and teach" others?

Time is over for  "religion and THE religious thing" and now is time for those who consistently seek God and His ways. It is not how cute and sweet, but how powerful is the Word of God that sets the captive free. Even Timothy was warned to "hold fast to the pattern of sound words which you have learned .........in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Have we set up the "secret place" to have time with God or we just building an altar that collects dust, no worship, no Word from scripture and with NO POWER!


 WE are reminded in 1 Timothy 4:6-7.....If  you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wive's fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

So, if the one teaching us is nourished in the words of faith and they follow it faithfully, should we  be those who are nourished in the same words of faith to follow too?
If we ask God what He desires for us, I am certain that He would state for us to know His Son, the Son of His Love, whom He sent for our benefit.

If I spend time with my husband, I learn all his likes and dislikes. I can learn what brings him heartache and laughter. If I spend quality time with him, I can learn what he likes to do and does not like to do whether when he is puttering around the house, on a long trip, or when we just go for a long walk together. My husband is not to be a distraction to me, but my companion in this life! If I value him, then I will want to find more quality time to spend with him and know him even better than I do today.

If I run today to catch up with the Lord, it is well worth it to me that He will know that I have come to fellowship and to ask Him some questions. Not all my questions are for something, but to know something about Him. "Lord, how can I deliver the word of truth in all godliness so others will know You as I do?" "How can I touch someone's heart today with YOUR love and let them know YOU sent me to speak with them?" "Lord, how may we bear witness for You when we have no zeal in our hearts?" "Lord, how may we apply Your word to our lives today, so that we submit ourselves, to be humble before You, and how to show others that being submitted to Your plan prospers us?"

I have learned my husband loves to prepare breakfast, and he desires to have dessert more often than I do. I know he likes to mow the grass and cook steaks on the grill. But I also know, that the best part of his day of work is coming home! He has this excitement of just being at home and to relax with the wife and the little dog.

I believe the best part of our Father God's day is when we run to catch up HIM while He walks in the cool of the day. I believe He likes the smell of roses in bloom and see dew in the early morning while the birds gather to sing their festive songs. I believe He delights to see us notice the moon He put in the sky or to see His word fulfilled in our lives when it speaks, "that himself bear our sins in His body on the tree, that we being dead to sin, might live unto righteous and by His stripes we are healed."
He is delighted when we speak what He speaks and declares what He declares about us.

 Do we value the Lord and show Him how much we want to be with Him? Do we declare how important He is in our lives and that we earnestly love Him for all that He did for us even before we knew HIM?

So if I go to church, say, Saturday evening and  truly go expecting to receive the Word that is taught at that time, then on Sunday morning will I understand and know that I am being sanctified in the Word of God?  Our walk of faith walk is in acknowledging God's nature and His heart. When receiving those teachings on Saturday evening, we should know that we are being nourished and strengthened to having a reverence and fear of God.! When the word is spoken, we are to be obedient about following that Word. Just like seeing speed limit signs on the roadway will do us no good if we fail to acknowledge that they are there are our benefit. Taking a curve with a posted sign of 25 miles an hour and taking it at 90 miles an hour will certainly bring destruction and death to the one driving the extreme speed above and beyond the speed of 25 mile an hour on that particular curve.

Today, I remember when I was a child, and when visiting the elder members of our family and seeing the "old" family Bible on the coffee table or on some shelf in their homes, the BIG BIBLE WHICH TOOK BOTH OF MY HANDS TO HOLD IT, seemed to hold all the written information for weddings, births and deaths in that particular family we were visiting.  Yet much of the time that I saw these big Bibles, they appeared more as a "show piece" and looked like they had not been opened for anyone's benefit. It just seemed to be a book to add the dates of the weddings,of the births and of the deaths of those who owned the Bible!
Does my life or your life resemble just a "showpiece" or when we open our mouths, is the Word of God coming out of it? When we speak, are we bringing a refreshing to others, giving them God's Word that will bring support and strengthen those we will speak to when they need it most? Or is it about how good we look, and is it more about that new outfit we just got to wear to the church, BUT does nothing to help the body of Christ? If we should need encouragement ourselves, would it not make a difference to encourage someone else? Would it not be important to encourage someone and plant those seeds into other people's lives? Are we put off because someone did not give us a hug or speak to us today? The possibility is great then that we lose out on the all important word given that evening that is to nourish us and strengthen us! Because of our taking on the defense of "poor me" then we are not receptive to receiving the Word of God that will bring change to our lives!

Today, we can choose what our character and conduct will be. It will either be that of the world or that which follows closely after righteousness and godliness. Our adhering to the Word of God reconciles us to His way of doing and thinking. We can clothe ourselves in His Word, and we can saturate our hearts with that same word day in and day out!
Each week, we have the choice to choose the Word or the world.

Will we choose.........

• to "be trained for godliness...1 Timothy 4:7.....7   but reject profane and old wive's fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

• act "according to the new nature...2 Corinthians 5:17,21......17   Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new 21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

• become imitators of God.....Ephesians 5:1-2........therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

• ambassadors for Christ....2 Corinthians 5:20.....20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

Father, in Jesus' name, we make a commitment to YOU. We sing praise to You and give thanks at the remembrance of Your holy name. We worship today in the beauty of holiness. We desire to be trained in godliness. We want to walk the faith walk and acknowledge YOUR nature and heart. Today we desire our character to be like your character.
Lord, we believe and expect our bodies to be whole and healed for Jesus took and bore Himself on the tree, that we being dead unto sin might live for righteousness and by whose stripes we were healed.

Today we hold the word of truth and know our lives are sanctified by the Word of truth. We expect to have the reverence and fear of God as we adhere to the Word that sets us free. Today we choose to have YOUR character and conduct.

Father, how may we please you today in our lives? How may we bring joy and laughter to YOU? We thank You for hearing us as we pray. We also expect to have the new and adventurous life that is new everyday and not "the business as usual thing". We release You Holy Spirit into our lives this day. Expand and increase our knowledge of YOU. We want to ENCOUNTER GOD IN ALL HIS FULLNESS FIRST HAND. WE WILL BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD. AMEN

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

Humility and Honor Equals Courage in Your Heart

The Bible tells us much about honor. It tells us that those who have ears that hear the rebukes of life, will abide among the wise. But we also understand, in the same scripture, we find that he who disdains instruction, despises his own soul.( Proverbs 15:31-33 NKJV ) It is understanding then Who created who......and that the fear we should have, has the example of a reverence and an awe toward He WHO spoke light be and it is still expanding today! It is knowing who is Alpha and Omega.

There are many scriptures on honor and humility, but my favorite are found in Proverbs 22:4 and Proverbs 31:25-26. It is that humility that prepares us for honor. When we give honor to the Lord, it is to highly esteem Him, and that we give Him the distinction of the Holy One, who conquered death, hell and the grave. When we truly seek to praise Him in all His glory, and follow closely to being obedient to that written Word, we discover life, righteousness and honor.

THE God of Love, who gave His only Son, gifted us to become the sons of God. It was by grace that we are saved. That has given us opportunity to express gratitude, to spend time with Him and to know the Creator of all things. He who gives such a life should be feared.

When we view the Cross and the humility of Jesus, He became strong in His humility. He bore our weakness, pain, sickness & disease, but courage was in His heart. His heart was one with God His Father. Oh, to know that kind of humility, that strengthens our hearts in the most painful of times and troubles that darken our pathways, but Jesus was surely strengthened to make that walk to the Cross!

Jesus was ruled not by His flesh but by His spirit man. He gained strength in staying connected to His Father through the Word that brings truth and life to our mortal bodies. Jesus retained riches and honor and life by giving up His life to live for the Father. Jesus was obedient!

I love the scriptures of the virtuous wife. It tells she girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms. She looks to keep fit and looks out for her household, but she also extends her hands to the poor. She is not afraid of any kind of weather, she is on the go and so is her family. They keep their pace for the kingdom of God. Her husband is known in the city gates. He works with his hands and is known as the business leader. As he sits among the doers in the community, it tells that she gains strength and honor. For as she honors her husband and takes care of her family, people will know who she is as she speaks with wisdom, and her tongue with kindness. She is never idle for she keeps watch over the food supplies, the clothes that need to be washed, the dry cleaning taken to the cleaners, and the job that has to be done. It says her lamp does not go out, and I think of how busy she is, but also think she is aware of the IMPORTANCE OF Prayer and word that must be spoken over her husband, her family and the new day coming! But in all this, we are told as she watches over her household, her children and her husband bless her, they praise her for what she does for them. In the end, she has done well, a woman who fears the LORD, is praised!  And it is God who will give her the fruit of hands and her own works will praise her in the gates. This is honor!

Honor: a courage and a strength that is seen and causes praise to come to you when you follow hard seeing after the needs of others. Love that never murmurs but does something. Love that speaks and fulfills a job to be done. Love that does something without being told, and does it quickly and even in secret most of the time when no one is looking. It is this kind of serving others in the excellence as Jesus did and that which is given in an amount  that is noticeable, it is by words of kindness and sometimes by correction and always by action!

We live in a day and time when people want respect. But do they give respect? People want the glory, but what price did Jesus pay for the glory of God?

People want the name, but do they want to put effort into what it takes to become the name!

People want to be looked up to as the head, as the leader, or as the CEO! But do they understand what it takes to fill that role?

As we see in the Olympics, men and women train year in and year out. They care not of the weather or where they train as long as the job is done. They work their bodies into submission to get the needed strength and endurance it takes to win that Gold Medal! They train while most of us sleep. They train winter, spring, summer, fall, dry or wet, cold or hot, but they continue no matter what the day or night may bring.

I think of the those fighting overseas and on distant lands. I think of those who fight for our country and in those most formidable times of violence, of war and tumult, and they come out victorious to save those they fight with over there against the common enemy. I think of the men who have come from war with no legs or an arm and one leg missing, and suffer with PTSD and still have a medal for valor, or a medal awarded for bravery!

In Proverbs 29 and verse 23b.........but the humble in spirit will retain honor (NKJV) and I think of Jesus, the humble, the wise, the one who took instruction and went to the Cross......and gained honor. He was humble in spirit and spoke no evil, but He did correct them when the correction was needed.

Dare we forget the time of Him driving out the money changers ( the persons who furnished the proselytes and the Jew who came from other countries, with the current coin of Judea, in exchange for their own.coinage ) and those that sold the doves or other. It was those who stood in the area of the priests. These men at the time gained salary by bringing the unmarked and favorable birds and such other animals for the altar. Those who came to offer their sacrifice, had to go through the front of the Temple that was to be for prayer, but those who built up this business, took note if those who might need a worthy sacrifice to offer.........and they told the people who came,  if the offering they brought was good enough and if it was not up to what they thought, those working in the temple would get the needed dove, or such bird or animal that was required for their particular sacrifice and sell it for a price! So there was " stinky things going on in the temple" and it was not for prayer. And Jesus came to drive them out! He told them, in Matthew 21:13............"It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"NKJV

Jesus was giving honor to His Father. He showed  not by words alone, but by actions of His faith that the temple was a place of prayer and these men had made it a business! Thus Jesus drove out both the buyers and the sellers. Jesus definitely purged the abuse that was being done in the temple and He, Jesus,  established that God's way was for prayer in that place. The action of selling of the bird and such for profit by the priests was a sin, it was ungodliness and was profane as it defiled the sanctuary.

Jesus was directing them back to the practices whose gain is godliness. Jesus uncovered that these priests were living for more support and squeezing the extra money out of the people for their own gain and use.  Jesus called them thieves, for they were taking what did not belong to them! When we truly seek to be humble ourselves before the Lord, and come into His sanctuary, we see the majesty of His glory. We bask in the beauty of Who He is in the Love He has for mankind.

It was after the driving out the money changers that the temple gained back the godliness it was meant to have. In Matthew 21:14, the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. Yes, it is in the church, the temple of the Living God, the place Believers go and see the manifested goodness and power of God. It is that power that gives sight to the spiritually blind and feet to the lame.

If you should be in church or body of people who worship or say they do and there is no healing going on in the place.........leave now, and go find where the manifested presence of the Lord of glory resides!

Truly, Jesus came as the Prophet to set in motion those things that had to be corrected. He spoke when He needed to speak and He spoke where people did not have to guess at what He was saying.

We are told in Mark 1:14-15.......... Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.'  (NKJV)

He was telling them that change had come, and He was the answer. He was the Savior to the world. It was, and will always be repentance that is God's will and pleasure. (2 Peter 3:9-13) As the prophet, Jesus, gave the matter or the desires of the heart of the Father. It was His Father's desire for man to repent from ungodly ways and turn to the Father.

 Today, it still means a cry for a repentance in today's society. Even with all its technology and worldly things, Jesus came to root out and to pull down, and to destroy and to throw down, and to build and to plant.(Jeremiah 1:10)  And today, we can see many folks who love the planting and building! They love the new building and doing the next new thing, but when it comes to getting that nasty root out, that which causes problems like any kind of deceit, choosing to keep the bad apple so it can destroy the whole barrel, so to speak, boy that is hard to do, right? The bad apple can spoil the whole barrel and keep the anointing from operating, But Jesus came to set captives free. He came to break the yokes and remove those things that bind us to the past. Are we setting people  free or we making them even more chained to the past problems, the past hurts, the past sins that brought them poor health and  maybe even a loss of income? It is time to grow up in the Lord! It is time for the body of Christ to gain courage in the heart and speak what is God's heart!  

Jesus lived an intense life, and he walked the narrower path!  

 Should it not be to us as well, that the sense of duty to honor the Father as Jesus. we too, should be crushed with a godly sorrow for ourselves, for our families, for our community and for our nation?

Jesus came and upset some folks.........he ruined the money changers plans and upset the priests in the temple at that time, but Jesus came and He obeyed. Are we ready to ruffle some feathers for the kingdom of God that has come?  It will take courage in the heart just like Jesus had............"do not fear little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32) AMEN!

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