The Holy One of God

 

Meditating on Jesus going into the wilderness just after His being baptized by John the Baptist and before His ministry, I was drawn toward Jesus in that time period that He had much conversation with the Father of heaven. And while He had much conversation with the Father in those forty days, He also heard from the devil.

In conversations people declare their hearts! They can declare they are glad to see you or else drag their feet in greeting you. They can declare much joy, or a pain or hurtful situation. They can express the trial they are experiencing in a stressful state with much sorrow. Of they can give a message of too much information or only that which is false. Then again, there are those who choose a life without people and without speaking!

 In that wilderness Jesus walked, the devil, too, desired some conversation with Jesus. And in those forty days, it was about identity. And when Jesus returned to begin His ministry, He continued to spend time going to the Father in prayer!

Jesus had A Committed Prayer time to speak with the Father! Jesus was keeping His identity with God the Father, and His plan.

Morning time:   Mark 1:35  & in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a “deserted place”, and there He prayed. Amplified Bible

Evening time: Mark 6:46-47  and after He had taken leave of them, He went off into the hills to pray. Now when evening had come, the boat was out in the middle of the lake, & He was by Himself on the land.

Solitary Prayer time:   Luke 5:15-16 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him; and great multitudes came together to hear, & to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 And He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.  

The more THE  demand from people on our lives, the more we should pray! 

All Night:    Luke 6:12  Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray and spent the whole night in prayer to God.. 13 And when it was day, He summoned His disciples & selected from them twelve, whom He named apostles (special messengers).

Jesus chose that time in prayer finding the Father's heart to choose the 12 disciples.  Prayer had held Jesus in the mind of God. Philippians 2:5…Let this same attitude and purpose & [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

We are to have a Prayer commitment, praying for those God has given to you and me as family members, friends, people we work with and any who is within our circle of influence.  Prayer commitment is not only for ourselves…… but for pastors of other churches, other leaders and other people’s children and not just for our own! It is in love when we, yes you and I, respond to God’s plan for them and pray!

 Prayer kept Jesus in focus to His identity in the Father, to the Father’s command in instruction to deliver the Kingdom which had come! It would also prepare Him for what was coming toward Him in His walk to deliver that Message from the Father’s heart! Identity should hold us in Jesus!

 Jesus encountered the Sanhedrin! Luke 22:66 As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, 67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68 And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer me or let Me go. 69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.” 70 Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “you rightly say that I am.” 71 And they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.

 Yes, the company you keep will determine where you will go in this life! Jesus even warns these people that the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God. And all they heard was what they thought to be blasphemy! That very thing is going on today in the land of which I live and most likely where you live anywhere around this world!

 Here it is also written: Matthew 26:63-65 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!”

I love this when he the high priest asks Jesus...."I put You under oath by the living God": Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" Jesus voiced an affirmation that He is the “Son of God” a title expressing His exclusive and unique oneness with God! Jesus came to separate the holy of God from the profane. He gave an affirming word of God: Luke 23:3 then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” he answered him and said, “It is as you say.”

Identity! Identity! Identity!

 Even the disciples knew who Jesus was! They called Him the Son of God: Matthew 14:28-33  NKJV And Peter answered Him & said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “come”. And when Peter had come out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 & immediately Jesus stretched out His hand & caught him, & said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came & worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

If you ever have a disastrous situation occurring before you and those close to you, you will certainly come through holding out to Jesus and worshiping Him the ONE who is TRULY the Son of God!

 The Demons knew who He was! Mark 1: 21- 28 NKJV Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 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!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

Yes, the demons knew Jesus! And they greatly desired to not be harassed by the powerful One of God!

 Kept hearing this morning: “the Holy One of God”! Then I read where a university in this nation has hired a chaplain who is an atheist. Now how does that work? How was the job listed?  How is his job description detailed? You can pray but in your own name only, you can treat people as is natural to you, and you can have worship time to worship you! I have never in my life heard of an atheist being chaplain. Have you?

An atheist believes there is no God. Do you know what God's response to that is? "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'"Psalm 14:1.

An atheist does not pray. The atheist has no time to seek God in prayer. The Lord says in the Book of James, "You do not have because you do not ask" James 4:2.  An atheist does not read the Bible. So the average atheist is very susceptible to the devil's lies because he or she does not take time to read and study God's Word. Hopefully that does not apply to those saying they are Christ's followers today!

An atheist walks by sight, not faith. So sad too that many people including Christians should tend to walk by sight and not by faith. They fail to receive the miraculous power of God and how it came through Jesus! "Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God" Hebrews 11:6.  An atheist never gives to the Lord's work. An atheist lives only for this life. "The eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth" Proverbs 17:24.

 Interesting to truth that the religious sect did not know Who Jesus was, but demons did! When Jesus prayed, He met with people, and lives were changing.  In Jesus’ time, as in today’s culture, the world sees the “wise man” as one who will live for the moment, always living by sight, and is devoted to self.  He uses his own time for his own thing or purpose he has set to do. Jesus set about to do the Father's business on earth.  For Jesus, His own neighbors rejected Him. They saw interruption in their lifestyle, and refused Him in their own thinking and chose to carry on in their unbelief.

People were wanting to rid their plate of that which they did not like, you know like the child who will not eat their food that their mother put on the plate. They kick, scream and push the plate away till they get their way. And many in that place, like Pilate, Caiaphas or Herod would have their way but it was the way of destruction and yes death to them!

You know Herod had seen Jesus, was exceedingly glad to see Him because he, Herod, had heard many things about Jesus and Herod had hoped to see some miracle done by Him. ( Luke 23:6-12) But alas, Herod with his men of war, would treat Jesus with contempt and mock Him and send Him back to Pilate.

Do people seek out something from you that is only a part of the kingdom of God but not willing to participate because they do not want to hear God's words spoken by you?

Pilate wishing to release Jesus called out to the crowd.  And YOU know that crowd chose Barabbas (the world) and not Jesus (life eternal). So Pilate gave sentence as they requested. ( Luke 23:24) Barabbas was released and Jesus was delivered to their will. Yeah, remember that screaming child not wanting to eat what was before them, well here you have a people kicking and screaming wanting the world and not life of God!

People today are clamoring for the murderer to be put back into society and the righteous to be jailed. People are clamoring for their demands and not that of the Father Who is the Creator!

Yes, where Jesus would walk, the Holy One would not be revered by many. But His prayer time brought power, looked like grace, and caused reactions. In His teaching, the doctrine was the EXTREME when heard, and some received the Son and some refused. But His prayer was for ADVANCEMENT OF THE KINGDOM!

Jesus encountered many people on His walk from the wilderness to the Place of the Skull, where He would take His last breath at Calvary. In John 17:3 and this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, & Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  He prayed:  John 17:6 "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

 John 17:11  Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, & I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

Yes, Jesus was no longer in the world, His heart faith was in His Father. And in John 17:26  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

 In these it was words given, it is Jesus Who spoke what He spent His ministry revealing to us about God His Father. It is in this, that He keeps us through His name, both by our trusting in what it means & by the evidence revealed by living this life in faith and in obedience!  This obedience is for fellowship, that daily walk with the Lord in communion, to have God’s Word fill our hearts, to speak of our future with the Lord and yes, for that prayer life that gives voice to where we are headed. 

We live in this world, but we should not be of it.

 Holy One of God is majesty on high. Holy One of God is life eternal, that speaks truth that lives in prayer and resides in a rest. Might we be united with the Holy One of  God, to see with our eyes and understand in our hearts. United to one heart where we expect to see the astonishment in the faces of those God is touching by His presence in and through us. Before we go to participate out there, we should have the intimate time to know our Father’s heart.

Knowing not what you might encounter in the coming year, but that your steps are ordered in the Lord like Jesus: you have a voice, not a languishing voice, but one of joy and gladness, a song of praise that fills the atmosphere where the peace of God rules your heart and a boldness of authority because Jesus is Lord of your life.

It may appear bleak where you reside, but we have the Holy One of God. The world may have lock-downs, shutdowns, closed signs, wearing the latest new masks designed by some new designer; still we should not be in fear nor should we be the tired nor weary. Pray for your leaders eyes to be wide open to actually see and ears to hear and to guided by love in God by the Holy Spirit. Pray for those dealing in insanity that they would become sane again. If you know their names, those living, confess their names before the Father, and ask with that righteous desire that they would live and not die to declare the works of God

People require conversation! We were never meant to be alone! We know the Way, for Jesus pointed it out to us in John 14:1-11 they WAY HOME! To go along with Jesus is one heart with Jesus! For in Him is truth revealed and life is given in the Father. We give thanks for this revealed nature of the Father and purpose set in Jesus for we received Him and carry His authority in boldness in a walk where demons quake, the religious shake and chaos around us becomes only peace! We receive the next advancement of His kingdom. Come Lord Jesus Come!

                                          New teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

The Faith that Sees and Is Seen

https://youtu.be/8UkadgJ0DqE

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Weighing the Hearts

https://youtu.be/15evsZsrRgM

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

ttp://bit.ly/2wgu1kw

Generic!?!

Had a conversation recently that captured my attention. It was conveyed to me that "leaders" from  a church were choosing not to give people the Holy Spirit.
It was in their estimation the people were not ready for the supernatural!
After I heard this, I was appalled. 
So who decides who hears of the Holy Spirit and those who do not? For Jesus certainly was raised from the dead and the Holy Spirit was the force and the life. Amen!

For God said in the beginning, Genesis 1:1-5...stated the Holy Spirit was hovering over the face of the deep.
1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
NKJV

Then we were given this: John 1:1-5

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

NKJV

Yes, Jesus is, was, and is to come the Word and He was in the beginning as well!

That which is of God, is the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God and it is spiritual. So what are these "leaders" breathing out. Is it just another religion, without life?  It is certain to not have the Holy Spirit.

Some people genuinely look for an outward method to reach a body of believer's. Without the Spirit of God one will dwell in spiritual death.

In remembering a long ago teaching by Spurgeon, in "The Form of Godliness Without the Power " sermon stated" the raw material of a devil is an angel bereft of holiness." He went on to state that the inward life must be touched by God or else you have a decay into a foul thing.

But seriously in this case, who decides what a people should be taught? 

Jesus said this:

John 14:23-31

23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. 

25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.   NKJV

He said: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

Are you getting power infused into you each Saturday or Sunday of your church meeting or you going home, dry, empty, and depressed?

So it is important to know the Holy Spirit and know He will speak what the Father has given through Jesus our Redeemer!

What good is "my word or any man's word" when it is God's Word that prevails! What good is that praise and worship when it is just "you or just any man/woman singing a song" without the Holy Spirit giving the worship. Now in the "secret place" at home that is wonderful. What great opportunities to give God all our time, our effort to worship that pleases Him. But to the one who shows up on the weekend to give a Generic word for a group of people is not life for anyone. God's Word is to be a now Word in the now moment of time. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that brings us that which is life to help us, heal us, make us whole!

Will the word spoken be of power of the Holy Spirit? Will that which is spoken really bring a strength to us for the day of sickness or in the hour of a possible death? Are we looking at wells without so much as a drop of water in them?

In the relating of God and of Jesus the Redeemer, is the word given that brings a drop of comfort for the weary and the heavy-laden. Or is it possible, some just go the way, "to look good", sing what they love to sing and they look good singing, and then bring a word but it lacks the life of God in it?

Anyone carrying a false ministry in the guise of true godliness will fail. I am thinking of Ehud!

For it is true false men will do serious injury to a true godliness.

Judges 3:12-4:3

12 Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. 13 Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms.  14 The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years. 

15 Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer-Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. 16 Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a foot and a half long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. 17 He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man. 18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way the men who had carried it. 19 At the idols near Gilgal he himself turned back and said, "I have a secret message for you, O king." 

The king said, "Quiet!" And all his attendants left him. 

20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his summer palace and said, "I have a message from God for you." As the king rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king's belly. 22 Even the handle sank in after the blade, which came out his back. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. 23 Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them. 

24 After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, "He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the house." 25 They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead. 

26 While they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah. 27 When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them. 

28 "Follow me," he ordered, "for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands." So they followed him down and, taking possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab, they allowed no one to cross over. 29 At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not a man escaped. 30 That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years. 

31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel. 

Judges 4 ..............4:1 After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LORD. 2 So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim. 3 Because he had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the LORD for help. NIV

You can see from this passage, that Ehud, had come with a pretended message from God in verse 20 of Judges 3! Yes, this Ehud came with a message he said that was from God.
So too, men and women within those walls of a church can come and with their dagger sharpened on both edges, they strike vital godliness in its very heart. Much damage will be done to the body of believer's. Yes, this type of godliness is certainly devoid of power. It will destroy. It will bring something to nothing.

Remember we have looked at the Fig Tree in the previous blogs of this year. We have looked at it and found out why it had no fruit on it. And when passing by that fig tree, which was so early with its leaves but so empty of fruit, He saw the likeness of the one who is the vainglorious. Oh, they profess it, but they truly lack the real power.  Looks good on the outside, but provides no real fruit, it is the fruitless, and  it will be carried into eternity which most likely will not be with God.

Seek to pray to enter the place God has called you to in worship with others. It will be heaven on earth. You will know the Holy Spirit is alive in that place. You will be revived, strengthened and given an armory of words to fight the enemy. You will stand tall in the Word of God and will out wit the enemy on every turn. You can stand knowing God is with you. But if you enter a place and there is no fruit of the Holy Spirit, there is no wind of His gentleness to blow across any chaos in you and will not line up into God's peace and unity, then leave that place. For the benefits of God are good, and He is faithful to stay with us and not forsake us. He will lead us to green pastures, led by still waters, and be consumed in His peace for His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures to all generations. Don't settle for generic when you can have His power! Amen.



In the days ahead  watch for"Never a Quickening" is published in this blog. It will cover in more detail of the "pretender", one who is long on lingering but not the waiting on God. He looks for his own benefits in his giving. (What will I get for my giving? What benefits me when I help or give another is what he or she asks themselves) Yikes!

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

Heaven's Crown

There is so much about what to follow. Enjoy this, entertain your consciousness.
I am interested in the creatures that live at the bottom of the ocean where is pitch black, but I do not want to entertain anything of me at that depth of blackness.


In looking up the word "following"......I saw this:
"a happening, a coming next, following someone in the direction they are going. It was also noted that following was giving favor to the one they are following.
So, if Jesus is not number 1 on our list, what is number 1?

In "following" another, the words speak this way:
tracking, shadowing, tailing, stalking, and movement.
Now movement sounds like a powerful word. In a movement to "follow" or "like" something someone posted, are we gearing up for the movement to towards that "alcohol" announcement at the local brewery? How about shopping all weekend?
But that word stalking is dangerous. And the word tracking sounds like tracking wolves or coyotes.

If we are enthusiasts, what are we enthused about? Is it being connected  with something like a new beer ad over a new brewery thing or technique.
Was it someone else's like and sent it to you to like as well..........and in that, was I enthused someone saw my name listed made a few clicks with the cursor.......and boom in the "likes" that makes me want to live another day?
In working on this today, I was made aware of yesterday when our team was going to connect, yes, by phone. Time: noon. Everyone is a "go" and answering cell phone, I hear two broken words, and the sound of metal vibrating somewhere. Oh yeah, it is the sound no one likes.
In every other sentence spoken, I hear only very broken English. In truth, I ask, "can you hear me now?"
I wonder what Jesus would have done with my cell phone yesterday. After the struggle to hear not only on the phone, but switching cell phones with their comrades, still broken English, and loud metal sound culminating in 'CALL LOST'. AND then this same cell phone had the audacity to state we were leaving cell service area. I was in my kitchen, standing by my cabinet watching eggs boil in a pan. How could I possibly be leaving cell service area, I ask you?

If Jesus had had internet, would He use it like we try to use it?
Even with the most notable fast action tools used today.........and with the most noted circulating news team without paper relaying over thousands of miles in just seconds He would say, "I told you this would happen." Remember He is God!
So a tool like internet with a force that will direct people into their future by either being " liked" or "disliked" about a certain new swag, a new way to communicate, whether we voted for the newest baby bottle, or sent  in our own pictures of the meteor shower, seeking to share with others what we have seen, or been taught. Jesus shared His heart. He spoke face to face.

What happened to speaking face to face? I remember my grandparents and father speaking with people at the city gate. They ( my grandparents) had a feed store and they could meet with people, find their need and meet it and still have some communication time with customers.

In those long ago days, I remember people reflecting on their day, their week possibly and finding something to laugh about in the hard life of any farmer or rancher in the south. They either dealt with drought, floods, partial rains but coming too late, and all their pain and sacrifice, they spoke a passion of their heart and spoke with others about it face to face.
 I remember their faces, and I remember the smile when they were greeted by their name and given a well remembered conversation with another on being in the trenches of life, with some suffering and a  zeal to continue. Crops came in or they failed, still communication was a need for those who hungered to have success in what they did with the soil, for what they brought to their family and to the community.

Is an instant "like" enough to carry people into something good or is it placing one in a needy position to always have someone like them, even if they do not know them.

The people who came to the feed store needed help with their plants, possibly a stronger seed to plant and all that was planted was seen to support the family who planted it all. In their zeal to be farmers, they spoke with other farmers, they met together and sometimes for just minutes to fill their order for the week, or a month. Voices were heard communicating about the fields of crops and what might be on the horizon in the weeks and months to come.


In the family unit, and being part of a community, standing next to you, I will listen and pray with you. If you post something that I did, I will ask what teaching encouraged you the most, but walk a mile with me in the a. m. hour and then I would be sensitive to know you really want to know me.

Yes, I still think on those days I got a few minutes down at the "store". It surely smelled like chemical fertilizers to me, but I also remember those who reflected life to others.  They spoke of victory over those sandy fields. They gave voice to their hearts desire, and in those values, they honored others and let them know so by talking with them face to face. They gave from minutes to hours to see and speak face to face.
In Jesus we have the wisdom of God that created the heavens and the earth. In Jesus, we see the genuine, the Proven and that worth keeping.

What people "liked" last week may be the antique today. What they loved may be outdated now or tomorrow. Beliefs and those modes of thinking over a network of connecting might be good in a quick and timely event, but the closeness of the truly caring heart may be missing.

Correspondence is necessary and should never be discarded.
Jesus was sent to us out of love. That next "like" you receive, will it be laced with same kind of love? Or is it just superficial and allows no responsibility on either's part to participate in each other's lives?
We are in the world but not of it.

Communicating with Jesus is also following Him. And the communication with the Spirit was the secret to Christ's ministry.
You might tell me how you swam off the shores of an Hawaiian island and saw some special creatures around a coral reef. You might even have pictures and I would be happy you got to do that. It would and should be enjoyable to him/her who loves the sea and its creatures and gets to snorkel and discover those things under the sea. We can make room for doing those things. Good job and working hard can contribute to a substantial check to pay for those things that bring a smile.


 But we must remember too that the more room we make for Jesus in our lives, the more we have His power in us. Without the constant awareness of God  and of His nature, we inevitably reduce our vision to what is accomplished on the internet and other aspects of it. We too can become shallow and no have no commitment to anything or anyone.
There are things that you like, and I like and it shows in what we talk about, what we wear and what we love to do.
But staying closer to God, keeps us aware of He who invades the impossible when the perspectives of those around us are only focused on the temporary and physical of circumstances.
Following what you love, will take you forward or hold you at the door. Jesus desires leaders. He desires us to know the battle's been won. With whole hearts on fire, not just with a "like" but loving Him with a passion will speak with more fire and more glory to His name.

I wait to hear from you. Let me know what you are following. Will it have life and breath for you?

Jesus makes us brave. In Him, the weak find strength. The enemy has to leave. ALL CONDEMNED FEEL NO SHAME.

IN following, may there light where you walk. It is the place where the lost are saved! And it is finding a way into the glorious life you and I were always meant to live. IT is following the One Who has received heaven's crown. Amen!

I HAVE A NEW WEB SITE AVAILABLE NOW WITH OTHER CURRENT BLOGS AND YOUTUBE TEACHINGS. I INVITE YOU TOO CHECK IT OUT.  THERE IS A PRAYER REQUEST SECTION ON THE SITE.

www.godsgoodnessandlove.com

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published:

Prayer Brings an Atmosphere of Awe and Amazement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm12vHs1FcE&spfreload=10

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

SHOULDN'T JESUS COME OUT OF THE CLOSET, EVERYTHING ELSE IS!

WE AS INDIVIDUALS should be willing to bring Jesus out to the world. We have seen churches come and go. We have seen men and women come and go who once had fire for God, but are no more. Where do we stand in the scheme of things in the world? Do we stand with God.........the kingdom has come, or do we stand against God as a "silent majority"?

1 Thessalonians 2:4-6.............4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed-God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.     NIV

ANYONE delivering the gospel, anyone entrusted with it, will never use flattery and will not look for praise from men. Anyone entrusted with it will look to how it pleases God!

Are we entrusted with the gospel? Yes, especially when not pleasing man BUT GOD! Is God being blessed by it? Does God tell you how important it is? Does He reveal more Word to you bringing revelation to those things He desires for you to give to others?

Mark 1:1................1:1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  

NIV

Are we ready to give a word of God to those wandering with no hope?

Jesus came and with Him was an influence. He had the word of God and the trust in the word that would heal and make whole. It was knowing what that Word spoke and how a person's life would be changed by it.

He was never flaunting, but always reflecting that light, AND revelation knowledge of the scriptures laid down by Him. May the Lord find us fulfilling Matthew 24:46....May we be that wise servant fullfilling our role in what was established for us from the foundation of the world.

Matthew 24:45-46..............45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.       NKJV

Giving food in due season ....giving food of the Word of God.......serving that with which we have been served. Do we spend time to get into the Word and allow it to speak to us? And then, will we deliver it to others, to those in need?  Will we not do that? Will we do it or wait for others who might come with that A word, but not THE WORD to deliver others out of a bondage that brings ultimate death?



Jude 5-11............5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.   NKJV


They have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit and perished in the rebellion of Korah!

GONE THE WAY OF CAIN:

Genesis 4:5-12............5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 

6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." 

8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 

9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"

"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 

10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."     NIV

In Cain we see sin and rebellion.  Cain was upset that God did not like his offering. He became angry for he toiled and worked the ground, yet God desired that offering that pleased Him. He desired the sheep without spot. That sacrifice to God was to be one of shed blood. It was not a crop from the ground!  God's direction and guidance to Cain did not impact him in anyway. In the field, where the crop was planted that Cain desired to give God, he, Cain killed his brother Abel. Yes, Cain became very defiant toward God. He shed his own brother's blood.

In finding Cain in the field, God asks about his brother Abel. And Cain spits venom toward God. Then God tells him that he was under a curse driven from the ground. YIKES!

And he is told that it will no longer yield its crops for Cain.......a restless wanderer on the earth...Cain would become. DO WE SEE THAT TODAY?
Think of never seeing anything you plant grow! We love tomatoes. And every year we buy two plants, and they are blessed by God the moment we get them. We have one right now about seven feet tall and it is producing awesome tomatoes we have shared with family. They are so good and taste like an actual tomato, where the ones from the grocery store sometimes have no taste at all!  Interesting! I think it is sad to think that whatever you tried to plant would never grow, but just die!

So, is there any area in our lives where we are touching something, trying to change to suit us, that should never be done? What will we take to make our lives what we desire it to be? Will we seek out the God who created us and find that plan, that special love He has for us in following His guidance and intruction?

In touching something that is not to be touched, we see those take on diseases that are rampant since the 1980's.

Revelation 2:12-17...............These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live-where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-where Satan lives.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.   NIV

The Nicolaitans were a sect. They were steeped in paganism. Paul gave a warning on them in 1 Corinthians 8..........against evil practices, ........and speaking of them as weaker brethren.
The leader was Nicolas.........and is possibly the deacon we find in Acts 6:5. The sect held teachings equal to Balaam ......teaching Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. Their error was a moral one! It was a teaching that would lead to death for the one who followed that teaching!

Genesis 4:15-16.............Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.      NIV

Genesis 4:25-26.................25 Adam lay with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, "God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him." 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.

At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD.                NIV

At that time, we take note that it never says that Cain came back to the Presence of the Lord. We find that when Eve gave birth to a son Seth and when Seth had a son Enosh, then men began to CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD!

1 John 3:11-15.....................11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.     NKJV

Remember God does not hate the man or woman committing acts against their bodies, but HE DOES HATE THE SIN THAT IS COMMITTED!

BALAAM: Was not a prophet, but was given direction by God. But Balaam was given over to divination. All that he did was detestable to the Lord God. (Deut. 18:9-13)

We find in 1 Samuel 15:10 that divination is compared to "rebellion".

2 Kings 17:17 tells us that "divination" was the reason for Israel's exile. Divination is far from God's truth. It is a flat out lie!
2 Kings 17:17-18......................17 And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger. 18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.               NKJV

In Numbers 22, we find Balaam not following the instructions given to him by God. Balaam was now wanting financial gain as we keep reading about him. God's unchangeable. To the pure He will show Himself pure. Psalm 18:26-27.................
26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
27 For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down haughty looks.
NKJV

Balaam showed himself to be the son of carnality according to 2 Peter 2:15.
 2 Peter 2:15-16..................15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey-a beast without speech-who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.  NIV

It was amazing, a donkey who could not speak, was speaking to Balaam,
Balaam would not listen to godly counsel, and in the end, the Lord sent a donkey to speak to him. How loving God is to correct us, and how rude, how offensive one can get when they want to do "their thing".

Numbers 22:21-23:41..........21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road. 

24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he beat her again. 

26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?" 

29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now." 

30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?"

"No," he said. 

31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. 

32 The angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.   33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her." 

34 Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back." 

35 The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 

36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?" 

38 "Well, I have come to you now," Balaam replied. "But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth." 

39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the princes who were with him. 41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he saw part of the people.  NIV

Yes, the called man of God, steep in his madness, could not see with spiritual eye, the Angel of the Lord stopping his own way to terrible harm. He was certainly a fool who followed his own lusts for financial gain. He did not even want to wait on God for His leading in verse 22....Balaam was off and running into mischief, into carnality, into terrible sin with consequences.

 Numbers 31:7-8.................7 They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man. 8 Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba--the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. NIV

In Chapter 31 of Numbers we find the death of Balaam, the son of Beor.

In earlier Blogs, I wrote on the characteristics of a leader. In "LEADERSHIP, A CHALLENGE TO GROW", we looked at some characteristics of a leader.
In Balaam, we see a man who  much like Judas Iscariot. One who could surrender to God and His kingdom, yet follow a continuous walk into of covetousness and even some wickedness. It is like the Jekylll and Hyde character.
He was the type of unrighteousness. What we have read from 2 Peter 2:15, we see the example of Balaam as the type of insincere Christian teacher. We can not and will not advance the kingdom of God by allowing the unholy union, a blasphemous joining or association with those of the world following profane ways and living them out to their own end of destruction.
WE ARE NOT TO COMPROMISE OUR MORALS TO ACCOMMODATE THE WORLD!

KORAH: We find Korah in Numbers 16:1-49.....he led a revolt against Moses and Aaron. We do know that he was a son Izhar and related as a 1st cousin to Aaron. It is in jealous that he rose up against the leaders Moses and Aaron.

A group, the Reubenites wanted to lead Israel and thought it best for their tribe to do so. Enters 4 in charge of the plot to stop Moses and Aaron. These had 250 leaders to bring charges before the public meeting. They were wanting their EQUAL TIME WITH GOD OR ACCESS TO HIM!

In giving instructions, Moses told them they would put the matter into the Lord's hands and direct Korah and the rest to bring some containers of an incense as offering to the Lord. As directed Korah went and with those who followed him gathered at the door of the tabernacle. The Lord appeared. .......Numbers 16:21.
In prayer, Moses and Aaron did intercede in saving Israel......the decision was for Moses favor..........the ground opened it's mouth.........and swallowed ALL THE MEN OF KORAH........Numbers 16:32

God has those which will be leaders and they lead by influence. It is that influence that  is seen and experienced. In God, a leader leads with His wisdom and His life!

 Leadership is a problem solved and not by what you or I look like.  For me, I am more influenced by what problem you have solved than what you have accomplished to lead others.  There are some leaders who just add more problems and do not solve any!  Any idea what camp they might be from?

Leaders are faithful to what they are given. They follow those directions and keep them on course.
Leaders are those who walk in integrity. Jesus always spoke and did what He saw His Father speak and do.
Lastly, the communication thing, is a very important way to connect with others. (If we are leading, then we need to connect with all men or women involved in that event or happening, to see that all ARE welcome, AND NOT LEAVE THE COMMUNICATING TO SOMEONE ELSE. That word to communicate might not get out at all!) IT works when the lead pastor is planning a time to minister to others as in a women's event. But leaving the communication to be given possibly expecting another family member to give it out, does not and will not work! The same goes with anyone outside of church, we do not read people's minds, and if there is a complaint or situation then it must be voiced for the problem to be solved!
Back to COMMUNICATION, IT IS Not just ABOUT trying to connect because it is a job or even ministry, but because communicating with others, helps us to see the skills, the talents and to ask questions about those we seek out. Leaders will keep deadlines, know their opponent and will try to avoid conflict. But when needing to address a situation, it should not be like Korah did. We are to always look for the potential in another. We are to look at what God has placed within them?
We should not be those who are seeking those who think like us, but gather with those who think like God does. He is real, and He is more real to me than those who walk down the street with their cell phones in hand!

In speaking with those who are saved and with those who are wandering and lost can represent some challenges. But one thing is certain and God will direct those of His to the Word of God ...........and He will always correct a son........!

Proverbs 3:11-12.......11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline 

and do not resent his rebuke, 

12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,

as a father the son he delights in.   NIV

If we find a loved one following the way of the world into homosexuality, into drugs, or into shameful lusts as alcohol and things that occur during those drunken moments, we can find and speak scripture over them if the Lord is directing us in that direction. We can speak to them in love and direct them to life in God's Word, but we also pray.......and leave them to God.

Romans 1:26-27.................26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.     NIV

1 Corinthians 7:1-3.................  2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.      NIV

Leviticus 18:22..........22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. NKJV The Bible does not disclose that talking will wake up those who are evil and follow the lusts of the world. But one thing is evident, and it is they are headed for very painful consequences. We still love those who fall to such depths of painful consequences. We desire what God desires for them. He desires them to live out that which He predestined for them from the foundation of the world. He made them all unique, just like it did those who follow Jesus. And it is our prayer that they will awaken to the things of God!

As followers of Jesus, even we have to be awakened to arise and shine. We are to be awakened by worshiping God and giving praise to Him. 

Psalm 57:7-8........7 My heart is steadfast, O God,

my heart is steadfast;

I will sing and make music. 

8 Awake, my soul!

Awake, harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.  NIV

As those leaders, who pray for other leaders and families, we are to awaken our hearts to hear God in those quiet moments. When faced with someone who is thinking toward a gender change. or a gender reassignment, remember God created each of us with a plan that is uniquely ours. Why would I want to change what God, the creator of the heavens and earth created...........and say, He made a mistake? I think not! He is the all-knowing, ever present, and powerful God! He is not some old man sitting in a rocker, with a shawl draped around His shoulders, no He is God Almighty!

PRAY FOR THE AWAKENING TO COME TO ALL, NOT ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS BUT THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN DEEP INTO SOMETHING THAT WILL BRING ONLY DEATH AND DESTRUCTION TO THEM. IF YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE WHO HAS GONE THAT WAY OF KORAH, BALAAM, OR CAIN, PRAY FOR THEIR HEART TO BE TURNED TO THE LORD. PRAY THAT WE AS INTERCESSORS WILL CARRY OUT THE PLAN OF PRAYER FOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO HAVE THAT CALL OF GOD ON THEIR LIVES. PRAY FOR LIFE TO COME, FOR EYES TO BE OPENED, HEARTS SOFTENED AND TO SEE THAT GOD IS ALIVE.

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son Jesus to us. You are holy, worthy and mighty. It is You who destined us to be a part of Your family. We pray today for families to be strengthened in and through You. We ask protection over our families, those touched by things of the world. Help us to pray in the way we must to keep the devil out of our children's lives, out of a brother or sister's life today who has made them think that You God made a mistake. We pray for their eyes to be opened and their hearts receptive that God is the Creator and He makes no mistakes. He does not lie! (Numbers 23:19)( 1 Samuel 15:29)  Father today we pray to have the wisdom of God that begins with a holy life characterized by getting along with others. Help us to be instruments that will develop a community that lives right with YOU. Help us Lord to grow in the prayer room. We choose to align ourselves with YOUR Word that speaks and directs us to the Kingdom of God.
Father, make us strong and courageous. Help us not to be afraid of anyone else, for You, the Lord our God, go with us; You will never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6) For those we seek to pray for, those who have wandered from truth and given themselves over to a lie, help us to pray for those who are who have the mistaken identities of the world. there is no need for a gender reassignment. For those we pray for, Lord may they know truth. As You go before, make the rough places smooth; shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. Give to them the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth (riches) of secret places, in order that they may know that it is YOU , the Lord, the God of Israel who calls them by name. (Isaiah 42:2-3) Father lead those we pray for today. Lead them from the blinded ways they have gone the way of, and guide them into Your glorious Presence so that they might hear Your voice. Just as You who have called us is holy, so we are to be holy in all we do, for it is written, "Be holy, because I am holy.." (1 Peter 1 16)
 We thank You for the peace that You have left to us. We will not let our hearts be troubled, neither will we let it be afraid.
 Now thanks be to YOU, Father Who always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus. It is in His holy name we pray. Amen and Amen!


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

Hand Me the S'mores

In recent weeks, I have seen some church leaders take to the highways and bi-ways to ask people if they believe in Jesus. They ask people on the sidewalks and in park areas or bus terminals if they believe there is a "God". I am amazed at the answers. In the few answers they do televise, only one or two may say they know there is a "God". But the rest of the people who are asked really have no answer or do not care if there is a God or not! Today, it seems there are those who delight in being their own "god" and doing their thing, whatever that it is!

I also understand that it is the belief that is being passed around in this day, especially by some who have a TV talk show, and those who have something to do with music industry and the arts is that each person is divine and is a "god" in their own right! What?
And I have recently been sent information of the movement of an "emergent church".What???

Not sure where I have been, but all this is weird to me!

So if I am understanding this correctly, we need to have church toned down so people will hear His Word and want to come to church. That the important thing is people be given a "message" that makes them happy and want to return.
How many will be happy when they take the last breath and find a million in front of them being moved forward into a fiery hell? How many will be mad when they find out the truth was not given to them for sake of desire to have extravagant numbers to fill the big coliseums with thousands of people and yet not give them the "message" in truth?

Job 5:17.......17 "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects;
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. NKJV

Jeremiah 1:10
10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To root out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant."
NKJV

In referring back to this one program and the question asked, "do you believe there is a "God"? Yes, I believe!
When I saw this program on one of the Christian channels, I instantly remembered this commercial of recent months. The commercial was people partying on the beach and had all their fires going on the beach. It was toward evening time during the summer and someone had pulled out the chocolate, crackers and marshmallows for s'mores!
I thought of how many in that group of people knew of Jesus and what was coming on the world in the next decade. Would any care of the "dramatic changes" that are about to occur? Even in my life time I have seen such changes, and I am wondering what happened to the "innocents of youth"? What happened to people being safe to walk in their neighborhoods without being held up by someone who decides to attack, either just to rob or to "hurt in some extreme manner?
Everyone wanting to do "their thing" is apparent when you drive down any interstate highway. Those who will not leave the "left land" for anyone. They will drive 55 mph and take 15 minutes to pass 5 semis and have twenty cars behind them, but they will not "budge" from the left lane! Yes, I saw it and experienced it on a cross-country trip back in October.

The word of God was given to us, to help us, to teach us, to bring comfort and to see who God is and His desires for us. Like Jeremiah 1:10, the word is given for us to tear down any kingdom satan  has tried to put upon us. ( like family thinking is when you are born into that family)
Example: This woman has always cut her turkey into two parts. She had put them into two different pans, so the turkey was never served whole. At one Thanksgiving dinner, the grand-daughter asked the mother why she did this. She, the mother then asked the grandmother why they did that. The grandmother's response was, " when she was first married back in the early  40's, her and her husband lived in a two room apartment. The oven was very tiny, so she had to cut the turkey into two parts to roast it." "But I would not know why your mom would cut the turkey into two parts."
So we see, some things can be passed down without us even thinking twice to do them. It is something to watch your parents do and then do the same thing, but we really need to find out when it comes to serious matters why some people do what they do and not follow their example!
 God has shown us to root those things out of our thinking,...........to then plant God's Word into our thinking.......so we have the same thoughts as God's thoughts and not someone else's thoughts of that new reality show. We are to be built and planted to grow like the scriptures shows below.

Psalm 1:2-6
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish. NIV

If people reject God, and do their own thing, then when the last day comes for them, one can only imagine where they will be found!

In scripture, we find Jesus told of  and yes, described the atmosphere in the furnace of fire. This scripture is the telling of "the wheat and the tares" found in Matthew 13:36-43.

Matthew 13:36-43
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." 37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!  NKJV

So we see the world is the field. Jesus sowed the good seed of His Word. We find it in the Gospels.

Those who follow Jesus, who KNOW God, are those who are the good seeds, the sons of the kingdom. But the tares are those who are of the wicked one, the devil! The "tares" those that "offend", those who "practice lawlessness", will be cast into the furnace of fire. It is described there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. When Jesus talked of the "atmosphere" I always think of those players of a football game who cannot get along with each other, and the chaos breaks out. There is the initial pushing and shoving, then the fist comes into play, "whack" and how many punches did they get in before a referee will even notice? But in this of which Jesus speaks is a fire that never distinguished, it never burns out, but continues to burn forever!

In this fire, is separation from God forever. His Presences is not found in hell. There are no parties and some person yelling" hand me the s'mores"! No, it is not a party for people to do whatever they want to do. Yet there are those who do exactly that, without thinking of the consequences of the future.

For the "righteous", their future is bright and they will shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. When I read on this word, I am always reminded of the three young men from the book of Daniel. 

Daniel 3:16-30

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." 

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." 

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon. NKJV

These men experienced a fire created by man. It was a tribulation or trial, but in it all, they kept their focus on God! The fire was heated up seven times greater for the furnace.

Now these men were men who followed in obedience to all God spoke to them. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were lead to the furnace by mighty men of valor who served in Nebuchadnezzar's army. As these mighty men were commanded to put the young men in the hot furnace, they obeyed. The young men fell into the fire but were not injured, burned or killed, but those who took them to the furnace died because of the exceedingly hot flame.

Nebuchadnezzar looked in and saw "four" men instead of three and he described the fourth as the "Son of God"! Because of their knowing the "one true God", these men were delivered from fire that had no power over them, nor was the hair on their heads singed nor were their garments affected. It was their God who delivered them from the hands of the enemy.

There is a fire coming to many...........and we still have time to confess Jesus as Lord.  This "fire" is one that God created. There is an everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41) and sadly many people will find their destiny in the fire. There will not be heard laughter, joy, or will there be an opportunity to experience the refreshing breeze of the Lord's presence, and no sound of " hand me the s'mores!

Jesus came to bring us life everlasting. In this, those who live for this life will face two deaths: physical and spiritual. (like Adam died) But those who are born again ( receive Jesus as Lord ) die only once: physically and then are ushered into everlasting life!

We have time to get out of "lawlessness" and that which offends God! God is holy and will have nothing to do with anything wicked. He will have nothing do with anything which inflicts pain,or harm to anyone. It is the devil who came to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10)
He has nothing to do with the profane, the filth, the murderous intent imagined by some, and will not listen to any prayer made with any words against His Son, the Cross Jesus hung from or against His Holy Spirit!

Which will we pick?

Revelation 21:7 " He who overcomes (this world) shall inherit all things & I will be his God and he shall be My son." ( parenthesis is mine)
I choose life today. I choose the life-giving force that comes through the shed blood of Calvary when a God of love sent His Son to die for sinful man. Today I choose to pray for those around me and those I do not know that they too would experience the life Jesus came to give to us..........a life of abundance........in healing, in peace, in joy, in salvation so you and I can spend eternity with God, who loved and gave His best for us!

Father, I pray that we bend down to hear and humble ourselves before a God who can cast someone into hell. I pray for us to hear and understand YOU sent Your Son, the Son of Your Love to die for us on the Cross. Lord, I pray for receptive hearts to know God is good and He is for us. YOU are the God who wants His children with Him for all eternity.  May receptive hearts hear today the still small voice and know that it is You who speaks for us to come and receive through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ. May receptive hearts kneel towards Your Holy of Holies and know Your gentle hand that leads us to joy, triumph, yes, victory in salvation through Jesus. Give us a heart for those who may be on their way to an eternal bonfire that never burns out of that which causes thirst forever and cannot be quenched. Give us a heart to continue praying for those YOU our God are drawing to Yourself and may heaven be filled to overflowing of people of every ethnicity. You alone are the judge. May our names be in Your Lamb's book of Life. It is in Jesus' name I pray. Amen

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