The Echos of Faith

Turning from the twinkling light of the tree in the corner of the room, and turning eyes on the leather bound Bible in hand, it is a silent night. In the brightness of His coming upon a midnight hour, He is to live and die for mankind! Born to change things on earth toward God, it is on a hilltop far away He will die with few surrounding Him with tears in eyes.

In the echoes of faith, it was Jesus who prayed for Jerusalem.

For the Righteous Cause: Jesus came…and these were His last words:

THE 1^st WORD: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

Luke 23:34……

1.   He came to earth, to live as a man, and died between two criminals.

2.   Hanging by the strength of nails, he sees the soldiers who mocked and scourged Him.

3.   Tortured and visible in His mind Caiaphas & the high priests of the Sanhedrin…have sentenced Him to die. With blood running over his eyes, He sees John with His mother Mary.

4.   His apostles and friends deserted Him. Peter denied Him 3 times…….& only the fickle remain, yes that crowd who just praised Him on His entrance into that city of Jerusalem has now demanded His crucifixion some days later at Golgotha!

Forgiveness is His focus! His love prevailed! In those final hours on earth, He has forgiven those who trespassed against Him, including Peter. Jesus had told Peter in Matthew 18:21-22 to seventy times seven to forgive another. He forgave the paralytic at Capernaum: Mark 3:3-12. He forgives the sinful woman who anointed Him in the home of Simon the Pharisee: Luke 7:37-48! The adulteress caught in the act and was to be stoned: John 8:1-11.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice,  "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Luke 23:46…Jesus obedient to will of His Father to the end, & his final word before on the Cross was a prayer to His Father. The relationship of Jesus to the Father is given in John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus declared, “The Father and I are one.” John 10:30 ; He had a return ticket: "I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father" John 16:28  Jesus fulfills His own mission and that of His Father on the Cross! He directs His final word, “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit. Luke 23:46; "Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this was a righteous Man" (Luke 23:47).

The echoes of faith resound even now. The sound somewhere is heard, the married woman desiring a child of her own to hold.  She asks by calling unto Him in her darkest hour?

What about the man or woman given a death sentence by their own doctor and that their days are numbered in weeks and not months? In their fear of death so soon they ask Him for long life and that He would "keep watch" over them some 24/7. Yet on any given Christmas holiday they complained of spending one hour with Him in His House! 

But what about the person who gives Him praise in the middle of the night? What about that man or woman who thanks Him for their life, for their job and their family? What about the one who remembers to say "Thank you for the good" when only bad appears by breaking out all around them?

Jesus knew one thing: He knew the Father sent Him for purpose!   Jesus on the cross, giving up His body and by shedding His blood completely satisfied God’s requirement: Hebrews 10:12-14 NKJV But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are going sanctified.

It was about God having His family:  Opened up the gates of Heaven for anyone that would believe in Him John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

That Steadfast faith speaks: Hebrews 6: 19-20 that the Hope we have as an anchor for our soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus having become High Priest forever according to the order of Mechizedek………Reminded from Hebrews 7:24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

It is  In HIM, we have the benefit of life eternal.  1 John 5:10-12 NKJV 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, & this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Romans 2:6-11 Amp. Bible 6 for He will render to every man according to his works [justly, as his deeds deserve]. 7 To those who by patient persistence in well-doing [spring from piety] seek [unseen but sure] glory and honor and [the disobedient to the Truth  but responsive to wickedness, there will be indignation and wrath. 9 [And] there will be tribulation & anguish & calamity & constraint for every soul of man who [habitually] does  evil, the Jew first & also the [Gentile]. 11 For God shows no partiality [undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another. Our answer is in Jesus from Matthew 11:29-30 He said “take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle &lowly in heart….you will find rest for your soul. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Of the last century , it was found in the winter of 1944 a winter not confined to the names of la Nina nor la Nino, but as to the "brutal" type. It was as the Allied forces were facing the ferocious German counteroffensive in the Battle of the Bulge. It would be General George S. Patton who wound find peace in prayer. With relentless rains and much fog, the grounded planes and troops were stalled. He had urged the Third Army to seek God for clear skies:   Almighty and most merciful Father, we humble beseech You, of the great goodness, to restrain these moderate rains. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to use as soldiers who may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and and establish Your justice among men and nations.

Yes, the weather broke, and triumph appeared. It was in the desperate hour that prayer, an echo of faith proved God would hear and answer. Truly awesome: Matthew 18:19 that where two or three are gather in His name, God is there. He moves. (this would invite an invitation into prayer and having faith in Him, and not the government nor any Snap Benefits.) In a recent report: When LeBron James broke the NBA's all-time scoring record, it was not just a historic moment it became a metaphor for our age. As LeBron pulled up for the record-breaking shot, nearly every spectator had their phone raised, not to remember him, but to capture their own version of the moment according to them!  Things are changing dramatically in this hour of His close return. What will He find? Is it voices of faith expressing His greatness, His glory and eternal future for us or will it be only voices set to see us as the center of our own existence?    Teaching at: Voice of Prayer  Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching http://bit.ly/2wgu1kw Now Posting to Rumble  Voice of Prayer https://rumble.com/c/c-1425534 And Life Giving Wells https://rumble.com/c/c-1428234     Life Giving Wells now on Spotify Podcast! https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/xashcfy9ez

A Do-Gooder

Salt & Light

Acts 10:36-41 NKJV 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ-----He is Lord of all----- 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

Ever hear of someone speaking of maybe a friend, family member or themselves as being "a do-gooder".
But scripture tells us that the person who does good is one who is baptized, anointed by the Holy Spirit and who goes about like Jesus did, healing all who were oppressed by the devil.
Simple, right?
God is with us when we receive Jesus as Lord of our lives. Confessing Him with our mouths, that is by repenting of sins, repenting of the past life and by faith receive the new life or the new man in Him!

Still though, I hear from new broadcasts to the on-line sector video news to heralding a " do-gooder" dying suddenly, or in regard to some freakish event.
Jesus was the Word of God! John 1:14-18 NKJV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out saying, "This was He of whom I said, He who comes after is preferred before m,e for He was before me." 16 and of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Jesus came to bring the love of the Father. He declared Him. Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God which had come. It was seen as preaching peace. Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with Him.

So it would be easy to see when God is not with someone, right? God is love, but Jesus told us in John 14:6 ...."no one comes to the Father except through Him.
Jesus told us this in John 15:15-17 .....No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

This is what the "do-gooder" looks like: they sound like Jesus, their lives imitate His life and they declare the Father. Our lives should have fruit that is to have more life, more fruit produced living our life that points to the Father, the Creator of the Heavens and Earth!

Heard on a teaching today by Kenneth Copeland. He was speaking of the time when the Queen Mary was to be raised out of the ocean water in Long Beach, California and place on land where it was going to be built into a hotel. He spoke they had a Believer's Convention about the time it started some years ago and he said, "the men meticulously removed the first smoke stack from its position, and placed it on the deck with no one touching it.

He said it was suddenly that the enormous smoke stack that looked so beautiful with the fine paint instantly crumbled to the floor of the dock. In awe, people ran to look at "what just happened in an instant"! He said that what was revealed was nothing but layers of paint for the salt air had corroded the very metal of the smoke stack. It was only the the outside the facade!

Yes, that salt water air had corroded the metal on that smoke stack! It was the metal that held the shape, but paint remained only when the metal was gone. So too, we must remember that being saved, we are moved into that which should have no pathways for sin to run rampant. The Father loves us and staying close to Him through Jesus connects us to truth and to light. Outside of that it is just a facade.

People who remain in Jesus should do what Jesus did without going to the Cross, but nailing the flesh creature must be applied. Our emotions should not lead us into sin. Scripture tells us the if our eye or hand offends remove it.
Matthew 5:27-30 NKJV You have heard that is was said to those of old, "You shall not commit adultery. " 28 But I say to you, that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut if off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than your whole body to be cast into hell.

We cannot just appear good like the smoke stack, we are to have hearts connected to the Him who has key of life in Him. Just quoting some scripture does not make us a "do-gooder" in God. It is not enough to just walk through life without making the commitment to Him.
When a man and woman get married, it is to be for life through the continual communication and covenant between them. So many lose that connection and divorce usually finding out too late that freedom truly was in the connection they had at the first in their relationship!
Those who truly understand that the "salt" maintains the effectiveness in adhering to the kingdom that had come. The norm is for us to be salt and light. In that regard as the disciple of Jesus we are to act as the preservative in a world by conforming to kingdom reality or truths. Adhering to His words of truth we remain the strong strengthened in Him. Without Him, then we would appear as the smokestack from the ship Queen Mary cruise-liner!
Surely salt will stall the decay of the meat....and for us it will do the same. Oh, it so vital to stay connected to the Lord, and to know we have the Holy Spirit, we have the open communication to continue in the life-giving grace that has come from the Father of lights and in whom there is no changing ....He never changes His mind toward us.
We must not change our minds either, for to do so well, we would end up looking that beautiful smoke stack for awhile to only end up a heap on the dock of some port. No! We should want to remain in Him for life. Amen!

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Danger at the Doorstep

https://youtu.be/2Zysf4ZQ3Ko

You can also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer 

for more teaching at:  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Speech

https://youtu.be/XciJDWFSr3Y

Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching:

http://bit.ly/2wgu1kw

Lies in the Street

Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV 16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him; 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.

Proverbs 19: 9 NKJV A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish.

Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked.

From the above wisdom, we find “the things” God the LORD hates. The proud, the lying, and shedding innocent blood are to name some. In this a false witness is revealed. And he who sows discord is found doing it among brethren.

When I was home, I paid attention to my parents especially about the “the things you can do, and the things you should never do”. One of them was lying to another was not received at our house ever. So when I left home after graduation, I was captured by the news, by journalists who gave their best journalism efforts forward to keep the brethren on the same page. Of course without God in the thinking, what prevails is the plan of mice and men.

I remember many protests of the streets at the time. I could not figure why people could not sit down and talk things over on the “thing” that was out of order. But then no one seemed to know what that “one thing” was that so many were outraged about. From my thinking and views of the protesters of the 20^th century I saw many young and not so young people outraged. I wondered when they worked if they were out in the streets protesting. Did they all take their vacations at the same time?

From the decade of the 1960’s when voice was given to being justified in turmoil protesters spoke with signs in hand that they “were disillusioned” by the leaders governing the country and by  a war that seemed endless! I watched a documentary over the weekend for Memorial Day and it was of the Vietnam War and how many did not burn their draft cards but willing went to volunteer to fight for people who encountered terrors of communist hiking through their rice paddies with the agenda of taking over a land of farmers and to remove the control of that country out of their hands.

 For what many saw it as money spent on a time consuming and money wasting war, actually kept a country from becoming lost forever to tyranny, hate and out of their hand.

Then came the decade of the 70’s of the 20^th century and much was revealed of General Motors misrepresenting Oldsmobile cars with the Chevy engines! Yes what lies came to be revealed at that time. 

During the second World War, British Prime Minister Chamberlain of England ran with the thought of their own to stop Adolph Hitler from his plans. In their estimation Sudentenland was the target area and this seemed right in their eyes. In his endeavors he had leaders to sign a pact of peace. In reality, the truth was the agreement not only put 3 million ethnic Germans into his hand (Hitler’s), but also 66 percent of Czechoslovakia’s coal, 70 percent of its iron and steel & 70 percent of its electrical power. In short the country was open to complete domination by Hitler. By September 1939 “Czechoslovakia “ no longer existed. Chamberlain might be remembered for the championing of the Munich Pact, but Chamberlain would prove to be in a serious and embarrassing situation for he thought and considered Hitler “a gentleman” proved the opposite. Hitler invaded Poland a year later. And Chamberlain had to give his nation the word: State of War!

As a leader, he allowed some things to prevail by the lies given him by another who had the desire to rule the world. Yes, war came, and Chamberlain was replaced by Winston Churchill. A man who served honorably within his nation in the most critical time of war and events one could encounter. It all stemmed from lies of one who wanted to rule by their own plan and ideas. Churchill once said, "In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies."

From Proverbs 6 we see a picture of what the LORD hates. And if one know Him as Lord and Savior then we would understand there is to be no lying or exaggeration at all. I remember my dad speaking of crooked politicians and today we hear the same thing. If we truly expect politicians to lie then why vote for them?

We must hate lying within ourselves, our lives and thinking. Any falsehood, fraud, and dissimulation is an abomination to God. So it is that God and all good men then should hate and abhor lying. It is of the devil who is the father of lies. So for one to reside in the camp of lies shares the same father of  the lies of the devil with others when they try to commit such fraud by lying. Have we not been guilty of this in the past? But surely this is not our present weakness?

Mischief is bad enough when a child does it, but it is severe when one of mature age does it. Truth is to prevail .  Those who will try to carry out their own plans will lie, make up stories to make another lean toward their plans of ill-will. I remember the ad for Zenith televisions: “the quality goes in before the names goes on”. Then other television brands came on the scene like Magnavox, Admiral and RCA. Yes times have changed and so have the names that we see today: like Panasonic, and Sony.

If we as parents fall for lies and speak them, then the whole of the family is down the drain so to speak. We must live by truth and speak it, for anything else of the false witness is destruction. We are told to guard our hearts for out of its springs the issues of life. If we find ourselves lying before men, then are some again lying to ourselves?  For within that our name before God is not good. In order to have a good name, we, as God’s children must face our vanities. We are to stop deceiving ourselves that God will just have to take us as we are.

We must stop blaming others in our own failures, problems and shortcomings. For those within this tendency will justify what they are and what they do. Change will not occur in this way of life until each of us face up to truth that we are responsible for what we are. We bear much responsibility to becoming what we hope and that comes  in and through Jesus Christ only! Nobody can or will do it for us. We must walk that way of truth as the truthful witness!
Will you let God be Himself in YOU?

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Reflecting Through Transparency

https://youtu.be/cwsinTVtanM

You can also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer 

for more teaching at:  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Dispensing Divine Grace

https://youtu.be/k4cYpYxnlgI

Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching:

http://bit.ly/2wgu1kw