Being Selective

Voice of Prayer

Had this thought as reading today through the sower of the Word from Matthew 13. Then moving into the Parable of the Tares explained in Matthew 13:36-43.
Being selective as to what we hear is evident.

In the mid to late twentieth century men were listed in what was called the Selective Service. After the age of eighteen years old, young men were contacted ( or called up) by the military   ( Army) to come for a physical to determine their ability to serve this country overseas.
The VietNam War had been going on for sometime and the need was great for men to serve overseas. Many were being drafted by the Army so in that regard, we heard of many young men choosing to move to Canada and such places to avoid the draft! There were men who desired to leave this nation than to serve it!

As some we knew were called up, many went overseas. My husband as well was called to have the physical and yet through that long day "ordeal", they said he could not serve because of his hearing. They (the Army) had done some things to initiate their final answer of a 4-F or rejection to be given him and that he could not serve. He came home and we talked. It was truly arduous for those who were among him that day! And even still to this day, I often wonder how many returned home after that trip to experience "rice paddies" and agent orange!

Truly these men who had rank within the Army knew who could make the distance and they needed those with one hundred percent ability in walking, running, in training and yes in hearing as well!

In Matthew 13 Amplified Bible and beginning in verse 12 For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will 'be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is the reason that I spake to them in parables; because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand. 14 In them indeed is the process of fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says; You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive. 15 For this nation's heart has grown gross (fat and dull), and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and perceive with their eyes, and hear and comprehend with the sense with their ears, and grasp and understand with their heart, and turn and I should heal them.

Those that advance in God's kingdom, advance by seeing and understanding with their whole heart. The heart cannot have grown grossly fat and dull from adhering to the world.


In the book of Isaiah chapter 6 and verse 9 we find this same context. From reading the chapter, verse 13 says the holy seed [the elect remnant] is the stump and substance of Israel.
As the children of God, we are to apprehend the word and understand it's power for us and through us. In holding onto God's principles we find lives richly blessed in Him, by Him and for His glory!

But having fat hearts that consists of those things of the world will only make you sick to the point of death. If going into battle takes a healthy man with strength and courage, then we too who live for God are to have the same requirements. And that is from hearing with ears that truly understand His wisdom!

In staying in His presence, we stay in Jesus! A firm conviction in acknowledging God’s truth…..admit truth where faith is alive John 3:3  NKJV......3 Jesus answered & said to him, “ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  
John 3:5  NKJV........ Jesus answered, “most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water & the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Personal surrender to Him is seen as a conduct of surrender and trust…

Romans 10:8-10  Amp Bible.. 8 But what does it say? The Word (God’s Message in Christ) is near you, on your lips & in your heart; that is, the Word ( the message, the basis & object of faith which we preach. 9 Because if you acknowledge & confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord & in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, & rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in,& relies on Christ) & so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God) & with the mouth he confesses (declares openly & speaks out freely his faith) & confirms[his] salvation.

In aligning with truth in God through Jesus Christ, we have the spiritual remedy that brings us power of the Holy Spirit indwelling our innermost being. Staying out of the grossly "fat" zone of the world, we remain to grow in the Lord, grow in that grace that was presented through Him to us.

Being selective in our hearing, is being selective on hearing His truths understanding that whoever the teacher may be, when the Holy Spirit gives us that instruction and direction we are to heed His plan and any warnings that may come from that teaching. We cannot disregard any teaching of God's word unless it is is given as lies and done with hypocrisy. 

1 Timothy 4:1-6............Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of good doctrine which you have carefully followed. NKJV

My husband obeyed the law, he went in for that "physical" and was rejected from serving because of his ears. Yet in all the years of living, and having his ears tested, the Dr.'s do not seem to find a thing wrong with his hearing. Not sure what type of instruments they used and how precise they were, but today those who are in Christ who are the New Creation are the first generation descendants of God!

Those who are in God, hear Him and obey Him by being ready to hear with their ears and see with their eyes. They search His truths from Genesis to Revelation!

Only those concerned with the flesh creature, those weak in their identity in Christ Jesus will be those concerned who they are in the flesh. They always want to remind others what they look like everyday or almost every day with another picture or another selfie! What you start in the flesh you will have to complete in your flesh creature.

If the Morning Star has risen in our hearts, then you and I should be looking not at all the problems on earth. But remind ourselves that He has given us authority and dominion through Jesus Christ our Savior. Then will we truly have our beginning in and with God!

For as our thinking with God develops because of the Word, which is now ours too, and came from Him, then and only then will His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Ultimately that power to carry out what He has said He will do. You and I should be captured by God's love, embraced in His grace by His love, and be ruled in our hearts by His peace. 

If we are not, then where are we found? For anything outside of His love and grace is that which is of the world ruled by the senses and lost.

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Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven 

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Dodging Shadows

Voice of Prayer: please note the icicles hanging from street light

Had some tremendous weather events in this area in the last 45 days. With high winds, then the torrential rain, dropping temps and then snow. Yes, massive amounts of snow fell and especially east of us here in what some call "the banana belt". So being spared from all the snow, we rejoiced once more that we live in the banana belt. Funny, right?

Yes, in those few events, there are many "pot holes" on the roadway, especially east of us!
And a neighbor noted that the more time you look for that "pothole", you find yourself dogging shadows.
I agree with that. Some though have a vast size that covers two lanes of traffic traveling east or west. And trying to dodge something that big, will have you driving off the roadway, indeed!

As I thought on this over the weekend I wondered how many times just in life people are dodging shadows, things that do not really exist or could have been prevented. For in traveling this states roadways, the amount of tall evergreens mount high on the hillsides to cast shadows that make the roadway appear to be one large dark area resembling something like a giant pothole. 

In neglecting our walk with God, we can encounter potholes. No "if" about it or "when", but things will occur. And we must be on our guard to "watch" and "pray". If we choose to say, I will take the winter season off," then by that we are not choosing to spend time with God? Taking some time off has been spoke by those who usually attend church or at least by those who gather with other believer's on a regular basis.
In seeing those barricades put up, one outside this small community town read that" along about twenty-two miles to watch for potholes and for those riding motorcycles to use extra caution."

 What? Have you seen a motorcycle catch one of those potholes the wrong way and catch air for about ten seconds and then the "rider" hits either the roadway hard or slams into a tree lined road barrier?
They, the"officials' over that road repair, will take time indeed, for the temps have to be a lot warmer than they have been to make sure what new asphalt they put down will hold in place. And they will put up their signs to slow down and stop or move you the driver of a vehicle to another lane that is open to traffic!
In remembering our walk with God and that which is by faith, are we just playing at the repair job........you know by putting small amounts of time, lack of interest, that reveals a broken down wall where God has been left out of our lives? Is it that we just desire more time with our "peeps" than with God? Do we want to hear more rocking songs that will roll you at the same time a hint of the enemy's strike against you?

In the most severe of one storm, winds in these areas topped more than 100 miles per hours depending on what part of the Gorge you reside. But the ice proved even more deadly.........and the weight of it brought a lot of oaks, some maples and other saplings down from their core. What appeared as strong and beautiful last spring and summer, begs now to be removed. That which impressed is surely lacking in strength and will fall at the next major wind storm or even ice storm.

In that moving toward being neglectful of the right thing, we move out of security and crumble when the very next strike of the enemy comes. Being committed to relationship to God and His presence is that wall of security for us and by His Spirit will show us things to come.

In taking our walk or drive down the highway, are we the secure in God and will not look at shadows?  Are our hearts set on what is the true in God? Our daughter can pray out for her families roadtrip and the Lord will immediately tell her where they must look for "deer" on the roadway!

In the example of those workmen who repair those "potholes"....give them a brake! Don't hit those employed to work on street repair, while you try to maneuver around those places all chipped up by the bad weather and cold! They are trying to do their job as well as they can and as quickly as they can and hopefully without cutting corners. But also understand that as that storm blew in to wreck havoc on roadways, neglecting God too, will cause you to cut corners and not find a wall supporting anything. Our cutting time with God, will only cut out our actual hearing Him when some "warning" comes. We are to be the loyal and the committed as well as we can, and not carelessly cutting any corners. For every trial or tribulation will come, and whatever the cause of the obstacle in your way, will you just wait for it to blow away or will you apprehend God and His word and make it "the adverse thing to leave? Will you speak God's word into being in your trial or obstacle and make it go away?

Jesus told us in Luke 10:19, "Behold, I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you."

Mark 16:17-18    Amplified Bible    17 And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; 18 they will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.

Jesus was saying, that those who believe shall cast out demons. 

We are told in the book of Ephesians to put on the whole armor of God and for us to pray.

We must keep that "wall" up and it takes us participating with God daily. Any neglect, you will be dodging shadows, you will be seeing the enemy come through the weakest part of that wall that is your security and you will see how cruel the enemy really is. There are may tragedies and many events that many people either suffer with or actually die from, but our foremost focus and thought should be on the Lord and being in His place that is a Refuge for us.

There was some important reasons God gave for Israel to maintain their wall and we certainly need one here. Ours is spiritual and it is maintained in spirit and in truth. And any lack or neglect in those areas will cause you to be dodging shadows.

Notice:

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:

The Strong and Unflinching: Living a "JUST" Life
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Carving Out That Treasure

Thanksgiving is almost here!

Yes, those plans to make, a list to write out, making sure every desire for great food is listed and not left out. Even that big pan for the "bird" is important. Yes, that carving time will come for the turkey. It most likely will bring a smile to some, but not all at our table will be pleased. Hopefully our youngest member will have a desire for turkey this year, and if not maybe a burger will do!

 Being intent on serving healthy food, meeting most appetites with a choice of good things, and pondering on all the cook times and when to serve can mount quickly. And if you have more than one meat to prepare for the oven, not mention the other items requiring some oven time, one finds "the oven shuffle" a practice year after year will come close to a possible perfection.

But life is more than food and drink. And being disciplined is vital and is to be treasured when keeping a close walk with God.

Technology today has given most things to keep God's Word close at hand. They carry it with them either in the cell phone, the tablet, or some other device that they prefer. But keeping it close to hand does not mean that it is in our heart.

Carving out that time, just like carving that turkey starts with a grocery list. And in that list for life, it takes some discipline, certainly some time and much effort to do.

Meditating God's Word requires us to keep it active in our hearts and our minds. It must be a commitment. Connecting with God is meeting Him face to face. It is seeking Him and He is found.

My husband has been reading some commentaries on the Gnosticism that was considered the earliest enemy of Christianity. Gnosticism was that which held a certain belief that of the physical world, salvation was the release from the physical body. But physical to us is to mean face to face.

"Gnosticism" does not ask how one is saved from sin, but asks the one question of what the possible origin of sin (or evil) might be. Those who considered themselves gnostic would anxiously guard their secret sect. They regarded knowledge more important than faith. They carried within them the denial of the humanity of Jesus Christ.

What they believed and what they spoke was contrary to God the Creator!

Spending time in the Word gives us a clear picture of the Creator. Speaking out His Word, giving voice to His commands, we begin to think like our Father thinks. Mediating truth will bring multiplication to truth in other areas of our lives.

One specific I think of is that of "only surface" relationships. God presented Himself in His entirety. He gave us that which declares Who and What He has done. But when we first meet someone or see them maybe only a few times throughout the year, we will not actually "know " them, or will they just be a fantasy. A true relationship in fellowship- requires us to actually engage another.

To me it would be the same as driving a standard shift vehicle. You must engage that stick shift to move.

Ezekiel 36:26-28

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.  NIV

Our salvation came through Jesus and we do have the Spirit of God living on the inside of us. And the more we apply ourselves to seek Him, spend time with Him, we move in greater power of His Spirit.

I do not know your encounters with a stick shift but I had many encounters. The teaching my mother had for me, proved to me to be loud, instructional and many tears. Along came my friend Loretta, and her desire to teach others to drive a standard shift car. That one was fun indeed. All I had to do was put about fifty cents worth of gas in her car, and we were off on a driving lesson.

I had to listen, but I also had to engage.

Encountering God, His deep love and His presence was electric to me. The more I looked for fellowship with other like-minded individuals, I too experience even more electrifying times with Him. He is more real to me than anything or anyone.

Each time we choose to declare Him, His Word and His love, we see manifested Jesus the Christ. And the Comforter, the Holy Spirit fills our tanks to the full line. His Presence in our lives transforms us and will cause us to take note that we too have been with the Spirit . of Prophecy. Jesus!  1 John 4:7-11 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. NKJV

Yes, we should love God more than we love turkey.

As we come to the end of another year, may I as a spiritual mother speak words of wisdom. As I speak this out and type the words of God's wisdom, may you see revealed to your heart God and what He has planned for you. May you believe for the "new in God". God our Father always desire us as His children to keep believing, trusting and expect what He has planned.

Ps 24:7-10

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in. 

8 Who is this King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

The LORD mighty in battle. 

9 Lift up your heads, O you gates!

Lift up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in. 

10 Who is this King of glory?

The LORD of hosts,

He is the King of glory.

NKJV

I speak the opening of heavenly gates and ancient doors that will bring us into deeper relationship with  God. May you know Jesus in greater ways. In that may you always be renewed in strength to soar with God. (Isiah 40:3)  God rewards those who will come to practice justice in all their dealings with others. In the written words of the prophet Amos 5:24, it says this: "let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream." Speaking this all injustices must end.

Come to the spiritual refreshing. Come out of the wilderness and drink from the river of His delights.  John 4:10....10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." 

NKJV

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-19)

 In this way you (they) will lay up treasure for  yourselves (themselves) as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that you (they) may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:19) (italics mine)

 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) Engage Jesus, engage the life we have through Him, and expect much life to be lived through Him, now and in this hour!

Amen.

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Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published:

Speaking As To A Clear Conscience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUEiCK2djgY

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