What Depth the Darkness

Matthew 6:22-23
22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
NKJV

Isaiah 5:20-21

0 Woe to those who call evil good 

and good evil,

who put darkness for light 

and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet 

and sweet for bitter. 

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes 

and clever in their own sight. 

NIV

Anyone have a nightlight in their home? We find one important when our grand-child comes for a visit. Although she knows we are just across the hall from her, yet that light is important to her.

In understanding that the eye is the lamp of the body, our eye is to be good and our whole body is to be filled with light. 

I think in respect to that "measure of faith"........that God gave us. But where is the dial located on our faith meter? If I turn my flashlight towards my husband's eyes, he will not have more light in him, just a lot of flashing circles of  light as he closes his eyes quickly. Or someone taking your picture with the flash on a camera does not fill our body with light.

When Jesus came, there was those calling what He did as evil. I wonder where they reside today, for surely they went somewhere after death, did they not? 

So what depth of darkness is there?

In the Amplified Bible, Matthew 6:23 says this: But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the very light in you [your conscience] is darkened, how dense is that darkness!

In regard to the movies being viewed today, I heard that all of the top rated movies had box office hits of multi-millions of dollars and every one of them was rated-R! So if one is saved by the Blood of Jesus and viewed that movie.........how much light remained in them?

1 John 1:5-10

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 

NKJV

Spending time in the light will cause us to change some things and get some things out of here, right?

Well, consider this: it is a beautiful sunny day and temps are in the mid 60's..........you open the patio door, and alas as you step away from the glass door, you see dust on the T.V. stand, on the table top, and even the glass is noticeably dirty with dog paw prints and little child finger marks.

What shows up when God's light shines in us? What might be found that should not be there?

Ephesians 5:6-14

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 

7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 

8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 

9(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 

10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 

11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 

12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 

13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 

14 For this reason it says, 

"Awake, sleeper, 

And arise from the dead, 

And Christ will shine on you." 

NASU

From the above, we are not to be deceived with empty words. Empty words are those of confusion, no life and come from the world that just talks, and talks and talks. There is no vision, no walk to walk with it, except into more confusion, and more darkness. For when we stay with the Light of God and His Word, we have the fruit of Light that is in all goodness and truth. It is a daily walking of learning to please the Lord. It is not participating in that which is unfruitful deeds of the darkness, but His light is exposing them. In all that we seek into more Light, He reveals even that which is still in darkness. We are to awake, arise from sleep..........and Christ will shine on us!

1 John 2:8-14

8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 

9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 

10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 

11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. 

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 

14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

NASU

Three different levels are mentioned: The father's, those who have a walk with God and are the spiritual fathers to many. The young men are those who have overcome the evil one, and their walk is one of "faith". They have a great trust in the Lord. And third, this is the new "child" who has come to the Lord. They are the ones just starting their walk with Him.

Our Father wants to light our way into all that is good. It is not in confusion or in hate of another. Those who hate are so deep in darkness that they are to be led out like blind men.

We certainly keep a light for our grandchild to see in the night hours should she awake and not remember where she is at. In that respect, we as individuals and in our walk, either as the spiritual "fathers" are to keep the light on for the young ones, those as a young child coming to the Father.

As disciples of Jesus are to the Light the way for those who are in darkness to the light of day. The true Light is already Shining. He came to set captives free.

We all to come to the Lord as little children. We had to humble ourselves for the need of a Savior.

Our prayer is sent for those who are still in the dark: For we certainly are those who have a Savior. We overcome, and we are the strong, and the word of God abides in us. If we truly know that we are the forgiven, would we not want others to know?

We are to be characterized as the "fathers". They are those who have the knowledge of God. As being a father to spiritual children, we lead because we have conquered holding up the Word of truth. Any conflict that was seen was conquered. In these conquests we are truly victorious but one thing remains, as His light continues to enter in us, then we find what else remains....that needs to leave our lives for the good. We are to grow stronger in Him. We then are no longer the weaklings, but we triumph in the Lord who has enabled us to overcome.

Hebrews 11:33-34

33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 

34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens. 

ASV

That fruit of His light is righteousness and truth in us. In that we see our faith meter move from the good, grow to the "acceptable", to the "perfect will of God". That fruit is always in right standing with God. And it is our faith that has obtained the victory that overcomes the world.

Our faith is substance. It is seen. It is valued. Any inconsistency will be because of the lack of love in any situation. When anything is amiss or seems wrong, we must rejoice that the Holy Spirit of God is with us to point to that which does not belong in our lives and see it removed.

Having that light, like the nightlight at home, gives us the continually lighting to break into the greatest moves of God. It causes us to move into situations that seem just wrong, but God is saying go! And go now!

For there are those today who speak good as evil and evil as good. There are those who will try to give you the bitter for sweet and the sweet for bitter. We are to know the difference. And when we keep coming back to the Father of Lights of whom there is no variation or shadow of turning, we find truth, remain in truth, and move in that truth.

In closing: James 1:17 Amplified Bible

Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [ the shining of} Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

The light is our eye it is to be good and fill our body. It comes from God. It is His truth. In the influence we have with others, it is His light they are to see. It is of His own will and grace, and not by our skill of any kind that people should take note of us. It is only God that they should encounter. And how is it done? It is done in and by His love.

If we turn a porch light on for a first time visitor to the house, what if we allowed people to see our light shine with the goodness of God? What if they encountered God in a new way and not in a building on a Sunday morning? What if they encountered Him in a hallway leading to the restroom?

Hey, what if they encountered God on the way to church? What if you see someone with a flat tire and could not only help but give them Jesus?

Just as His light from the sun He created certainly reveals the dust on the top of the refrigerator...........then we should be willing to allow Him to show us those areas that should be cleared away to make room for more of Him in His: comfort, love, strength, mercy, communication, truth, life, peace and joy.

May our words speak with sound that is of God and shakes the foundations of this world to remove it and see His kingdom Come. Amen!

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

The Orphan: The One WHO CAN FINISH STRONG!

John 14:18-21................18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."    NKJV


Jesus mentions the orphan. in John 14, but we also see it in the Old Testament.
Lamentations 5:1-5......1 Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us; 
look, and see our disgrace. 
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens, 
our homes to foreigners. 
3 We have become orphans and fatherless, 
our mothers like widows. 
4 We must buy the water we drink; 
our wood can be had only at a price. 
5 Those who pursue us are at our heels; 
we are weary and find no rest.  NIV

James 1:27..........27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. NIV

Psalm 25:16-18.............16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,

For I am desolate and afflicted. 

17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged;

Bring me out of my distresses! 

18 Look on my affliction and my pain,

And forgive all my sins. 

NKJV

Many people today are voicing loudly their life of the desolate. Many have not seen the example of a "figure" to lead them with wisdom. Many today have been led by maybe a sibling or friend and most have been taken far from the place of being nurtured in love, but brought up in neglect, or left as in abandonment, and in deprivation of anything to sustain them to life. Love never enters the arena where they reside. These are they who are usually used in some way for another's gain.

These are the "orphans"!

This has come on my heart to write in the last few days. I was never left an orphan, but I met many who had been left to their own devices. I met many who had to fend for themselves, and I saw the mistakes they made by trying to be "grown up" when there was still so much of a child inside. One young lady who had failed a couple of years in school, desired to quit school and marry. I remember watching this game being played at our school one afternoon. It was a basketball practice being held outside and I remember sitting next to this young teen. Although she was some three years older than me, I liked her gentle spirit. She loved to talk and so did I.  I was in Jr. High and liked being that age and being in school.I loved "homework"!  But this one talked how she wanted to be married and take care of a home. I wondered, "does someone really like cleaning house and cooking food"? Remember I was in Jr. High. 

Today we are seeing many displaced people who desire living out on the streets and alley ways. Some got there by misfortune and others because they chose it. A friend of mine for some years, worked down in the Seattle area, and she saw this women one day with a shopping cart loaded down with all kinds of things. The Lord had told my friend to walk over and talk with her. Well, the first time, she said no to the Lord. But the next time, she went quickly with a willing heart.
I remember her take on the whole conversation. She said as she approached the woman, who was nicely dressed in Asian apparel. Her hair appeared nicely cared for and did not look like someone who lived on the street. My friend offered the lady some money and told her that "the Lord loved her". The woman told my friend that she liked living on the street as she did not want to work! My friend encouraged her in some way and walked away. She said she remembered turning back for a last look at the woman and felt sad for her.  She saw the Asian woman one more time on that street corner and then saw her no more. Today, when people get into a "fix" by either spending too much money, one spouse passes from sudden death or long illness, or a job is lost with no back-up savings, many people find there is no home to go back to as there was many decades ago. In decades past, If someone came upon hard times, the family came together and often times lived in the same house for years. It happened in the Dust Bowl era and crash of 1929. But today, there is no place to go to, and many have found they can draw a check from government and never have to work again. I wonder what will happen when the government stops sending those checks out?
Yet, there are those who need not a handout but a hand up......a lifting with encouragement and maybe rent for a month!

Many times a youth is thrown out of their home because of not obeying the rules of the house or they want something that the parent's see as detrimental to the youth's or teenagers whole being. It is important for us to be fruitful and produce a place where others will desire to come. People have no homes they were raised in to go back to, but what if there is A PLACE in God that we can be fruitful in and present to those who are wandering in the desolate area of life?

We are to value our children and grand-children and not throw them into the street to fend for themselves. But so many have been dealt a brutal blow by those that gave them life and are now these have grown into adults and are raising their own children. And that orphan mentality can certainly affect how we raise our "kids" if we are still experiencing this "orphan" image. 

God surely created us in His image and He desires good for us. He planned for us and when we would exist to accomplish His plan in the earth.

Genesis 1:26-28.........26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 

NKJV

Isaiah 40:18-20..........18 To whom then will you liken God?

Or what likeness will you compare to Him? 

19 The workman molds an image,

The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,

And the silversmith casts silver chains. 

20 Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution 

Chooses a tree that will not rot;

He seeks for himself a skillful workman 

To prepare a carved image that will not totter. NKJV

What image have people followed? What god did they create for themselves to follow? Did they follow their own lusts to find defiance and death?  Did they follow those "voices" of destruction, those who use and throw away children? How about the little 5 year old who has no name, and was found dead in a trash bag in the harbor of a great city? How did we get to be a nation who cares not for their children? There is no other way to life other than Jesus. All others lead to destruction. Everything else is but a lie, and can be beautifully ornamented as we see from the scripture above. Those things of the world are not the real life God has for us. He has placed eternity in each of us and He desires us to know Him and spend quality time with Him.
Apart from God, we can only experience death.  

Matthew 5:48............48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.  NKJV

That perfection is in that perfect love seen in  1 John 4:18. His love is spoken throughout to us in that word written as the Bible. He speaks in truth to us and we grow more in Christ......that unrelenting pursuit was seen in Jesus and accomplished on the cross.

Those who walk those crooked paths are certainly found out. As we see from Proverbs 10:9......Proverbs 10:9...........9 The man of integrity walks securely,

but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.  NIV
Those who walk out their journey through other means than love for their neighbor end up in "bad places" and with not so good people!

 They are shown to be what they are........2 Timothy 3 :2-5.......2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. NIV 

We are seeing generation after generation,those who have no influence that leads to righteousness, but those who saw a parent die, and the other be a lover of themselves. We are seeing those who have been abandoned by another's own brutal behavior, lack of love, and displaying unforgiving hearts!

Those who truly follow their own passions find heartache, loss and loneliness. And those children who are left behind to fend for themselves wonder why "the parent" left them. They wonder why "the parent" chose alcohol or drugs or just chose to desert them. 

But Jesus said He would not leave us orphans. He said that He would come to us!

Psalm 25:16-21.............16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted. 

17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;

free me from my anguish. 

18 Look upon my affliction and my distress 

and take away all my sins. 

19 See how my enemies have increased 

and how fiercely they hate me! 

20 Guard my life and rescue me;

let me not be put to shame,

for I take refuge in you. 

21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,

because my hope is in you.  NIV

Lately I have seen those who walk in integrity toward others and still seem to get the "shaft". They are sorely mistreated!  And these people feel abandoned by society themselves. They have been in "church" but not followed the true path of knowing God and what Jesus did for them.
The psalmist wrote in Psalm 25 and verse 20....that he desired God to guard his life.......rescue him for the person had sought God as His refuge. The person did not want to come to shame. (shame: an embarrassment of foolish behavior) The psalmist desired to be one of integrity and uprightness. He had directed his hope in God!

Romans 15:13..........13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.   NIV

In prayer we are to fasten upon the names, the titles and attributes of God. As we confess, and spend time with those scriptures our faith in those names, title and attributes of Who God is strengthens our faith.

As the God of hope fills us with all joy and peace as we put our trust in Him, we overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

But God!  When we turn away from the world and look into God's instruction (the Bible) we find our path!

Can we  possibly nurture others in the God of hope? 
Can we influence them, with a Godly heritage and beckon them to God's holy word of repentance and life? Just because "maw" or "paw" went to the church for many years, does not make one a Christian. Following Jesus and the commands given to us, is the Way, the Truth and the Life! It is not following what religion speaks, but what is in your heart to things of God. If we direct people into fellowship of God and the Holy Spirit, we direct them into "freedom".
Then the "orphans" leave bondage and the drudgery of the negative lifestyle or traditions. As each of us spend time in this beautiful love letter, we become aware that we were and are truly loved by God! 

He has the answer! Our diet must change to the sustenance that will sustain us We must turn from that replaying that tune or hearing those voices of yesteryear that come to remind us that we were abandoned. We must tune out those lies that destroy and turn to truth that brings life to us. Our instruction must come from God and Him alone. We must join ourselves with the flock that follows Jesus as Lord and our Defender!

I have seen this in a young pastor who just found his calling a few years back. He is giving back of his talents and the gifts God has in him and he moves easily from neighborhoods to the market place.
And to those who might have had, even some Sunday school as youths and teens, you are still called of God to fill a place. If that one place within you seems void of life, now is the time to turn toward God and call on Him to fill that void by His Holy Spirit. I know I experienced it as well. I know it exists, but do not spend your years on the fruitless and lifeless things like I did, turn now and find that life God has for you and will direct you into.

If you are still facing that "orphan" attitude, then ask God what you need to hear and learn to leave the other behind. Ask God to lead you by His Spirit into that care of His loving kindness that will replenish the spirit, soul and body. Ask Him to show what instruction you need and to please send those instructors and teachers your way. Ask HIM to help you hear the voice of life unto life. Ask Him to show you those who are allowed to speak into your life.

Remind God that He created you for a purpose in His mind and ask Him what it is. Know that He is for you and not against you! 

Romans 8:31-35...........31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?    NIV

Psalm 32:8-9.......8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will guide you with My eye. 

9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,

Which have no understanding,

Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,

Else they will not come near you.  NKJV

When we allow God to have His way in our lives, we can "finish strong"........!

Proverbs 23:12    12 Apply your heart to instruction,

And your ears to words of knowledge.  NKJV

Proverbs 24:11   11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death,

And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.  NKJV

Proverbs 5:1-2  .......   My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

Lend your ear to my understanding,

2 That you may preserve discretion,

And your lips may keep knowledge. NKJV

Psalm 42:8 ......   8 The LORD will command His loving-kindness in the daytime,

And in the night His song shall be with me--

A prayer to the God of my life. NKJV

Jesus sent His Spirit..........and it is renewing the face of the earth. For what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden..........Jesus took all that sin and nailed it to the cross and through His body. The Comforter, the Helper has come!

John 14:25-31.......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. NKJV

Let not the orphan attitude keep you away from the plan God has for you. Move forward to confess and rehearse those scriptures to remind you that God is still on the scene. He has not forgotten you or forsaken you.

  Today, apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. Pay attention to the wisdom of God and lend your to understanding that it may preserve discretion and your lips may keep knowledge.

Understand and know that Lord will not hear if we regard iniquity in our heart.   He desires us to forgive, forgive and forgive! He desires us to forgive others as He has forgiven us.

  For those who still sense they have that "orphan" attitude......please pray to the God of your life.

Today, I pray,................I recognize I have a Father You planned for me. I am loved. I may not know the extent of it yet, but YOU are for me! A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows are You God in Your holy dwelling. It is YOU Who has set the lonely in families and You lead forth the prisoners with singing. (Psalm 68:5-6)

Father God, make me strong and courageous.  I have read that the NAME OF THE LORD is a strong tower and the righteous run to it and are safe. (Prov. 18:10)......Help me not to be afraid or terrified because of anyone else, for You, the Lord my God, go with me; You will never leave me or forsake me. (Deut. 31:6)

Lord, how I thank YOU for the assurance that You will not reject Your people; You will never forsake Your inheritance. (Psalm 94:14)

Father, today, I bask and take comfort in Your promise that You will go before me and make the rough places smooth; You will shatter the gates of bronze and cut through their iron bars. (Psalm 107: 15-16) You will give me the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth (riches) of secret places, in order that I may know that it is You, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls me by name. (Isaiah 45:2-3)

Father God, I ask You to lead me when I am blinded by ways I have not known. Help me to walk along the unexpected and unknown paths. Guide me into Your glorious Presence so that I can hear Your voice. Please,turn the darkness into light before me and make the rough places smooth.  I know You will not forsake me. ( Isaiah 42:16) I pray these things You will certainly do.

I receive You as my Father. Lead me into that You planned for me. Thank You  for  the Holy Spirit, whom the Father sent in Jesus' name, He will teach me all things, and bring to my remembrance all things that has been said to me of truth, in discipline, and guidance in YOUR holy word.  I thank YOU for Peace that YOU left with me, I will not let my heart be troubled, neither will I let it be afraid. 

 Amen and Amen.

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