Between the Moral and the Immoral Alternatives

 Was reflecting on a couple of passages in the Old Testament and I thought of Eve and son Cain. Like mother, like son in that they both added something not given by God, but their own choice in will and speaking. And what is the choice when these are facing a person: remembering a sinner to choose godliness or sinful indulgence? Yet, we have been given salvation by faith through Jesus. This grace whereby we have been saved, it is the gift of God to us found in Ephesians 2:8. In this undeserved kindness, we see in action, a love so wonderful and to be realized with great things coming in our future with God and His Son!

But like I mentioned in the beginning I was thinking of Eve and Cain. It those who keep talking when they should be listening!

Genesis 3: 1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

 Now God did not say “touch it” but He did say not eat that fruit! So Eve had a thought process already in movement. If you are intent on that fruit, you most certainly will have to touch it to eat it!

 Genesis 3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You shall not surely die.” 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

These two were made in God’s image! Still we have a woman set on self-rule and not on God dependency. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 Genesis 3:6….so when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, & a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit & ate. She also gave to her husband with her, & he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, & they knew that they were naked; & they sewed fig leaves together & made themselves coverings.

Adam knew she had eaten and was in the process of learning death and decay. So he ate with her so as to not allow her to go alone into that pitiful place! Man is to resemble God his maker: Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male & female, & blessed them & called them Mankind in the day they were created. ( Did not make them Adam and Steve, but Adam and Eve!)

And then in Revelation 1:8 Jesus tells us that He has the keys to death and hell…the very thing the devil caused in the first man & woman. Jeremiah 17:9 says, his heart is desperately wicked. Jesus reinforces this in Matthew 15:19-20: "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man. . . ."

 

If one were to present a truly converted person with the same options, he would choose the life of virtue, peace and love. He would know he is righteous in God, born again into the kingdom of God where there is much light and life!

Eve plunged into a deep spiral toward death and decay.

Then we find Cain in Genesis 4. In Genesis 4:1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife and she conceived and bore Cain and said, “I have acquired a man from the LORD.” 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat.

And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?” 7 “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.

( Just adding a note here: Cain is trying to do what his parents were to do in the beginning. But they failed to do what God instructed. And the garden of Eden was closed to them. Now Cain pushes the envelope, but man sinned and required a sacrifice.)

 8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, : Where is Abel your brother? He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And He said, “What have you done?  The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11 So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.” 13 And Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear!” 14 Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me. 15 And the LORD said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven-fold. And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

Cain slew his brother Able in the field. He did not like what God spoke to him!

Cain’s heart was one of attitude and revenge. He was not a “happy camper” with God.  From verse 9 of Genesis 4, Cain tells God this: “ Am I my brother’s keeper? Evil shows itself most often in verbal violence. In fact, the Apostle Paul quotes Psalm 10:7 to show that everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike, are under the power of sin (Romans 3:14). And James says  " And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. "(James 3:6)

 And from a violent heart comes violent actions.

So he speaks out, probably yelling verse 14 : “ Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”

Cain put a bounty on his head! All he had to do was repent. He added to what God had spoken and was determined to get revenge. But God protected Cain with this symbol, the ‘mark on Cain’. Anyone who tried to kill Cain would know they would be responsible to payback seven fold the wrath.

 Why did God spare the life of the world's first murderer instead of taking it? One reason is that he had not yet given man a command not to murder another human. Such a command will be given, however, right after Noah leaves the ark after the floodwaters subside (Genesis 9:6). An additional (and likely more important) reason he was allowed to live is so that other humans would be warned of God's view and judgment on sin. God would not allow it!

Seen in Genesis 4:15, God gives warning: “whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven-fold.”  Wow, what a warning! Anyone attempting to further punish Cain by death would contradict his purpose of allowing him to be a living witness of his judgment.  It was God Himself who reserved punishment for the crime of murder on Abel. No one would override God’s wisdom and authority on this rebellion done.

The “mark of Cain” had nothing to do with changing his skin color or anything like that.  Man is made in God’s image. We are all one blood in the lineage from Adam and Eve. The mark of Cain revealed he did not worship God but worshiped himself instead.

Psalm 10: 3-11 NKJV For the wicked boasts of the desires of his heart’s desire,

He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD. 4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. 5 His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them. 6 He has said in his heart, “ I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.” 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is trouble and iniquity. 8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages; in the secret places he murders the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless. 9 He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catches the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net. 10 So he crouches, he lies low, that the helpless may fall by his strength. 11 He has said in his heart, God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.”

 We are told in verse 3 of Psalm 10 that the wicked pursue the poor. They turn on them because they first turned against God. And this is what Cain did. These wicked boast and are proud in their desires. They desired and pursued even though it is the wrong thing in God’s eyes.

 Like Cain, he had a greed and it got him into some trouble.  The heart determines one's preferences and inclinations, and thus it determines one's choices, subjecting the will to it. Murder came in the package from Satan and his demons. They communicated that to man through the course of this world. YOU can see that in the Flood in Genesis 6. The world has shaped our pre-conversion heart, and thus it affects our relationship with God.

Yes, Cain was marked for he was a man of cursing and deceit. He had desires to hurt others like he did his brother Abel. God marked the man of murder. But God would not allow him to die in that way. He would live as a vagabond.

Between the moral and the immoral alternatives, outside of God is death and destruction. Within His boundaries is life and much light guiding us the way home! Eve could have had any tree in the garden, but the one God said “NO” to! Before her was the bounty of many trees with much fruit to be had for two people. But that lust of the eyes is deadly indeed! And Cain did not give the sacrifice that God delighted in, nor  had the respect for, so what Cain had done had not met the requirement needed to worship God.

 Lawlessness takes us out of the plan of God.  Lawlessness brings a haphazard kind of life, if you can call it that. OUR Confidence should be in God and the promises He has given us. His promises were given to be planted within our hearts and rely on the truth so that we shall see them come to pass in our lives. God has abundance. He has no lack in anything: He is GOD!

 We must submit to God and resist the devil. In that we set the standard of God in our lives. Without His standard and the haphazard lawless way of living, other catastrophes might occur to end’s one life. It will mark places like Sodom and Gomorrah. It will be something that is seen decades later or thousands of years later, a place where no man lives.

Cain would be a vagabond, not living long enough to really settle anywhere for his heart could not allow him to do that. Land was cursed so that any seed he put there would not produce for him. Repentance was the required antidote to hell. Surely we should desire to see God and His goodness and not turn away.

It is the testimony of faith that we speak of every good thing we have through Him: abundance not in things, but in God who desires to give us His kingdom. It is a life totally occupied with the kingdom of God that is free from attitudes, freedom in His love and mercy where a grateful heart and a joy in the heart abound in the grace of God!

God is not forgetful nor is He negligent. Instead God is patient and kind with sinners, giving them every opportunity to turn away from their sin and repent. The Scriptures warn us not to draw the wrong conclusion when God is patient with our sin.

And what is the choice when these are facing a person: remembering a sinner to choose godliness or sinful indulgence? What will we choose?

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Angels, What Angels?

Angels Minister to Those Who Speak God’s Word: Matthew 4:1 1 then the devil left Him and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. (also seen in Luke 4)

1.      Angels: angelos: (ang-e-loss) spiritual heavenly attendants ..see Psalm 104:4, Luke 1:19

2.      Functioning as ministers of the Lord sent to Earth

3.      They execute His purposes and make them known to men. Daniel 10:12 Gabriel appeared to Daniel “ I have come because of your words”

In our call to the kingdom that is come, we repent, and believe with a trust in God that He will fulfill His promises. Jesus came to save the “lost” and that was us, but we now must reach others understanding that by prayer and speaking God’s truth, angels are hearing and will go with that word of God and God will see it accomplished to where it is sent. Amen!

Was working on this the last few days and was surprised to see how many times angels appeared to the average person! Now some may not refer to Daniel as average, but he served in a time when he generally stood face to face with evil. Ever read about Daniel?

Now I remembered Peter being awakened by an angel and how the gates opened for him to leave the  prison behind. Now that was some interesting adventures with God indeed!

Jesus Spoke this: Matthew 26:51-56  NKJV 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.52 But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 

53  "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?  55 In that hour said Jesus to the multitudes," How are you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.

56 " But all this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Luke 24:18-29 NKJV 18 Then one whose name was Cleopas, answered and said unto him, " Are You the only  stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"    19 And He said unto them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.

  20 "And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified him.  21"But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 

22 "Yes, and certain women of our company who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.23 When they did not find His body, they came, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive.  

24 "And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him  they did not see.

  25 Then He said to them, O fools, & slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken: 26 "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things,and to enter into His glory?  27 And beginning at Moses & all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. 28 And they drew near to the village  where they were going and He indicated that he would have gone farther . 29 But they constrained Him, saying," Abide with us: for it is toward evening, & the day is far spent & He went in to stay with them.

1.      The righteous can see angels and can hear them

2.      These people had thoughts for Jesus whom they loved & sought to know where He was placed

From Psalm 91: 12-13, we find these verses. 12 “In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot  against a stone, 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.”

Jesus stood face to face with devil and Jesus gave the devil God's word! Luke 4:3-4 NKJV 3 & the devil said to Him, “if You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”

Our hearts must contain the words of God. We  are to continually look up: not to the situation or the bad report, but look up and see who walked out of the tomb….the tomb of defeat to the rightful place of victory and gave us a new life in HIM!

 We speak God’s word & the angels carry out what the spoken word is meant to do! Psalm 103:20 bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His who do His pleasure.

It is angels who serve to bless God that is they worship and serve His will. They do His word on Earth as it is in Heaven. They heed Him when He speaks. And we can sound like speaking God's word over every situation, circumstance and disease!     Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Angels revolve around the ministry of the church Jesus established. They advance His ministry on earth as it is in heaven.

If we truly understand that this is a righteous walk of faith, we remain active not only speaking God's word but expectant to see Him move through our circumstances and by change see that angel as like Daniel, Peter and Mary did!
 In this work God has called us to is this: that " the priority is seeing the foundation laid "in everyday living; and within that the Lord’s blessings begin to flow in and through our lives. That foundation is with the Cornerstone Who made a new life possible for each of us who have repented of the old man and his sins and received the life everlasting, that is one filled with hope of promises that we can expect to be fulfilled in our lifetimes!
Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord!" Let it be unto me according to Your word."
And the angel departed.
Peter said this: (from Acts 12:5-11) "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."
Daniel said this: Daniel 10: 16-18 And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, "My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. 17 "for how can this servant of my lord walk with you, my lord? as for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me."
Gabriel was sent by Jesus to minister to Daniel. And Daniel experienced an overwhelming power greater than himself. He Daniel, was given encouragement and refreshing. Those if you who read about them that were Daniel hid from the presence of this. Although Daniel saw in a vision still others experience the magnitude of God's presence with the angel.

For you and I, we are to keep our communion with God just like Daniel, Mary and Peter. His strength becomes our strength. His word delivers into the positive life giving force that is for our good and not evil giving a hope in the final outcome. May Almighty God enable us to comply always to His will and to stand complete in Him. And when irritants come to irritate us, then we can stand in His peace and love and pray for His will to be done on earth, that is in us and through us for His glory, just like He did in Peter, Mary and Daniel. And Hey, if you see an angel .....well good, but if not, know they are active and on the alert to go forth in heeding God's word in your mouth....Now speak loud and clear...and your angels will go to accomplish what God planned for you! Amen!

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WELCOMING THE STRANGE!

In years long ago, our pastor made note to say some things about those who were the tattooed, those with pierced earrings, and etc. Now, some can complain about those things, and it is because they were not raised up with even a thought towards to putting a ring in the nose. I hated shots as a child. Today, I do not mind needles like for drawing blood as it has been a process to learn sometimes you have to have that shot for something or find out how the blood is doing, right? So some growth has been established in me in the regard to needles.
But in welcoming the strange, what does that look like?

And in some study, I reflect back on those like Jonah, John the Baptist and of course Elijah.
Welcoming the stranger to your meeting with God should be one where all experience God and His love. Our getting to know the stranger may mean we might need to know something of their culture, something of their background, ask the Lord in prayer how we might pray for them, and to pray how to embrace them when they come "to visit that first time." In meeting the new person, will we be the honest,  have the pleasant smile, speak clearly, and be a light of love? Will we be the free to be and look like Jesus to them? Will our eyes be lifted to glorify God or will our eyes be set on our agendas? Or will our thoughts be on "how many colors do they have in that one tattoo"?  In that style and loving way of hospitality, will we be a part of God's plan to bring these people joy and let them know they are welcome to abide with us in Jesus?  In the hearing of our God's heartbeat, we will move closer, not only to God and His plan, but also into that of welcoming the stranger!

Why do I say this? Let's look at Jonah. He was sent by God to Nineveh. He was to give them the "MESSAGE" to repent. He was the most reluctant to go and did everything possible to run the other direction.

Jonah 1:1-17
1:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

4 But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish." 7 And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, "Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?" 9 And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."

10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, "Why have you done this?" For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?"--for the sea was growing more tempestuous. 12 And he said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me." 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, "We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man's life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You." 15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows. 

17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. NKJV

Yes he died! He was swallowed by a great fish.

And in the scripture verses of Jonah 2:5-6

5 "I sank beneath the waves, and death was very near. The waters closed above me; the seaweed wrapped itself around my head. 6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains that rise from off the ocean floor. I was locked out of life and imprisoned in the land of death. But, O Lord my God, you have snatched me from the yawning jaws of death! 

TLB

Jonah 2:10

10 So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.  NKJV

When God really wants us to do something for Him, He will change some things so we come full circle to see Him and His plan for "others".

He was made alive again and probably had a lot to say, but foremost was the "message".

So by first of chapter three, he preached salvation. This man who died in the belly of probably a whale came out stinking like dead and rotted fish that had not been totally digested, and now covered in seaweed........preached the glad tidings. But he still held attitude against Nineveh. He became very angry. And he wanted to die. Jonah left the city, and camped outside. In Jonah 4:5 we read of his shelter and the Lord had a plant to grow where Jonah was at. But verse 7 tells us that a worm was prepared to take out the fine plant. Then one of those nasty, strong east winds blew and of course wiped out that plant.

In verse 9 of chapter 3 God speaks to Jonah. "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" And he said to God......."It is right for me to be angry, even to death!" 

BUT THE LORD; "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, not made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left-----and much livestock?"

God had chosen Jonah to go to the people. This city was a metropolis of the Assyrian monarchy. Although not as big as some cities today, it still had the size of some 48 miles across the great city. It was a city known to be heathen, and without knowledge and the worship of God. As time passed, this city's wickedness had come up to God. The alarm was to be sounded and the call went to Jonah!

Interesting that Jonah refused. He did not want to obey God. He objected because of the cruelty the people of Nineveh were known for and that was "they were terrorists"! They terrorized other people and other lands. Destruction was on the way to Nineveh and God wanted the people to be warned that there was the opportunity to "repent".

So the voice sent by God, Jonah, stunk of dead fish vomit. Yeah, that was a strange thing indeed!

ahh.......welcoming the STRANGE!

THEN we look into see John the Baptist, one clothed in camel hair......

Matthew 3:4-12

4 And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 

NKJV

Yes, the man was one of humility. He denied his own "me, myself and I" agendas to speak only of the one to come. He prepared the way for Jesus. He was characterized as a man of courage and of self-denial.He would not compromise!
 He would be one who was probably talked about a lot! 

"Well, you know that John.......he always wants to be alone" or "John is always yelling, and he really seems to have some issues with those Pharisees!"

He would be the one criticized of his clothing, and his time alone in the wilderness. He would be one others would complain about. He had a force that was "godly" and represented the importance of that which was to come through Jesus, the Messiah! Prepare you the way of the Lord.

What would we say about a John the Baptist today? What about those who dress differently, act differently, that come to a service or those who minster the Word of God there? Are we the quick to judge them? God has either called them to preach or He has destined them to meet up with you and me in the church setting,  minister the Word of God, have a time of prayer and experience the fullness of God together. 

Then I think of Elijah. Did some think him strange? Yes!

He was the prophet who served God. Even as today, the prophet is one who encourages the church goers to not only be transformed by the Word week in and week out, but also to not settle with the agenda, rule makers, and same 'ole thing. As the prophet, Elijah spoke and did things that was the markings of a prophet of God Himself. He was one sent to bring the comfortable out and awaken them. Elijah brought the fire wherever he went and to whoever he had to speak to in those days of his life. And he certainly brought the "pain", did he not? He did not compromise, but gave truth. He was confident in knowing his God.

Yes, it was about "fire".

Not about the strange fire that man can do to initiate his own plan in the earth. But the fire that falls from heaven is that which ignites a town to become the place where the word of God is given, and prayers are answered. It is a place of the revival where people, of all colors, all ethnic backgrounds come together by the power of the Holy Spirit and do the unusual. It is the place where people meet to see others saved, to bless God loudly and see people become responsible for what is their responsibilities where they live, work and play.

Fire represents the holiness of God and is the place found at the altar built by the one who seeks to glorify God. It is that place where one is subjected to the discipline of knowing God and His truth that is spiritual. What we do for God is not by natural materials, but by the Spirit of the Living God! We are to be the obedient and welcome the strange into our lives. The strange is that which is holy unto God for all people are created by Him and for Him. The strange is that which is NOT done by rigorous schedules, an implied and strict code of rules to get to His presence. It is allowing our hearts to draw near to Him in worship and in truth. And it is the place where we will see what those did in the days of Elijah, the days of John the Baptist, and of Jesus Himself. It is where we are measured to that which Jesus established when we are truly disciplined in Him and by Him. Sometimes there is going to be some "pain". And will be that which may look different and sound somewhat different than us.

If they come with purple hair and camel hair clothes, will we welcome them? 

Noah built a boat that took how many years (decades) and when he finished he loaded some animals of nature to take along with him. And he was the obedient! For whatever we think we might have heard about someone, some race, some culture, we need to seek God and His fire to see what is our responsibility to those coming, the teacher, the prophet, the guest with tattoos and a nose ring as well. Lord, what can we pray today that will help us move with the motion of God that is teaching us, growing us up into His image and to help us welcome the strange when it is upon us. For everyone needs Jesus and we all need to obey the Lord's leading! Amen.

Today ask God what strategy you will need in that business meeting with others who do exactly as you do but do not have Jesus. What truth can you do business in and still have that which others will notice? Ask God to direct you through His Word and into His heart how others can be touched by love from God that may seem "the different", the unusual. Ask the Father to show how your speaking to others will spark a fire in them to come out of the comfort zone and embrace the heat and fire of a new life in adventures for God.


Father, thank You for the strange. We have seen them in such creatures of the sea. I am in awe of the black shark that is giving off a fluorescent glow in the dark deep waters of the sea.  I thought there were only white sharks! Now that is lighting the dark in a new way. 

Show us Lord how to touch those with the simple style You made us to be in Your image. Show us what growing we might need in some area we have overlooked and help us embrace that which will bring change in how we reach others for Jesus, in work, in church meetings, on the school ground or in the classrooms and in business meetings.
For Jonah surely captured those he ministered to with seaweed stuck to his clothes and with that dry sticky smell of vomit. Elijah brought others who were conforming to the worlds ideas and idolatry, but what can we bring to the table today that will bring people back around to seeing Jesus. For You LORD have called us in righteousness and You will take hold of our hand. It is You Who keeps us and makes us to be a covenant people and light for the Gentiles to open blind eyes and to set captives free from prison and to release those from the dungeon who sit in darkness.(Isaiah 42:6-7)

We ask in Jesus name. May You be blessed today Lord and May YOUR light shine through us today to the stranger. Amen.

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

Legacy

What legacy could we leave for our children and our children's children? In my early years I always thought of money or property, but ask me today and I will tell you that it is far more than that!
Leaving a legacy to me is your children knowing you have walked with God. They will know that you knew the Lord intimately and trusted Him every step of the way through every possible trial and tribulation. They will know without a doubt that our trust is in Him and Him alone.

Proverbs 3:35.....35 The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.  NKJV

Of all the things that one might pursue in this world, the lasting one for all eternity is knowing God. In hearing some teaching this morning, I was challenged with the question of legacy. But my days of recent reflect my strong trust in Him Whom created this earth and the heavens. Our focus daily is to always come and ask to be shown the mysteries of the unknown.

Daniel 2:47.......47 The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery." NIV

Daniel 2:47........47 "Truly, O Daniel," the king said, "your God is the God of gods, Ruler of kings, the Revealer of mysteries, because he has told you this secret." 

TLB

Would you not want God to tell you secrets? I like hearing secrets. Our grand-daughter likes telling her grandparents secrets. She loves to whisper in our ears. Then she smiles and silently tries to bring her pointer finger to her lips meaning "don't tell anyone our secret"......then she follows with ........sh.sh..sh..sh..sh.. all the while trying not to laugh!

I believe our Father in Heaven desires to tell us secrets. I know Him to pursue us as we pursue Him, for He has much to tell those willing patiently to hear Him. Yes, God is the Revealer of mysteries. 

Luke 8:9-10............9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?" 10 And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 

'Seeing they may not see,

And hearing they may not understand.'    NKJV

Mysteries are surely given to those who are ready and willing to see and hear Him. What a great thing in those days to have Jesus to teach you. Today we have the Holy Spirit sent to abide with us. He is dwelling in our hearts for those who have received Jesus.

The Jews who walked according to the Law accomplished their daily walk with the Law. But God came to set them free from that which continually created more bondage to them as men bent on legalism.  

Jesus told them of the "kingdom of God"!

Luke 8:11-15.......11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. 

Luke 8:16-18

16 "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." NKJV

John the Baptist came and told the Pharisees to repent…..Matthew 3:1-12.....3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.' " 

4 And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."    NKJV

Then Jesus preached the "kingdom of heaven" after John was imprisoned.

Matthew 4:12-17……….12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles:  16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death  Light has dawned."  17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."    NKJV

Galatians 4:3-7......... 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.   NKJV

A lasting legacy came through Jesus: a new covenant that brought to us righteousness .....Romans 3:21-24.....21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. , 
brought to us life (Romans 8:2), brought to us liberty (James 1:25), makes us free ..John 8:31-32...31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Galatians 5:1), .....was the human sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12)....... and saves to the uttermost....Hebrews 7:25..... 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.    NKJV

Mysteries of the world should not be as important as finding out the mysteries that God desires to speak to us through His Holy Spirit. What Jesus did for us gave us the promise of a great legacy to leave to our children and their children. 

What secrets, those mysteries does He want to tell you?

Father, we have our salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ. Through His shed blood, He made a way for the new in Him and to life everlasting. We pray in His name today to be those to come with open ears to hear the mysteries, those secrets You desire to speak to us. We know that giving thanks to You will throw open a door and keep it wide open for us. For this we are truly thankful. We desire and ask for fellowship with You that is far and beyond of what we know for You desire to tell us the mysteries, those secrets of Your kingdom. We pray to be diligent in seeking that secret place to hear secrets from YOU!

We praise You our Lord, our trust is in You

            Lord we give thanks and dwell in the land and feed on Your faithfulness

            We delight in YOU O Lord and YOU give the desires of our hearts

            Lord thank YOU for showing us the way, and we commit to YOUR way

            Our trust is in YOU and YOU bring it to pass

            You have brought forth our righteousness as the light, and our justice as the noonday.

            We rest in YOU and sing praise as we wait patiently for YOU

Gracious Father, it is YOU who knows the days of the upright and our inheritance shall be forever.

We shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine we shall be satisfied.

Lord it is YOU who upholds us with Your hand and we are thankful.

We have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread, our descendants are blessed of the Lord.(Psalm 37:1-40)  Father, we pray for our families today and plead the blood of Jesus over them. We plead that blood over the portals of their minds, their wills and their emotions. We pray for Your watch over them as we confess and profess Your goodness to us all in the land of the living. Thank You for hearing our plea, we set ourselves to obey YOUR commands and be mindful to keep our watch to pray for them. Amen.

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