Enduring Faith

Enduring by faith: Romans 1:17   NIV

17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."   Speaking words of faith…

Diligently Seek Him: Hebrews 11:5-6    NIV…..5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Enoch walked with God. He had relationship with Him. He did have to run to catch up to HIM!

 VERSE 6:  Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Living by Faith, receiving His promises: Hebrews 10:36-39      NIV

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while,

"He who is coming will come and will not delay.

38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."   39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Philippians 1:25-30   Amplified Bible……………25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and stay by you all, to promote your progress and joy in believing and glorying in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you again. 26 So that in me you may have abundant cause for exultation. 27 Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you that you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel) 28 And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending ] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God. 29 For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake  not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf. 30 So you are engaged in the same conflict which you saw me [wage] and which you now  hear to be mine [still].

From verse 27 are we those worthy of the good news the Gospel so that we stand firm in united spirit and purpose that God sent forth?

It is God’s grace which causes us to throw ourselves at the feet of the Lord Jesus. It should certainly look like praise and much rejoicing for His pleasure. For He granted us salvation through Jesus and by His grace to us,  we have a life abundantly forever which we have not earned nor have we merited. It is only through Jesus that we live, move and have our being.

Hebrews 10:22-25    NIV…………22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14    NIV

13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.

May we on this journey with God always maintain what Paul had for all the churches. That whether there were false brethren, danger in the wilderness, sleeplessness with hunger or thirst….may our daily thinking keep watch over ourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made us overseers. May we be those shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

 (circle of influence)   So be on your guard

The GUARANTEE of the Holy Spirit: Where Burden Turns to Wonder             

As a Christians have you ever had somebody tell you they're out to get you? They are going to level you? They're going to get you fired, plotting against you, or are out to take your children or spouse? Maybe you've had children or a spouse turn against you. But what God commands is what is to be seen spiritually in our lives.  Heard of this Christian missionary going from their church overseas to be held captive by those who have evil hearts. Steven Riddle and his wife, pastors of a church here in the U. S. but went overseas to help. But in that which hurt came against them. But God gave them His peace that whether shot or not, they would come home and unite with friends and family. And they did. Their peace was preaching to others all the way home and the many months of rehabilitation in another country.

Acts 20:22-31  NIV…………..22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. (he is speaking of the task, that set before him was to testify)

25 "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.   27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. (the will of God is His Word)

28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.  ( circle of influence)

29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

Foundational Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:6-24     NKJV……. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.      Jesus Christ, the hope of glory in us…Paul was encouraging them in their faith walk…

8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired ( some doubt) even of life.

Paul is stating information on his trials. From Asia probably meant his trials in Ephesus or even Lystra. He was sharing his trials with them, and how his endurance caused them to reap the benefits. Of those places Paul experienced the miraculous of God in his life. He experienced it by the Holy Spirit. He could walk away from a situation no matter how severe it was at the time.

By these trials, his life had been endangered, perhaps, more than once, and he had been called to look death calmly in the face. Of  all these trials;  he would not have the Corinthians ignorant; but desired that they should be made aware of them, that they might sympathize with him, and that through their prayers they might be turned to his benefit. ….. Paul was speaking of that which he had to contend whether it was with wild beasts or destroyed by the people.

2 Corinthians 11:22-28      NKJV

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness-- 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

 2 Corinthians 4:8-12    NIV

 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Perplexed  from verse 8…  is not having a way out…but not in despair that is…..at a loss…what is the situation and what do you do next…..???

 2 Corinthians 1:9

9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom ( not of the old man) but by the grace of God, and more abundantly ( beyond measure the Word was preached)  toward you.       

Living as the new man, in that godly sincerity, it was not in or by any man-made ideas of worship. The grace of God had been displayed by their opportunities to minister there.

Their testimony was to glory in the presence of God.  For it is by our faith our worship  pleases God…..God’s holiness is the foundation of everything else God is  and is totally and completely set in Him.  Whatever Paul did, it was always about serving God as the New Man.  Their trust had to be in God Himself.

 Is our faith, that trust in God??? When we no longer see what was once our home, will we melt or will we stand for the Lord in this hour?

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FAITH REVEALED

Had been reading some on the faith of those who lived before us like Jesus! The Hall of Faith found in Hebrews 11. You find Enoch who lived by faith and did not die. And he lived in a time much like we are living today! Found in that hall of faith is Abraham, called to come out of from his family who were rich in idol worship. He was called out of his ethnicity to live for God in the kingdom His Son would deliver. Patriarchs, Moses, Gideon, Barack and Samuel are listed. A harlot was listed in Rahab, who did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. Yes, Israel walked around Jericho for seven days and those walls came down and Rahab and her family survived because she believed truth given her by the men whom she hid from her neighbors and her culture!

And Jesus, whose faith was revealed in His speaking that His focus was on His Father and who would deliver Him in a resurrection for all to see. His faith was revealed in where it was placed!

Jesus knew who He was and where He was headed. John 13:3-5 NKJV Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash, the disciple’s feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Yes, that is a relationship of loving others and doing that which is honorable!

In an hour of destruction, when all you have done is confess the goodness of God in the land of the living, when you have praised the Lord, proclaimed His goodness and how His mercy endures, you turn yourself toward rest in the nighttime and close your eyes to that which growls in the night hours! You snuggle into the peace of God and reside in the safety of His strong arms!

Our trust is to be in the Lord and it certainly is tested when you live in an area where many people come to enjoy hikes, wind surfing, and even fishing! We see many people riding a variety of bikes from the ones requiring your own strength, to those 20 speeds up to those with “a little motorization” added. We have seen those with hover boards and blades going with the only focus of where to go next and how fast to get there! Although we often see that on I-84 as well: how fast can they get to where they are going! At times they leave the interstate to the two lane state highway and try to qualify for the Indy 500. Please be careful the two miles into our little village from the west for in that two mile area, you see people in a four cylinder car trying to out run an 8-cylinder vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Yeah, the 4-cylinder driver has made a state highway into a one way highway running west to the east not regarding those vehicles coming from our little village going west to the city!

You and I can find those things we enjoy to do. And then we remember of those who have not had an easy time through the last several months of a virus they say has killed the infirm, yet the numbers only reveal a seasonal flu. Yet are we not responsible for our own bodies. And should we not know of the serious things affecting our immune system, so that important steps are required to eat properly the right healthful foods, to take vitamins and minerals especially that vitamin D-3 and zinc. For certainly, we do take those things with the diet required for good optimum health. Our life is not to be bent toward “fear” nor are we to bring fear on others! Still we must have truth and not some fallacy someone is trying to lay into the laps of those people who should know their own bodies and how to proceed in maintaining that good health through any event of virus rampaging the countryside.

Was reading over scripture and I began to see some things in regard to those willing to jump and help others without a thought. Certainly there are many suffering in this hour, those without work, those choosing not to work but receive a check instead, and those too sick to work. But Jesus spoke that we would always have the poor with us.  And if we listen to a man and not God, and go into that thing of giving to certain people or groups, are we really doing it from the heart of one set for God and to give that thing needed or is it about others seeing us do something for others?

Proverbs 31:8-9  NKJV 8 Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

 

Here the word God has given us to see to the disadvantaged, but God also tells us to judge righteously. We do know of some people in the world who have great amounts of money and time on their hands. So within their thought process they become what one would call advocates for the various causes that seem to appear like dandelions in your yard in the spring time. But what are the consequences if supporting something or someone in the length of time which might appear as a good thing, but causes great difficulty down the road for many people. 

One such teaching I had received recently had written on this very thing. That of which appears as good followed to the end would appear more like living in a socialist state. It is that place where no one is free!

Again, it was Jesus who spoke:  "The poor you will always have with you." So that being the case, the question then becomes, "How best can we help them?"

Certainly the Lord checks our fruit as He inspects our hearts speaking. He regards what we do with our life each day. Fruit appearing is a righteous person growing in the image of the Father. So feeding others or clothing them is a good thing, but the long term should be doing that in regard to the Cross where Jesus took our place, and in  regard to that faith that is required to live and as we do, we should be about telling others of this faith walk in Christ Jesus. We should not become "Jesus" to them where their dependence is on us!

If we remember that of Martha and Mary, it was Jesus who said to Martha: "Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus’  teaching point is that when service and good works become a distraction and a worry, crowding out the higher duties of listening to Him, thus we enter a danger. Good works we want to do for our lives have changed for the good. But ours is not to take over other’s lives to change them for them.  Those great fruits are wonderful but they cannot them nor can they save us!

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

We can see that when we operate in the word of God that is truth, we become a poem that is of God. We are His work, to produce Him on earth. But it is having faith in Jesus that we are saved as we see in verse 8 of Ephesians 2!

Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

You could look at it like this: if you hold a person in their condition by continuing to give to their need, they might respond by not making any moves forward or toward living with responsibility to actually live, by getting a job or doing anything productive to change the existing position they are in bondage to at the moment. They would also include any health issues they might have currently. Inviting someone to take a walk with you but would be better than buying them a box of chocolates that only adds more weight to their overweight condition!

Certainly the two brothers who bombed the Boston Marathon lived in Boston within a nice expensive home. Filled with several members of their family, they all sought after a monthly check where they all brought in together some fourteen thousand a month to live. They did not change their mindset that was bent toward destruction as terrorists! As most, they sought how to get money without doing anything to earn it and still do their desired thing of the heart! That was to kill and destroy!

Faith revealed is seen in what we have placed our hope. If our hope lies in Jesus Christ, we watch for His return. We listen intently with an ear that expects a sound, a good one, where we are taken away to be with Him forever. Faith does not speak when I am helping another although it reveals ones heart for the person’s need. It reveals a loving person for another. Faith must be present to speak out in a boldness for God especially in the face of persecution, any hostility or sickness. When assisting others, it must point back to God and not us!

John 1:15 Jesus spoke this: John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me is preferred before me, for he was before me.”

In that faith revealed, it is only Christ who can save, for we can reach out with our hands, walk with our feet and touch others with our hearts in their need, that is a good deed indeed, but they need Jesus the Savior to save. We can feed them, and we can clothe them, but it is only He who can deliver from death, hell and the grave. And every man requires that “one thing”! Amen. 

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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?

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Looking for the Consolation:the Happy,the Revival, the Resuscitation

Luke 2:22-35
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word; 
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."  

33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 
NKJV

Waiting and looking for the Consolation is what Simeon, the just and devout did and the Holy Spirit was upon him. In reading the above we see Simeon being led by the Holy Spirit to go to the temple. And he, Simeon, saw baby Jesus, and took Him up into his arms. Simeon, with age well depicting his age and his looking, his waiting for that which was to come, the Holy One, he now held in his arms. And he blessed God.

In thinking on that period that Jesus came, Israel was being taken over by the Roman rule. Although not hard set or engraved in stone at the time, yet, Rome was moving and taking over large blocks of land. They had come with some power to see their plans not only survive but be implemented into new people and more lands. It was written that when they were going through Egypt, that the extreme northern parts were built with roadways and even had some trees planted to line that roadway for travel into the country and to some of the most eastern parts of the northern territory.
So Rome was expected to make some kind of change and the Jews did not want the change from what they had already knew and experienced. They had their religious views already set into God and unto God. But what Jesus did when He came was to upset that which the religious men had put into practice by adding man's own agenda's and ideas and held only small vestiges, those smallest amounts of a hint toward what God had actually said and did!
What God did was to send His Son, send to declare what was coming, and what change would allow the Holy Spirit Who was over the face of the deep in Genesis 1:2 b.... to come forward to that moment when Jesus would be resurrected after His crucifixion to come upon all believers in Acts 1. (see below)
Genesis 1:2-5
 And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. NKJV

Acts 1:4-14

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." 

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 

NKJV

Yes, being gathered together after His crucifixion but waiting on His departure into heaven, they still had much to ask Him about. Verse 7 "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And again Jesus affirms that it is not for us to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.......that which only the Father needs to KNOW AND WILL ACT ON! 

Acts 2:1-16

2:1 Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." 

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 

NKJV

How they wanted their homeland restored! From the time of David till Jesus' time, much had occurred in Israel and the Jews had been scattered. Some sixty or so years after Jesus departed into heaven, every stone of that fine temple had come down. People were sent into all directions. That city no longer remained. Certainly a far cry from what was seen in David's time, of dusty roads, and worship in that place that took a while to get to now was only a memory in that which was documented as to history. There was much prosperity at the time of Jesus' life when He had come to earth. It was especially noted that in the time of those festivals and those who were appointed as to the bread making,  surely knew those numbers of people making their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the week-long festival.

What Simeon must have seen, what he must have experienced in all the time of his life, yet when he saw and recognized the Consolation: the revival to that which God intended, the Resuscitation of the life that had come!

Simeon had spent much time in prayer. He spent much time questioning God about it and when it "happened" he saw it and embraced it! He embraced the life in Jesus, the new.......that breath then being given into man's life and the hope that life from God would restore all for Israel and for mankind. Why do I write of that?

For looking at verse 32 of chapter 2 of the book of  Luke we find starting in verse 29:

and said: 

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."  

Thank You Jesus, ....."a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of YOUR people Israel."
He was seeing Jesus bring light to the Gentiles, those who are not Jews by birth, but would become sons by believing in Jesus.

And the Happy......well Simeon, said " Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace."
Not that Simeon was looking to die now that he had seen the "Consolation" but that he was so satisfied, so happy, so pleased, so contended, so FAVORED, so JOYOUS! He was saying, "it is great to be alive!" "I have seen this awesome thing of God, His Son to come to earth, I rest now, because of His goodness, His great love and will continue to see His glory be unwrapped to the Gentiles and the people Israel. Hallelujah!"

Anyone who spends time in prayer, knows what searching, looking and waiting looks like. They search the Word, they look toward that horizon of their life and wait with that hope, that expectation "I will see this great thing God has for my life." "I will see it, recognize it, jump for joy because of it, for it is my life, it is good for me, and God has sent it to me because it was made for me!
Jesus was sent for we surely needed salvation,.............and it was in that of a SAVIOR!
Truly this is a time to look and give thanks. It is time to look over our lives and give thanks for that which God caused for us to experience............and when we can truly RECOGNIZE .....we are like Simeon, the one who can jump for joy, receive a resuscitation of life that God sent life into that which was dying, was of the broken and that which might have been kicked to the curb!

Simeon was found in the temple. He came to prayer. And those who spend time in prayer will see the same Consolation today. They are not those looking and speaking against God and His Word. God is Spirit and He desires us to live in the spirit....to see with spiritual eyes.

Hebrews 3:1-6.....1 Therefore holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle, and high priests whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is the faithful as a son over God's house. And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. NIV

Mary surely saw those things come, not how they might play out, but saw them as coming toward that blessed Child who would fulfill that plan of being the Consolation. She saw her own heart pierced. She was found in prayer.....not only at Her Son's crucifixion but also on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:14)

Who do we pray to? Or do we even pray? Of whose family do we belong? Let us turn away from that "which seems newsworthy on T.V. and look at Jesus who was and is the CONSOLATION!
For when we set our hope and prayer on life......then we receive life. When we set our prayer on that which is right for us, it will bring us to a joy that cannot be taken away, we will continue growing in satisfaction and always preparing to meeting Him in the air. It is always moving, expecting, searching and growing to see Him more clearly!
I hope to see you there!

Father, may we be like Simeon who was the expectant. He was one who was looking for the Consolation. In it, his faith was growing exceedingly, and his love abounding. Simeon came to the place where he recognized Him and gave a word of praise and thanks. Thank You Father for allowing us to be counted worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and work of faith with power. May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in us and each of us in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.(2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). Amen.


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

Who Then Is The Faithful and Wise Servant?

The Faithful and the Wise:

Matthew 24:45-51......45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' 49 "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  NKJV

Each of us has a role in the kingdom of God! Each have been given the choice being faithful to God, to teach God's words to others, and to serve God always! Yes, but Shelley I am no teacher. Each of us have had children or even nieces or nephews that we could teach the Word of God to in time. In being faithful to God and serving Him, we are submitting to His authority, and the example of influence to those in our family or the family of God.
Even those who have no children today, but are planning a family in the next few years, now is a good time to start finding those faith building books on the Bible. Now is a good time to ask the Lord how to lead your family into God's plan. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak about your future children to come to you!
Each of us should have the fire to want to spend time with God and hear His plans for the day.


Joshua 24:14-15......14 "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."    NKJV

In the body of Christ, some are called to be Apostles, some to be Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists ( those who evangelize a community or those who travel overseas), Pastors, and the ministry gifts. There is the Miracles and Gifts of healings ( one may flow in healing of headaches and another may flow in the healing for aching back) as regarded as a distinct ministry. (1 Corinthians 12:28) There is the Helps ( which envelops the praise and worship) it also includes those who give financially into the kingdom, Governments ( as pastors of administrating), and Diversity of Tongues. (1 Corinthian 12: 28, 30). Each of us as a place to stand in, and we all have a role in teaching our children and their children how to be a faithful servant. That is, doing what the Lord told us to do and then continue to do it. Like teaching, that is all you want to do is teach. One who loves the Word of God and desires to spend time looking up the different scriptures finding you spent all morning or a portion of a day on "one thing" and enjoying it!

Some are not called to hold a specific office in the Body of Christ, but all are called to teach and tell others of Jesus  and the love of God! Each of us has a role in His kingdom!

Are we THE wise?

Foolish…from the Greek word moros which is dull or stupid.

James 3:17-18...17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. NKJV

Always asking God for “the wisdom that comes from heaven [ which ] is first of all pure, peaceable (peace-loving), considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere”

Matthew 5:14-16………..14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. NKJV

Light, that revelation knowledge of who Jesus is and what He did for us is to grow continually. That light will grow brighter and brighter lighting the path we are to travel on this journey. It is one that takes some time reading and praying. It is not looking up what someone else wrote or said, but it is looking into the "the perfect law of liberty" and finding what speaks to us that specific day.  Never just take my word or anyone else's for that matter but look into the Bible and find what speaks to you. I can teach, but I also remind everyone everywhere to search the scriptures yourself. Look up that which you are believing to come to pass in your life. GOD'S PRESENCE WILL BE EVIDENT WHEN YOU LOOK INTO a teaching ......if the one you are reading seems like a vacant land with no life, then look elsewhere. Any teaching should always reflect Jesus and not about man.

If it is more peace you need, then search peace, If it is more wisdom, ask like James 1:4 says.
James 1:4-7.......... 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.  NIV

Attribute of wise man: controls his emotions, is not led by them
Proverbs 29:11.....11 A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back.   NKJV

Attribute of the wise: he heeds counsel

Proverbs 12:15…..15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

But he who heeds counsel is wise. NKJV

Attribute of a fool: despises authority and will not follow

Proverbs 15:5…..5 A fool despises his father's instruction,

But he who receives correction is prudent. NKJV

Attribute of a wise man: is a peacemaker

Proverbs 20:3….3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving,

Since any fool can start a quarrel.  NKJV

Attribute of wise men: turn away wrath, seeking good for all

Proverbs 29:8......8 Scoffers set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.   NKJV

Whatever God has placed within us, we are to see that it grows.

Matthew 25:19-30......19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22 "He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' 23 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' 26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'   NKJV

I like what my husband always speaks, "we each need to know our roles in how to lead others. If any of us is over a group of people to lead them, then we must know what is available to us to lead them." "If we do not know to teach and that which will encourage and cause them to grow (either in the workplace or home) we do not equip anyone to follow in doing the same that should have been instructed." 

I think of those who minister in music. Some I have known are exhorters as well. They encourage and can do it through song.

I think of this one lady and I will call her Jody.   She has children but two were diagnosed with autism. Although they were diagnosed, it does not have them. She works with them to see they have the normal life like everyone else. She sees to it that they are in church, having their class in the Word of God. She encourages them and others as well. She always gives her time to working within the workplace (as in conferences, etc) to see others know about autism and how it does not defeat people. She is a teacher! She teaches what she has been equipped to do! She is doing an awesome work in the power of God to see change for many others and not just for her own. She is the faithful and wise servant!

Influence is important, and knowing our role is important. It is not flaunting, but always reflecting that light, revelation knowledge of the scriptures laid down by Jesus. May the Lord find us fulfilling Matthew 24:46. May we be that wise servant fulfilling our role in what was established for us from the foundation of the world.

Father, we pray in Jesus' name, that in this ministry to our family  and those who watch us like at work or even driving on the highway, we know we are influencing others. We also know that we have received mercy and we desire to not lose heart. For we who follow YOU have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling of the word of God deceitfully. We do not try to trick anyone into believing, and we are not interested in fooling anyone. Today I stand to teach others what You have shown me and as standing in Your presence, I speak to tell the truth to all who know me will agree. (2 Corinthians 4:1-6) Living Bible

Father, we know that we never try to teach what the Bible does not say, but what is revealed to our hearts through Your Holy Spirit.

We know from the Word of God (verse 3) that the word hidden is to the one who is on the road to eternal death. Our eyes have been opened to see the glorious light of the Gospel. That word is shining upon us to know the amazing message about the glory of Christ, who is God. 

We pray that any and all who come across our paths, will see light in the darkness. We pray for eyes to open that have been blind to the good news the Gospel. We say together, "let there be light in the darkness..........that is the glory that is seen in the face of  Jesus Christ", our Lord and Master.(verse 6, Living Bible)

We desire to be diligent in being the wise servant doing what YOU asked us to do. Help those see who know not what their call is, to find the place and do what burns in their bellies to do. AND MAY THEY STAND FAITHFUL TO DO THAT CALL YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM. We ask to be the influence that radiates the light of Jesus to the dark world and find favor from YOU Father to fulfill the plan You set forth for each of us. May it be to Your glory and praise. Amen.

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