Rumor

Job 28:20-28
20 "Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds of the air.
22 Destruction and Death say,
'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'
23 God understands the way to it
and he alone knows where it dwells,
24 for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
25 When he established the force of the wind
and measured out the waters,
26 when he made a decree for the rain
and a path for the thunderstorm,
27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
he confirmed it and tested it.
28 And he said to man,
'The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.   NIV

Have you ever been at a church where rumor's run rampant?
Consider the gossip behind this rumor! Remember from the Bible about rumors that are mentioned? Let's start with Jesus!  We find rumors in Mark 1!

Mark 1:23-29  Amplified

Just at that time there was in their synagogue a man [ who was in the power] of an unclean spirit; and now [immediately] he raised a deep and terrible cry from the depths of his throat, saying, 24 what have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are---the Holy One of God! 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hush up (be muzzled, gagged), and come out of him! 26 And the unclean spirit, throwing the man into convulsions and screeching with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all so amazed, and almost terrified that they kept questioning and demanding one of another, saying What is this? What new (fresh) teaching! With authority He gives orders even to the unclean spirits and they obey Him! 28 And immediately rumors concerning Him spread [everywhere] throughout all the region surrounding Galilee.

The fear of the Lord is wisdom........and it is to shun evil and gain the understanding of God. In coming to His thoughts and ways are certainly higher than ours. But remaining in Him, we grow in His wisdom of righteous living and walk into the understanding of those inclinations that we learned early in life and lean toward while living in a fallen world. For when we understand His way that is right and security to us, He will certainly guard those paths of justice and preserve our way. (Proverbs 2:8-9)
In remaining in Him we gain the understanding of living that righteous life that has the hallmark of justice. And those inclinations of family given to us over periods of generations is stopped by His Word of power in our lives.

In the scripture passage above from the book of Mark and chapter 1, we find a man who was under the power of an unclean spirit. And it evidently was a loud speaking spirit, indeed. For it's screeching sounds are indicated in verse 26. And in verse 27 we find that they (who looked on) were all amazed and almost terrified that they kept questioning and demanding one of another, saying, What is this? What new (fresh) teaching! With authority He gives even orders to the unclean spirits and they obey Him!

to be amazed: thambeo....NT: 2285 to stupefy, to astound

So what amazed the people more? Was it that He, Jesus cast out the unclean spirit or that He spoke with authority or could it have been both things? For it certainly was fresh teaching to them and they considered this a teaching to them!

Have you seen a child surprised about something that almost scares them? They run to the closest parent and start asking questions immediately. I remember our grand-child the first time she saw the Easter Bunny. She knew it to not be a good thing. She was terrified!  She turned inward toward her mom and tightened her grip on mother's neck. This is the scene I picture here in this moment of time. These folks had never seen such authority and order! He is teaching from the Word of God, the Holy Scripture and then ministers to a man who was demon possessed.  Imagine what life was being given in those moments before those people and they saw it as "fresh"!

Then in verse 28..............immediately rumors concerning Him spread [everywhere] through all the region surrounding Galilee.

And it was spread, from ear to ear and am certain many added their own flavor of what occurred although they were not there to see the actual happening. RUMORS!

They are generally spread by those who really have no relationship with the person being talked about. They care nothing about the person but are so readily available to have their say about the ordeal or happening concerning the "person" ! 

It then turns to gossip and ugliness. When they could follow Jesus and see the authority He walked in, yet the word, the rumor they spoke went out through the region surrounding Galilee. In that event some saw good and other's did not.

Luke 4:31-37

31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. 33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, 

Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.     NKJV

Again we see this in Luke 4. They were all amazed and spoke among themselves. "What a word this is!" "For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."

And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

In the KJV the word given was "fame" and in the NKJV we see " report ".......in looking up fame in the Greek.........we find it listed as an : echo.....uncertain, noisy...........loud and confused...also roar: rumor

What is they say: familiarity breeds contempt?
And people can be vicious.............they can say really stupid things:

Well, I know you, and God will never use you! You know I knew your parents and they were not quality people.  Well, I know your background and God is looking for the faithful. 

But God is looking for the humble in heart who will do His bidding.

What we may view with our own eyes may not be the next Billy Graham, but may be the very guy God is growing up to walk with Him.

Then another speaks more ugliness............................ Ah, but who is mentoring you.....????.......well, you really need someone to mentor you...........!!!
Come on guys, we have the Holy Spirit living in our hearts. Remember Him, who was hovering over the face of the earth.............brooding and brought order into all the chaos that covered that face of the earth?

I like this one: "Well you scared me!" or "They overwhelm me..........and ......well, I am not coming back!"                 I wonder how many Jesus heard speak those same sentiments.

In this day and hour, we must be those who abide in the Word of God. We should not live by rumors and those confused echos of a fallen world. For if we truly we live, then we live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We live by the Holy Spirit Who lives in our hearts and relays to us the things we must know for all our tomorrow's. It is not about, "well, he said, or she said", but it is about Jesus who went about doing good and healing all that were the sick.

Acts 10:38-43

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."  NKJV


Do our lives look like His life?

 Jesus came openly and spoke but not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after he arose from the dead.

Even so today, God speaks to His chosen and those He is establishing. It is Him that we give the new (fresh) that is entirely His Word. It is no fairy tale, contains no magic dust, but it is power to bring healing to all who are the oppressed by the devil.

For truly God is with us who obey His every command, and who keep the faithful walk by His side and minister weekly to those who come to hear God and to praise His name.

Don't party with those who want to spread the "rumor". Don't spend time to start gossip about something you know nothing about. If people want to know what God is doing, then they need to ask Him. And He will listen when their heart is for Him and not for the sake of gossip. Go visit "person" where the "happening" is going on. Go and look for His kingdom and it will be there for the kingdom of God has come. You should experience His presence there!

 BUT IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT, THEN YES GO CHECK OUT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING HEALED AND THE PEOPLE ARE BEING SET FREE TO BE ALL GOD PLANNED FOR THEM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
Yes, rumors are going to fly and we, even the church we attend will hear them, but we speak what we have heard from the Father. We abide in Him to bring His presence to the lost and the dying. Where does your heart reside? Will you be overwhelmed in the presence of God?

Jesus spoke this:

Matthew 12:25-28
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.   NIV

If we are truly in God's house and the demons are leaving people, then the "kingdom of God" has come upon us. If that is not happening in your services, then run, don't walk till you find His presence and abide in Him. For He is not far from any of us...........

Acts 17:26-28

 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'   NIV

If we are the saved, then we abide in Him to hear Him speak. We abide in Him to teach with a freshness.........that gently breeze of the Holy Spirit and proclaim His goodness. 

Acts 19:11-18

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.  NKJV

It is evident that rumors held this together. For we see Paul working the unusual because he had a relationship with God. Diseases would leave and evil spirits would exit men. But it tells us in this passage that there were those who would "try to exorcise" in the name of Jesus. The Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits. And they said this: : 'we exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.'  YIKES!

Now that is stupid!

Then we find there were these 7 sons of Sceva. And he, Sceva was a Jewish chief priest. And the person they chose evidently had a particularly powerful demon for the demon within this person wrestled them, tore their clothes off them, and prevailed over them, and these 7 sons fled naked.

Now we know demons have no power over those who are the truly saved. And they are those who know what authority of which they walk. Jesus gave that to us. See Luke 10:19.

Luke 10:19-20

 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."   NKJV

The spirits are subject to us! But our services are anything but setting captives free. It is let's have some food here and party like it is 1999.  Now many came after seeing this thing. For in verse 17 it became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus. Fear fell on them! And the name of Jesus was magnified. I wonder who was there speaking over these people after these events.

It certainly turned out well. For now there was the evidence that what Paul did and spoke in His name. And God's word prevailed and not the other way round. No, God was shown to be real!

If we do not depart from sin and try this in a service, then disaster will ensue! These who failed kept their own ways and doing, they kept their sin and it almost killed them!

Proverbs 1:28-32

28 "Then they will call to me but I will not answer;

they will look for me but will not find me. 

29 Since they hated knowledge 

and did not choose to fear the LORD, 

30 since they would not accept my advice 

and spurned my rebuke, 

31 they will eat the fruit of their ways 

and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 

32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 

33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety 

and be at ease, without fear of harm."    NIV

In verse 32 in the Amplified reads this way: For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them.
And verse 33 reads this way: But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil.

In closing:
Some people just go looking for disaster. They see someone do something in Jesus' name and think they can do it, even though they have to prayer time with Him and have not read the Word of God in months. Those who choose God will walk in power. They will have His knowledge and do exploits for Him. They will follow Him no matter what, and as they listen to Him, He will cause them to live in safety, in ease and without fear of harm. Those who choose the rumors, that confusion of man will follow after disaster and fall into pits. Let's not be careless in the things of God!
Let's be counted with the wise who have the fear of the Lord. That is to hate: evil, pride, arrogance and the evil way.  (evil way is the perverted and twisted speech)

Proverbs 8:13

13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;

Pride and arrogance and the evil way

And the perverse mouth I hate.  NKJV

THOSE IN THE POWER OF GOD: ARE THE FAITHFUL, THEY ARE THE ANOINTED WHO KNOW WHAT AUTHORITY THEY WALK IN AND THEY TRUST HIM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY FORWARD!

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Heard It Through the Grapevine

We had a tremendous time with the Lord last night. We had a special word on "abiding". We had wonderful worship and prayer together as a team. Then we had "food". Ahh, yes, Jesus liked to eat as well. We find it happening after His resurrection. Yes, down at the beach front of the Lake.......He had fish cooking on the "grill".
John 21:7-10
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.  9 When they landed, they saGRAEVINE,w a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 

10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
NIV

How often as individuals and family leaders we get caught up in the "activity" of just doing. Well, "I did my job today and I am so tired!"  "I am just going to do my thing tonight (tomorrow, Sunday or ???)

In what we read above, the disciples had gone back to what they did before they met Jesus. Before their walk with Him, they as fishermen had gone back to that which they "knew oh so well"!

Some of the disciples saw the fire of burning coals and that were some fish already cooking.

Jesus knew where to find them. They had been so frightened to all that transpired by the one hundred or so company of soldiers had come to them in the garden to take Jesus away. They probably thought they were next in line for crucifixion. But Jesus knew them and what was in them. And He found them fishing. No, they were probably hidden out is some area as not to be seen as "one of those"who followed that Jesus!

In the passage in John 21 we find some interesting conversation between Jesus and the disciples....John 21:1-9 

21:1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No." 6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

NKJV

 In verse 5, Jesus speaks to them.........."Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No".

Interesting Jesus says, "children".

How we desire to "help" our children! How we want to show them to walk through life, have this journey, and know the best of it each day.

Alas, these men had no fish. They had caught nothing. Jesus gave them instructions and they followed them. They caught a boat load that was more than enough and they came to shore.

I have found in my walk with the Lord that I could miss a lifetime of miracles if I miss a service or that special evening of worship and praise to God the Creator. No, there was no big "choir" singing. There was no one " playing bass guitar or beating some drums!" But we worshiped in song and in prayer. We came together as a family to give thanks. In all my years of church going, this year was like going home for the first time. It was this refreshing time of being with those you love and who love you back. A child prayed, a dessert was eaten, and prayer was given for all. A time to laugh, and joy in truth that God is ever with us. (Matthew 1:23)

In each of us, we had a story to tell. Some of health, some of family and some things caused by other people, but we each have seen God involved in our lives. We came together,expecting God in our future to fulfill all that He has promised.

Can God visit us in those other places we desire to venture? Well of course He can, but when in an environment that is tuned to K-SELF, instead of into G-O-D....we can come up short of not hearing or obeying even a small request from Him. If the noise of the world speaks over what God is saying to us.
The disciples surely got an instruction and about throwing the net on the other side of the boat. What if God is wanting to change the way we do something, and it is something that is "just ingrained" into our lives and thought patterns? What if God wants to give us answer to something that is right before us and before the storm hits our life?
Jesus laid down His life in heaven to pick up that which was of flesh and bone. He took up that which He could see and know first hand the lives of His children.
But what if we choose to roam.........but I will be back when I am ready to get back to Jesus!

Matthew 16:13-20

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 

14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 

15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 

16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. 

NIV

The most interesting thing about this passage is that the one set of disciples each had something immediately about what they had heard...............you know like through the grapevine!
Well,........"Some say John the Baptist...........others say Elijah and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
Yes this group heard about what others were saying though ..and...(you guessed it).. they answered Jesus with.......GOSSIP that they had heard!
But Jesus asked them.........."But what about you...........", "Who do you say that I am?"
And Simon answered........."You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus told Simon Peter......"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter (rock) and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
What Jesus gave of Himself........was such that He had.........not of fancy clothes, not rigorous royalty schedules of pomp but of the word of God given to teach of the kingdom which had come. It was given in the life that was stirred up in the beginning. It was the Holy Spirit, the third God head......that was present, is present and will always be present. It is recognized by the fruit of..........love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-26)
We who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. We are to live by the Spirit and (not flesh man).........to keep in step with the Spirit (verse 25)

If we are living by what man says about us..........."LOOK OUT!!!"
But if we are the determined to live by the Spirit and have the fruit of what we see from that life, we have the key to that kingdom. And when it comes others will know it!
Again, it is by recognizing that which is within each of us.
Hell cannot prevail against us when we are the man or woman of love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Jesus spoke that the gates of hell would not prevail against us..........and that meant that our agreement was to be by the Spirit that would be in word and in truth.
Have you gone to church with someone or others who you try to talk to about Jesus and the goodness of God and they seem to speak a different language than English and look at you like you might be from another planet? This is what it appears to me.........and yet, in some regards, it is they seem to know of Jesus but do not abide in Him.


1 John 2:6
 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
NKJV

Those who live by the Spirit are the yielding and they give love wherever they go. I know such people as these and they are light to the lost.

We are to walk like Jesus walked and not by what others say about us or if they think what we are doing is right or wrong just because they get upset about it. If what we are doing is worshiping God and Him alone, the one True God Who is the Only Good God........Luke 18:19 and giving Him glory for all that happens in our homes, in our lives and even in church, then God is truly with Us and will be evident. Each will be known whether they have been with God or not.

He is ever-present and if He sends us to worship in corporate worship with others, it is because He desires it and desires us to be obedient.

In those places of truly coming to the rug.........like our grand-daughter speaks...........that secret place is that where we truly submit, truly speak His Word and affirm that "Greater is He that is me (you) than he that is in the world! Where all  that is spoken comes back to give God glory then we have come to His kingdom where the fruit of the Spirit prevails.

In an awesome testimony last night the Apostle spoke of how God was speaking His plan in a special thing for his family and how just speaking to another showed the Apostle how God was already on the scene and knew about it by what was spoken, even though this "person" had not known  what God was speaking BUT BY THE SPIRIT ONLY!

Yes God is here and now, and we can find Him in searching the Word and in praise to His name, giving glory that belongs only to Him...........and when we are there, called to that place in corporate worship, we hear the answers to what may be coming down the pike........down I-5.........down that grapevine that may be caused by others, but all the while we who listen to the Spirit will be those that know without a doubt that which is by the SPIRIT OF GOD, and WE HAVE THE VICTORY!

In closing.......yield to God, hear the Spirit today........the Spirit of Grace and Mercy..........for such is the kingdom of heaven......and participate with......those the Lord calls His children...........His beloved!


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