An Artesian Well of Good or a Nasty Flood of Evil

Picture by R. Twiner

Ecclesiastes 9:17  ESV The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

I wrote out a number of scripture verses to study and memorize for 2017. In them, I am looking into speaking with less words, more to the point and less opinion. It is important to get to the point and to keep an opinion out of the way of God's truth. I am thinking people get enough of the other from T.V.
I also went to look at other scriptures like the one above in scripture knowledge and found this one that speaks the same or in a similar way.
Proverbs 28:23..NKJV....He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he would flatters with the tongue.


James 3:13-18 cinches this  all together.
James 3:13-18 ..........NKJV....Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is fire pure, then peaceable, gently, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

God's wisdom gives us the insight and how to rightly implement His knowledge through out our days. His wisdom is vital in everyday conversations with your spouse, your children ( grown up or still at home), with co-workers, with those at the grocery store, postal office, or other. And His wisdom is good for any people and at any age of life.

Pondering God's thoughts for us is always a needed thing. I am always wanting to seek out that quiet time, and hear the quiet voice, yes, the small still voice that is not like the world. It is one which speaks by asking you first, "Why are you here?"

1 Kings 19:9  NKJV
9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are doing here, Elijah?"


AND of course, Elijah has his answer. He was zealous for the Lord. Coming from chapter 18 of 1 Kings we saw and heard the spectacular of God. In all that Elijah was believing all hearts would be changed to God, evidently in an instant, which they were not. Jezebel was still Queen and had hatred for Elijah. Elijah still had the Holy Spirit but in his zealousness, he was not allowing God His true way. Of course, Elijah went into a depression, and desired his life to be over.

God asked a question in Genesis 3:9.
Genesis 3:9 NKJV .....The the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
Now we know God was not asking out of any ignorance, but rather as a parent to the child.
"Where are you?"

If we are shouting to others, then who will really hear us? If we want (or demand) our way, and shouting is the norm, then I would say, 'no one ever hears you!"
Any within your region of influence will be looking for "EXIT" SIGN!
Having the righteousness of God is having fruit and that fruit is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:18)
Jesus taught thousands on hillsides outside Jerusalem and I never read HE had a megaphone.

In Proverbs 28:23, we find honesty, though painful will always win the long-term reward. The MESSAGE Bible speaks it this way: ' in the end, serious reprimand is appreciated far more than boot-licking flattery.

Again James 3:14 and 15.....tells us that .....if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Any relationship and any time given as in bible studies, teaching and preaching the word of God and in everyday life are to be lived in wisdom of God, spoken with less words, and remain in His peace. Remaining in His righteousness, and receiving Jesus we have righteousness, but it is that which is from God. WE must remain in God!

Proverbs 17:27 ESV... Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
The Message Bible writes it this way: the one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm.
That tongue can certainly cause someone to sin. And the tongue can when used loosely will produce sin.

So if God asked "Where are you?" Could we or would we say, "we are waiting on Him in His presence to hear Him speak to us?"
Or would we with loose lips, complain and ask Him why He delays something we really want or think we really need?

As in teaching and preaching God's Word requires no dilution! So too wordiness brings evil with an intent to harm or hurt. But true teaching of God is yes, a rebuke at times, but is a place of healing, a place of experiencing God and His love and having an ability to live it and tell it to others.

In view of others, it is only God's word that is to be given and the word which will heal. It is not up to us who give God's word to make sure the other receives it. We are not the Holy Spirit, but we are too give that which is the divine blessing God desires others to have.
I had another favorite scripture I add today.
It is found in Habakkuk 2.
Habakkuk 2:1-4
1 I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. 2 Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come.. It will not tarry. "Behold the proud , His soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by faith.

I had a teaching on this many years ago. In essence it is to write anything God has spoken to you. Keep it in a journal and add to that which God speaks. In dealing with others, we are to keep our commitment to God and time with Him. In that we do not become the intoxicated in our selves. We should not be the self-seeking and be those who envy. Because we indulge in our own gratification and see how many we can smooze with worldly talk, then we become the "stinking proud".

We are to be the righteous. We are to be promoting peace, but we also must know that peace comes with a big price. And in that is all of God and no opinion of or by man. It is certainly good that we mourn corruption, wickedness and even those abominations in the land. For in that we are revealing God, His heart and His character.
As we speak with few words, but in the strength of His, we reach the concerned, and the distressed. And those who may be away from Him will come back again to His love and His kingdom which is by faith.
Some things will not happen overnight. For it takes time to recover, to be reconciled, endure with patience as Jesus did.  Our souls are to endure in Jesus. By the Word, we adhere to Him and then move to that to which we are the destined.

In that time of quiet, we speak with less words, and desire to His strong voice speaking so low, yet so peaceful and still with power that comes from God. I write the vision for what He has given me to journal. I write that which is given to place on my heart, the tablet that reads of His word so that I might run to that which I am the appointed.
Whew, God did not ask me "where are you"? But what did He say? What was the last scripture verse He gave you and when did He give it?

Learning to wait in the quiet, hear the still small voice and abide in not only loving Him but obeying Him!

If you think you need a megaphone, ask God why you feel you are not heard? Pay attention to your own life and do you give others time to speak or do you monopolize the conversation? Another question would be if you desire all the attention?

Conducting our lives in God's principles gives a wealth of His wisdom to operate in His power. Having revelation to handle each comes by the Holy Spirit. We are not compromise but abide in peace without envy, confusion and self-seeking encounters.

I close with this verse. Proverbs 18:4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. NKJV
Message Bible  Proverbs 18:4 Many words rush along the rivers in flood, but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.

When we speak, does it look and sound like a really big flood in the early spring or does it appear more like that Artesian well ......where God's wisdom bubbles up to exhort and speak to the point with few words?
Proverbs 10:11...NKJV speaks that the mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
That means that there are two situations that can occur with the tongue. Speaking right in righteousness that is of God brings life, and speaking the other in envy, confusion, strife, etc, only brings violence.

How about living in peace and using only God's Words?

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:

Living a Full Life without Strongholds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oHfyyDl-bo



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

Heart Issues

Matthew 9:9-13........................9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. 10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."   NKJV

Wow! Heart issue going on within the Pharisees! Mercy and not sacrifice was the statement Jesus made when hearing what the Pharisees had spoken to the disciples. He goes on to say, "For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Matthew 12:1-8..................12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" 3 But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."  NKJV

YOU would not have condemned the guiltless.....

Thinking of the Pharisees and their watchful eye on Jesus, have you ever wondered if they had schedules to follow Jesus around in a 24-hour period? You know like Mike and Joe at 6 am to 9 am and then Frank and Fred take 9 am to noon. Just a thought, for they seemed to have those spying out what that "man" was doing at the moment.

Now it states from the above scripture passage that Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. The disciples were hungry and began to eat. Now if you have never gone through a grain field and picked the heads of grain, you have missed out. For it is surely a good treat for anyone needing food in a moment of time.

The Pharisees were quick to point out "something" and it was that being in the grain field was unlawful. They were picking in the field on the Sabbath.

But Jesus reminds them of David and how he got the shewbread for his men to eat as they were without food at the time.

1 Samuel 21:1-6.....................21:1 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no one is with you?" 2 So David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, 'Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.' And I have directed my young men to such and such a place. 3 Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found." 4 And the priest answered David and said, "There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women." 5 Then David answered the priest, and said to him, "Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was sanctified in the vessel this day." 6 So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread which had been taken from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away.   NKJV

Though a Law prevented the shewbread to be used by anyone else other than the priests, in this emergency of human need, compassion prevailed over the restriction.

In another arena of this complaint, the priests had to work.   

Matthew 12:5....Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?

Can you imagine the thoughts and overwhelming pride these Pharisees held in regard to what they knew the Law to be for they always referred back to the Lawgiver, Moses!

These priest were guiltless of performing their temple worship.

So in regards to the disciples plucking and eating the grain, as they followed Jesus who was leading them. They were doing what was expected and done in a manner of knowing Jesus was the master of the Sabbath.

It is like in this country, we have laws for the highway use. There are restricted areas like neighborhoods that only allow a 25 mph maximum because the amount of children who live and play in that area. Other areas like Interstate Highways have a designation of 60 mph or 70 mph, but other areas that have construction going on, and that speed is cut dramatically in accord with what is being done to roadway. Some areas of construction may have only a 40 mph reduced to a 20 mph in less than 1/4 mile. Again that is for the safety of those workers in that area and for the safety of those driving on the roadway that is under repair or for a whole new restructuring.

Sunday night, a week ago, in Portland, there was a traffic problem with a "Fast and Furious" moment when a group of street racers took over a bridge on Interstate 405. There were several drivers involved and they performed "donuts" and some "burnouts". Yes, it had traffic snarled, blocked and stopped on the Fremont Bridge. Not sure of the amount of time, but I was thinking how many motorists needed to cross that bridge that had an emergency at home or elsewhere they had to get to, but because of a few drivers, many motorists had to stop while those "stunt drivers" performed their stunts. Yikes!

Not a common rule in this country. Am certain those who exhibited their expertise in "donuts" will see some kind of fine or jail time.

Jesus always moved through the crowd. He stopped when He needed to stop but always kept moving to the next person and the next person.

Jesus said, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice"..........I desire all to have a merciful heart......!

 About ministering to others. It is always the heart issue. The heart issue is not only for those who come for prayer, but also for those who minister "to others" in prayer. It always takes the Holy Spirit to lead us through to pray for someone. But like Jesus, we should just speak a word and it is done.

In ministering to others, it is the "heart that leads". It takes those who love others through prayer and giving a needed encouragement to another.

You can certainly see those who have a "heart" for others. Not just on the street in respect to saying hello,but stopping to pray with them there as well! That is a strong heart that loves over all circumstances and situations.

I like what the New American Standard-Updated Edition had of the verse..........Matthew 9:13...................13 "But go and learn what this means: "I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."   NASU

COMPASSION.......JESUS DESIRES FOR US TO HAVE COMPASSION!

Matthew 5: 7...Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. NIV

Matthew 23:23-24...Woe to you, scribes, and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. NKJV

James 3:16-18...For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits; without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. NKJV

In the verse above, that merciful and mercy are the love, that God compassion for others. It is one love, one great compassion that has good fruits without partiality and without hypocrisy!
I think of Jesus knowing Judas would betray Him. He knew what was in Judas' heart and yet Jesus never murmured about it to anyone. YOU never READ of anything being mentioned about Judas other than Jesus telling him to do quickly what he was about to do in betraying HIM!

In the blog, "What Language Do You Speak?", I had written our individuality is ours alone but our identity should be in God alone! I knew as I was writing it that it was Holy Ghost inspired and believe that today, that God created us as those individuals with choices, to live for him and to be that part of His family. We can be loud, we can be red, yellow, black or white, we can be short or tall, we can heavy or thin, but our hearts should belong to God. I love to pray, and you may love to run, but we still love God. I love to write about Jesus and you may write songs about Jesus and then sing them to crowds.
We should not want to act like the Pharisees and send out scouts to check on the "man of God" and see if he is following the strict law. Talk about religiosity! no, Jesus came to set captives free.  Someone new shows up at church or the Bible study, they love to pray, but are we allowing them access to us and the other believer's or are we shunning them, and cutting off access to them "not to pray" or "encourage" others?


Mark 9:38-44....................38 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us." 39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. 

42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 44 where 

'Their worm does not die,
And the fire is not quenched.'  NKJV

Should we not want to look like the "free" son  of God and be imitators of that which is good and not that which is of evil intent?
It should not make a difference what church one attends or if it is on Saturday or Thursday. When God is in it, others will know!     Acts 5:39........39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God."  NKJV
(Read all of Acts 5) When God is with us, others will know it and have the wisdom to not fight against it. BUT ALAS, you can at times find some who try to stop what God is doing, but to no avail.

 We are not to be the judge, jury and sentence giver of said "crime". We will know others by their fruit. Are they producing fruit that is of righteousness that produces peace or they causing strife? Is the new person praying for others and seeking the other's good?

So what if she prays loud that every person in the next county can hear her pray? So she prays so quiet that only a mouse can hear her speak or give a squeak! So what if "he" only shows up when the service begins with the "sticks" to the drums and leaves when an "Amen" is spoken.  Again God is the JUDGE.
Jesus is the "I AM" in our midst. If I talk about Joe Blow and his " what I think is bad" driving on I-5, that makes me a what? We are to bless and not curse our fellow man! Could not tell you how many times I had to repent living in the Seattle area. Yikes! All that confessing sin, .............but God........."they did this" and "God, did YOU see that"..and they....did and did and did................! That is tiring guys. 
It is best to give it to God. I keep the responsibility of driving safely on the roadway, but I cast the care of it on God! I believe He will perform His Word over my trips to and from said place I need to be. 

Yes, a heart issue.  It is the Holy Spirit that brings to us that which is wrong. If HE SHOWS US SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE, WE ARE TO PRAY AND NOT BRING LIGHT TO IT UNLESS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US IN THAT DIRECTION. AGAIN, GOD'S WORD WILL CORRECT US. IT IS UP TO US TO FOLLOW THAT INSTRUCTION!
In following Jesus, we follow that which He has placed for us to do. Not complain about Jennie June or Missy Ann or John, but walk with them, have good thoughts about them, and pray. For God desires us to have compassion for others. Do we have good fruits that are without partiality and without hypocrisy? Do I have a problem with a woman because she is of color or because she is loud? Some of my best friends have been those of color and who were "very" loud. And praise God, they loved Jesus! It starts with us and should end with those knowing we have been with the Lord!

We are not to have a religion here but a lifestyle that exhibits love the way Jesus did and one that still flows through that of His followers!

Father, thank You for Jesus. He is our example of a 360 degree love. He came to set the captives free who followed after the world's set rules implemented to enforce a rule that no man can keep. Father, today we live in a day and time when people want to rule, have their own way because they think they look good. But from Your Word we find that love is the best example to give and to show. In 1 Samuel 16:7...we are told...... for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." NKJV

Scripture tells us in Proverbs 14:33....that
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of fools is made known. NKJV
We pray for understanding!

It is our desire as we pray today that courage and strength would be seen in our lives. It is our desire to have that which will give love at the most inopportune times. For we know love never murmurs, but does something. That God-kind of love speaks and fulfills a job to be done. YOUR kind of love does something without being told to do it. Does it quickly and in most cases is never seen by others. It is this kind of serving others that we saw in Jesus. It is this most excellent way in serving that we desire for it truly is given in an amount that is noticeable and it is given by words of kindness and sometimes by correction for another's good.

Father, we know not what our complete roles are in serving You and our fellow man, but we hold fast to YOUR Word and believe that as we walk into eternity with YOU, we are those who are the merciful extending a compassionate heart whether in praying or giving of time or even finances into another person's life. We understand that we all were created in Your image and we expect to have a part in this end time harvest of having opportunities and many open doors to see Your kingdom come into the lives of many men, women and children. We give You praise for all that You do in our hearts today. Holy Spirit come and have Your way in us. It is in Jesus' holy name, we pray. Amen.

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