Man of War

 

Exodus 15: 3 The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name.

David spoke in Psalm 27....The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Obedient are those who have a covenant relationship with God the LORD. One of the blessings enjoyed as in obedience,  one adhering to His words and thoughts. For they are higher than us!

Jesus came the first time as the obedient in faith to God's gospel. He came to represent God and spread the Good News of that gospel! When He returns He will seek those who are obedient to that Word of God.

Ephesians 2:8  NKJV   For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Faith's importance to salvation is accentuated by this verse. Faith plays a role in the entire process until we enter the Kingdom of God. It is the sum of what God is doing in our lives: "Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent'" (John 6:29).

 In the fourth and fifth chapters of Romans, Paul mentions faith a dozen times, almost all concerning justification, being made righteous or having access to grace, and thus, having the hope of the glory of God.

The faith that saves has its beginning when God, on His own initiative, calls us (John 6:44) and leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). He does this by His Spirit guiding us into all truth (John 16:7-14). Stirring up our minds to knowledge, His Spirit enables us to perceive from a perspective we never before seriously considered. This, combined with the confrontation that occurs with the carnal mind when we are forced to choose what to do with this precious truth, gives birth to a living faith, a faith that works, a faith that walks in godliness.

This Gift then shows the way. We sin, then repent seriously and honestly in our hearts to believe the Lord by His Holy Spirit can direct our way into that holy walk! Once this appears as "little things" and not serious, then it is that faith which stops being cultivated, then injustice begins to appear in more serious areas, such as increased crime, divorce, abortion, suicide, and the like. Morality plunges and the people move farther and farther from godly morals and values. And when God sees no repentance in sight, His wrath is not long in coming.

Jesus delivered truth and we are to abide in that truth! Too many are changing truth for lies today! 
Today men can be women with some tweaks. No, only God made man and He made them male and female. Injustice appears everywhere. It is a heart thing to lament remembrance of what was decades ago now lies in streets of falsehood and despair!

There is a word given the last few months of an asteroid or planet moving into our solar system.            (31/Atlas) This month of October marks it's pass by Mars. Interesting enough Mars means war! Then it moves past the sun and earth. It is suppose to be through our solar system by end of October.   This could cause damage to a planet in our system and to people here on earth. Any debris caused by an impact can cause darkness of the sun. And if this is not enough, people on earth in certain areas have taken upon themselves to take ground water to water plants and fill reservoirs. (like California and Arizona)  As a result, here a hill stood in 1988 is lowered and now causes a person to stand above that hill. That land has sunk to under one's feet today. A woman is shown given to measurements of such displacement. (On Insight on the Impact Channel, Steve Cochran.) To displacement of terra frima will bring calamity. A word given here in twenty-first century, John Paul Jackson stated there would be a great quake. There would be change in California and Missouri. John Kilpatrick also was given a vision of California and of the Great Madrid Fault. His is one that  terrifies. Of these, we are told that there would be a mouth opened to water between San Diego and Los Angeles. This would account for many being swallowed by calamitous disaster over the western region and Pacific Ocean! Got your suits ready for long time swimming?

Man is making the very ground he stands on to be anything but stable! What's more enlightening is that Russia now has a missile that can cause a tsunami some 500 feet high. (Yes, taller than the Empire State Building in New York City) They started testing such devices back in 2022. ( Insight with Steve Cochran on the Impact Channel)

IN meditating on Ephesians 2:8 Paul is not simply giving a description of that beginning of faith., He gives a look at the progress to be made by faith throughout a person's conversion. We have strength when we hear and believe. Salvation is a grace thing. And through that faith, we have a gift given to us to not only hear and obey but redirect our lives to that word of God always!

AND Who are we expecting at His return? He was the mild man, He without sin, He loving His neighbors as He did, and becoming the sacrifice for mankind. We are told to keep that progression through that faith given us and live a life that is wondrous and active! He even asks in John 16:8 if faith would be found at His return.

Again, where do we reside, in righteousness or dust of the earth? In Amos 5:7 the word states, " You who turn justice to wormwood, and lay righteousness to rest in the earth!" NKJV    .....Also a similar verse stands out in Amos 6:12........it connects justice and righteousness. That we should know the fruit of righteousness is justice. It is fair treatment, not only in the courts but in every walk of life.  Here righteousness is the standard, yet this banner is now thrown to the ground. They rested in their untrained consciences. Being their own guides in life...it was " anything goes". 

In a study of human culture and human development, many sociologists and anthropologists have agreed that every society is made up of seven pillars: (1) religion, (2) family, (3) business, (4) education, (5) government, (6) arts, and (7) media. The latter five of business, education, government, arts and media make up what is called the "marketplace." And the Great Commission that Jesus Christ gave is not only for us to preach in every geographical nation, but to engage the social order within that territory, especially that of the marketplace. To do that, the Church has to be relevant and contemporary to the cultural context God has planted it in.

Without righteousness each of these goes away.  Now while righteousness is inward, justice is out-going, concerning even such "trivial" things as being neat and orderly. Can one not notice how much trash litters our highways and graffiti mars our cities and our highways ? And we know that no law of God specifically regulates our driving, but is it not fair and just to be considerate of others on the road? Certainly God's law has to do with being thoughtful, gracious, tactful, and discreet, all of which are founded on one of its basic principles, the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12). Does anyone remember the Golden Rule?

Things are changing rapidly! Ground under us is shifting downwards as to getting ready for the next quake! Morality continues to plunge downward. It is a people choosing to farther themselves from godly virtues and values. When no repentance is found in His sight, His wrath is coming indeed! And He will use high waves of water, and deep crevasses in the earth to testify to His faithfulness. He will allow to come on people what they have worshiped indeed! 

Look out where you step and how you live!

 

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What Fruit?

...nevertheless the LORD'S counsel will stand..

Proverbs 14:12 Amp. Bible 12 There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death. Truly God is good, but adding flesh to something will only add up to more flesh, the pig wallowing in the mire…………Jesus spoke in John 4:24, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit & truth," meaning we must worship to the fullest of God's intent as revealed in His Word!

In applying God’s word to our daily life takes action on our part. And every decision we make in regard to our life in care and responsible attitude toward other family members requires us to include each with truth. Every action taken is to be guided & determined by God’s revealed truth. Yet, how many corners do we cut when we feel it serves us better? 

It sounds like this: “I have this God” and then find yourself in a bigger mess that when you started. I remember us buying a house one time, but I think I was the only one who really loved it, since I was the only one home most of the time! So when other are involved in the decision making it is best to consider all those participating in that major decision: like buying a house, buying a car, moving to another city or when one might pull back from some work to do what God really asked us to do.

The Book of Proverbs is a good place to start and there is one chapter for each day of the month. Can you imagine how much wisdom you would acquire in a year by daily reading God’s wisdom into your heart?

Proverbs 8:36   But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those that hate  me love death. Neglecting God is one seeking death and by forsaking His wisdom which is His Word  then we live by our own wisdom!  Choosing God ‘s wisdom is choosing to live and live the way He purposed for our lives.

  If we remember Proverbs 14:12 reveals this: there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Anything outside of God’s way is reaping death. It can appear as mass murders, suicides and all kinds of life-taking, life-ending destructive paths.

We are told in 1 Corinthians 2:6 we are to speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this who are coming to nothing….no, anything outside of God and His ways and truths is a casualty looking for a place to happen!

Proverbs 21:30  there is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD. Deliberately determined to do what is wrong is death to those who do it; We have seen this come from Adam and Eve and it is happening in the streets of America today. Deliberately choosing to one’s own agenda is death indeed! Anything outside what God purposed is one choosing to themselves the world’s ways. To me that is just dangerous and so wrong to take yourself and your loved ones down the one-way path to hell and destruction!

In applying God’s word to our lives, we seek to place His will over our own will. Like Jesus, not our will but yours Father be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  In applying that word, we find that which is building us in strength.  Like from Proverbs 19:21 that there are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’S counsel---that will stand.  That we reject the counsel of the ungodly and hear the LORD’S counsel above all others. We also confess that we are instructed even as when we are sleeping and in the morning, that we pray to do what is right rather than follow the leading of our own flesh. We also speak out that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with You, Lord (1 Corinthians 3:19)  and may we not buy into it, but keep our eyes on You and have ears to hear Your voice.

May we not be presumptuous in any step we take, we must know our steps to be ordered of the Lord and not to make adjustments to His word as we see fit. HE is the healer, the ONE worthy to receive honor and praise for the great sacrifice to see us get not death, but life everlasting.

Romans 6:21-23 …….What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin,  & having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, & the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A changed heart is a seeking heart, not of worldly things that are passing away, but a seeking Heart is transparent, it is one that reflects life in Christ Jesus.  Jesus must not only be Savior , He must also be our Lord. Not being obedient to His word brings unwelcome consequences.  We are not saved by the admission of guilt, nor are we saved because we attend church every week. In God’s kindness and mercy, salvation that is true comes from accurately understanding the cost to save and the cost required to be saved. May our lives truly exhibit change that is of a holy life abounding in God’s grace not to sin but to really live a life in Him. Amen.

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Field of Blood: Self Interest

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The Tower of Babel

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Don't Be Just a Face in the Crowd

Are we just a face in the crowd? Are we needing a horn of sorts to be heard or are we those with a face that has the force of the Holy Spirit?

Being a force for God is like a flood of His love in places people do not know Him. 
Isaiah 1:18-20
18 "Come now, and let us reason together,"
Says the LORD,
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword";
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
NKJV

A force of faith is those willing and obedient.......who will eat the good of the land. A voice of faith will always speak. Speaking words that dominate the law of death is what a reborn man does. It is action and the momentum that must be a continuous action on our part. When we abide in the Word day and night, that meditation is feeding our faith and building our capacity for more faith.

Hurrah! and Praise the Lord!

He adds to us!

Proverbs 3:16-18

16 Length of days is in her right hand,

In her left hand riches and honor. 

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

And all her paths are peace. 

18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,

And happy are all who retain her. NKJV

Length of days is added to us as well as riches and honor. The way is pleasant and the path is peace. It is a tree of life to those who take hold and will not release that hold! Happy are those who retain her, that wisdom of God!

Psalm 95:2-5

2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 

3 For the LORD is the great God,

And the great King above all gods. 

4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth;

The heights of the hills are His also. 

5 The sea is His, for He made it;

And His hands formed the dry land. NKJV

Coming before His presence through Jesus we give a voice of thankfulness. We shout with joy and speak that He is the great God and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth...that is your heart and mine. We are of the earth, yep, made with dirt you and I!

He is certainly aware of every high and low place that we have and could exist in. But God is able to give us His peace. God is able to perform His word in our lives. But we must heed His words, and speak as He spoke at the Beginning in Genesis. Surely the Holy Spirit still hovers over that which may appear as chaos, but God wants to bring us to green pastures.

The Great Shepherd of the sheep desires to herd us in those deep green pasture grasses and reside in the goodness of Him all the days of our lives. Every day we have challenges and maybe not the same ones your neighbor might have, but a challenge none the less. Being thankful in the challenge will bring a great look into God's plan and remembering that He is with us.

THE Control tower is to be Jesus who sits on the throne of our hearts. Praise should emanate from our lips. (Isaiah 57:19) And God will perfect our praise. (Matthew 21:16) Daily our God is to be praised. (Psalm 72:15)  And in a moment just by speaking God's words we can stop the enemy. We can still him quickly, yes, stop him in his tracks!

Psalm 8:2

2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants 

You have ordained strength,

Because of Your enemies,

That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.  NKJV

We should be the face in the crowd that speaks as God speaks. We are to be the "disciplined". That discipline is the systematic training or subjection to authority, especially the training of the mental, moral and physical powers by instruction and exercise. The result will be of a subjection in obedience to what the Father our God has given us to speak.

"If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you will truly be My disciples." When we truly abide, hold fast to His word in obedience we become the disciplined to the things of God and His government.

Jesus had authority and He gave it to us!

Luke 10:18-20

18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."   NIV

Yes, clear cut indeed, it is authority we have been given. We have power over the enemy and nothing will harm us. But our rejoicing is in truth that our names are written in heaven...in the Lamb's Book of Life!

People not only need to see your face, they must see your heart speak and declare what God has done for you. Otherwise you are another face in the crowd. It is time for people to step up to God and His ways and thoughts. Jesus was the Sacrifice. And we needed one badly! His name is not a fetish so we can use as "a charm". No His name represents all power in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:20

We have been given Life and more abundant life through Jesus. Now is the time to step up in that power He has given us. Step up with a voice, offer to God the praise He deserves, and enter His presence to know Him more.

May we magnify Him more and not with just mere words, but that is with heart putting Him first no matter the chaos or problem.

If we carry no song, then we do not know Him personally. Make an altar and with your soul sing, for He has pardoned us through the Blood of Jesus. There is much to be thankful for today and every day. Let's look toward His goodness and may our face speak what our hearts represent............the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord's. Amen.

Revelation 19:16.............6 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: 

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. ...NIV

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Hearing The Sound From Heaven

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BUT THIS IS MY LEISURE TIME!

Have you ever been asked to attend something that the pastor, himself, would not be attending? Have you ever been asked to attend something that was miles away, would take some time driving from where you live to get there and take hours out of a Saturday that you rather enjoy as "the leisure time"? About seventeen years ago, the pastor of this church we were attending asked us, the entire church, to attend this seminar being led by John C. Maxwell. Anyone who was in leadership or serving in some department was asked to attend the event. It was to be held down at SeaTac and would require all day. Although Dr. Maxwell was not literally in "the house", he was being televised in by some special means that day! And if you remember those days of the latter 1990's, names like Dr. John C. Maxwell, Andrew Carnegie, or Virginia Arcastle were commonplace. Everyone was teaching about lifting people higher to be the great leader.
I thought of this scripture today when reflecting back to another time and place. And I thought how Jesus in verse ten of John 7 went secretly to the Feast of the Jews.


John 7:1-19................7:1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

6 Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." 9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, "Where is that man?" 

12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man."

Others replied, "No, he deceives the people." 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.

14 Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" 

16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
NIV

Now from the scripture passage, all males were to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. It was man's wisdom thinking that Jesus should go while Jewish people came for the feast and thus gain popularity.

Now back to the day spent with Dr. John C. Maxwell! There were probably some 25 people who showed up. That was only about a 1/4 of the entire church!  Yes, it was that of an early morning arrival. We got there and wanted to see where seating was available. Then as we found seating, the pastor and his wife showed up as well. Some of us looked in awe. Was father duck, checking over the little ducklings? 
Yes, for certain, he came to see who would show up, even though all were told that he would not be attending this event on that Saturday. Well, he took note of how many came and evidently took down the names of those attending. He gave us a smile and off he went to his scheduled appointment with other pastors for that Saturday morning.

In the above scripture passage, Jesus' brothers wanted Jesus to go and draw on the popularity, of that influence He was gaining. But Jesus came to expose sin. He came to bring light to the evil in the world. The "talk" was evident with differing opinions. "Where is that man?" One testifying He was good and another that He was a deceiver.

Jesus moved in secret, not to flaunt Himself, but to remain a person without fanfare. Jesus only moved when His Father revealed it to Him by His Holy Spirit. And Jesus had the wisdom of God to teach and preach in light of the truth, even though He had not attended any rabbinic schools. 

Those who spoke evil, spoke loudly about Him, as they had the rulers on their side.But those who believed Him to be good, kept it more as a quiet speech as not to be heard by others in fear of getting into trouble with the rulers of the day!

What Jesus did was to make known of the doctrine His Father sent Him to preach. He was actually teaching from the Old Testament and gave it precisely as it was written. He did not change anything, but spoke as He was commissioned to teach it!

Jesus had the truest of hearts to obey His Father Who sent Him to do something specific. He did not come to gain the glory, but to bring glory to His Father.

When asked to do something as we were asked to do, are we willing to be obedient to do it? Are we willing to do it when others refuse to do one "simple thing" that may take a leisure day out of our week? Yes, the pastor did comment on those who did not attend. But he also had some great comments on those who did attend. He made it known that he was there for a short time to check the attendance of those who actually did "show up" what they were asked to do by him!

We came away with some great teaching of how to be a leader and be one of "influence". It was a good thing to invest the time to be taught on leadership.

Will the Lord find us doing what He has asked us to do for Him? Will we choose to obey or will we take "the leisure day" at our own expense? Do we just want to show up when the pastor is there so we can hear him say something like, "how great we are for taking a day to do his plan"? 

In any kind of ministry, we should always look at the side of it that Jesus reflected on. It was always about the purpose of fulfilling the Father's plan for salvation. And it had nothing to do with fanfare!
 If someone knows our name, may it always be known that we are one with the Lord and that it is about His glory always and not for ours.

Luke 12:51-58........51 "Do you think I have come to give peace to the earth? No! Rather, strife and division! 52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against-or perhaps the other way around. 53 A father will decide one way about me; his son, the other; mother and daughter will disagree; and the decision of an honored mother-in-law will be spurned by her daughter-in-law."

54 Then he turned to the crowd and said, "When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, 'Here comes a shower.' And you are right.

55 "When the south wind blows you say, 'Today will be a scorcher.' And it is. 56 Hypocrites! You interpret the sky well enough, but you refuse to notice the warnings all around you about the crisis ahead. 57 Why do you refuse to see for yourselves what is right?

58 "If you meet your accuser on the way to court, try to settle the matter before it reaches the judge, lest he sentence you to jail; 59 for if that happens, you won't be free again until the last penny is paid in full."     TLB

There will always be those who complain, and bring division. Jesus said that He did not come to bring peace to the earth. The peace He brought was that who heeds the Word of God and obeys it. They are those who live their lives to obey instructions.  There were those who listened to Him and were in awe of the wisdom of which He spoke and still others were breathing out cruelty and lies as they looked to those religious leaders to circumvent Him and keep Him from doing those things He did. He only obeyed the Father and moved as the Holy Spirit caused Him to move. Jesus was the faithful servant who did what the Father asked Him to do. He went when He needed and He taught when He should. If we have someone over us in leadership, say the church, do we follow their instruction?
Do our lives reflect that in anyway?

Jesus had the wisdom of God to make the decisions He needed as He made His way to the Cross. He was going to walk, not in fear, but knowing all that He had to speak and do was that which was ordered by God His Father.  Whatever the controversy or debate, Jesus remained faithful to follow His Father's instruction! Jesus was always "ready" to do what the Father asked Him to do! When Jesus returns for His Bride, will He find us doing as much?

Father, it is in Jesus' name we pray today. We pray to be obedient like Jesus to obey without expecting all the fanfare. We desire to be the image of Jesus, and be that person who testifies of the Word of God and of His power in our lives. May we be commissioned like Jesus to deliver the message.

Father, today we pray to be delivered from our enemies, O God. Defend us from those who rise up to do us harm. (Psalm 59:1) Fight against those who fight against us (Psalm 35:1). In YOU, O’LORD, we put our trust. Let us never be put to shame (Psalm 71:1). If you are for us, then who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?

We ask as the Word reveals to be preserved from the enemy, hide us from secret counsel of the wicked. Pull us out of any net which has been laid for us. Keep us safe from the evil of gossiping mouths. Where there has been ill spoken of us, touch the lips of those who speak it with YOUR refining fire. Let those involved be revealed. Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion who seek to destroy our lives; let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor who wish us evil (Psalm 40:14). We commit our way today unto YOU, and we know that YOU will bring to pass what we believe for to pass.

Our desire is to have total trust in You and not be afraid of what man can do to us (Psalm 56:11) for YOU have said whoever believes in YOU will not be put to shame (Romans 10:11). Lead and guide us, and be our mighty fortress and hiding place. We choose today to delight ourselves in You and it is YOU Who will give us those righteous desires of our hearts. May our light so shine before men that they see our good works and glorify YOU Lord ( Matthew 5:16 ) Amen.

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Out in the Wilderness

Ever thought of Moses, a man brought up in a palace and who lived most of his life in the wilderness?  Seriously, he was born Hebrew of slaves under the rule of a Pharaoh and whose people were all "slave" workers who had to build with straw and mud. Lifted out of water to become the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and being protected by God. For whatever his Hebrew name was, only his parents would have known, for he was renamed Moses by the Princess! Educated in all things taught, yes, by Janees and Jimbrees. Remember them? But ultimately Moses was taught their "wisdom". He was certainly kept from harm.  He was protected by God Himself to see a day when Moses would serve God's purposes!

But seriously, have you known someone who lived in the "lap of luxury"? Like Moses, even from his birth, it looked like the devil was trying to kill him! Taken as a small baby from his family to live in a palace and learn the ways of the Egyptians. That was a "big cost" to the family who gave birth to him and loved him dearly.   Moses, the one drawn out of the water, to live in a palace and learn the ways of the Egyptians and to one day hide in the wilderness, tend to sheep and see and be 'in awe of' a burning bush' that was never consumed. It was his command from God that would take place "out in the wilderness".

Now I am certain you have had heard many teachings on this scripture passage, but I totally believe Moses could not go forward with God's plan till God commanded it to be so.

Are we zealous for the Lord, but not in the right manner to stay safe within the borders of God's protection? In the beginning, Moses, was jumping too fast and too far to rescue those he was sent to rescue. In so doing in an out of order fashion, he ran for his life. He ran from his past of palaces, and good food, to a lifestyle from prince to peasant!  And he ran to Midian, a place in the wilderness. He ran from strife he entered in with two men in the city and ended up in the Midian, the place meaning "strife".
It was a big change in scenery for Moses!
Moses changed his clothes from the lifestyle he knew to something he knew nothing about. He changed his location, and entire life and God came to speak with him. What will God do for us, when we give something up that we do not need in our lives?

Then we come to the burning bush! Exodus 3:1-12..............3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." 4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 5 Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." 6 Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

7 And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" 12 So He said, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." NKJV

When we moved out west, we had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people who love the Lord. In all our times at church and meetings and conferences, we saw people with a heart for God. But for me, I saw two women who would always stand out to me. One lady was probably about 15 years older than me, could quote the Bible and knew so much of the Lord's walk on this earth. I always had some kind of question for her.

Another lady was about 9 years younger than I. These two women certainly were those who were fire to me. They knew the Word of God and loved to pray. They had story after story of the absolute goodness of God and His Love! One always had testimonies of healing and wholeness restored to those she prayed for and the other had testimony after testimony of prayer and Bible studies in the Jail Ministry. She would tell of those receiving Jesus for the first time ever. Well, my first thought was to stay within the confines of four walls and safety and learn much from the older lady, but no, I knew when the latter woman spoke of Jail Ministry, that was my burning bush moment. I had to follow the course that God had set for me. And my getting of the badge to enter jail for ministry certainly took less time than any one else had experienced before. Yes, I had favor with those who worked in the jail and learned not to fear as God was with me. I got that new badge, reported to the "metal detector" and headed for Chapel. I was being trained under leadership that would take me places I had not been before.

I know for many, that just the slamming of all those metal doors makes one shake and quake, but I knew I was going in with the Word of God and no one could leave till chapel was done. Yes, we were all locked in together, and God would have His way in that place.

I thought of Moses, and his ability to teach Joshua. He trained him so much so, that Joshua became his successor. Both Moses and Joshua had a walk with God. Both were born in Egypt, experienced the Exodus together, escaped slavery through God our Redeemer, walked in the wilderness and saw the "new Land". Although Moses did not enter Canaan, he trained someone who could take it further according to God's plan.

Much like these two, I was trained by a great lady. She so loved the Lord and gave her all for His kingdom and it showed in what she did and what she spoke!   When this great leader left this Outreach Ministry, another was in charge, and she took a new approach, "a little more country style" but no less powerful. She too, loved the Lord and together we saw many come to the Lord in salvation. When she left, a lot of the team, (99.9 percent of them went with her). But God showed me to stay and take the land. I stayed, "much like the cheese stands alone thing" if anyone remembers those days, but prayerful a team came together and was multiplied with me leading.  It was an Outreach Ministry that God raised up Himself! And I was excited to be in front to see it all come to His plan.

Yikes! How did I get here? Well, I saw the moment the command came. Much like Moses, his command came when God told him in Exodus 3 and verse 10..."so now, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

Like Joshua, I too, had to lead others. I wanted to do it in the way that people would know that they were truly valued like Moses did with Joshua. So I finish with this: When Joshua got the command from God through Moses...........Joshua 1:6-9................6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."  NIV

Joshua was told to be strong and courageous. I too, had to be strong and courageous. And God was with Joshua and with me. We are told that Joshua and people he led came to the Jordan River.

Yes, it is the next morning............command to go, and Joshua broke camp at Shittim and moved down to the edge of the Jordan which at this time is out of its banks because it is time of the harvest...........the river overflowed...............Yes, Let' make our entrance! (see in Joshua 3:15)

It was on the third day that the people were instructed to march forward...........river flooding in front of us..........what........? what are you saying.........."march forward"! The people moved in order, with the priests bearing the Ark in the lead, and when their came to middle of the flooding river, the waters divided. Now some of the commentaries I have read, even state that the water did not part till the priests were in the middle of the swollen river! (well, that meant that muddy water and debris went over their heads. And they had to hold the Ark of the Covenant above their heads to keep it out of the water and debris) As the waters parted and pushed back for a distance in both directions, the priests remained in the middle of the dry ground till all of Israel had passed by to the Promised Land. Then as soon as the priests moved over and touched the dry ground of the "new land",  the waters returned to overflow it banks as before. (Joshua 4:1-18)

We are to see and hear when God commands us to go. We are to be growing in the knowledge of God………..always growing, being renewed to His way and His doing of things. Will we go for Him, or will we choose comfort, safety and gain no ground for His kingdom? Are we waiting for fall season to arrive……..and children to go back to school?    Will the world’s schedule always interfere with God’s plan for us.? Will there always be a lion in the street, and the Jordan always be overflowing its banks?

Not everything will be done in the city behind four walls! We have to see that place we are called! 

In summation, God can use each of us. Whether born in a palace or bondage, born with a different skin color, born male or female, born in the city or the country, and does not matter whether you are young or old, divorced, short, tall, heavy, thin or bald, God has a plan for each of us! Be like Joshua and know that you are a conqueror! God is more than enough, more powerful to get His plan accomplished..........we just need to say "YES"!

Father, we want to be doing what You have asked us to do! I ask You to help us to see the "burning bush" We do not want to jump ahead to the next thing without completing the "new thing" before us! I pray that we would be those who desire to see Your kingdom expand. We pray to be those who are strong and courageous to inherit that YOU swore to give to us. We look not to turn to the right or to the left but that we would keep our eyes on YOU. Truly Your word will not depart from our mouths. We set ourselves to meditate on it day and night to be careful to everything written therein. We understand that YOU will be with us wherever we go...........YOU have sent us to heal the broken-hearted and to bind up their wounds. According to Joshua 23:9-13.......we believe and hold fast that you have driven out nations before us and that no one will be able to stand against us this day. We extend our love and thanks to YOU and receive with whole hearts that good land which the Lord our God has given us in Jesus Name. Amen (Joshua 23.13)

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