What is Justice?

In working on a teaching on the Justice of God.....I have been pouring over scripture passages from the Old Testament to the New Testament. In essence, knowing His Justice, that which is of God comes through knowing Him!
It is in communion that we know someone! Simple!
When viewing over those passages, one thing was certain and very clear to read. Most had turned from their following God. They had chosen their justice outside of God and were in the path of wrath.
Now you can hear, most of the time, that God is merciful. Yes, He certainly is merciful and He showed that mercy by the giving of His son.
Our identity then is in Christ Jesus. We, who have repented and received HIM as Lord, are covered by that perpetual Blood that was shed for man's sinful nature. (Remember Adam?)
In truth, in all our dealings with others is to be done in the justice that God is pleased with. He desires us to do what is right and just in every situation, no matter what! ( See Proverbs 21:3)

Doing the honorable thing starts within the family. It is the wife with the husband. It is the parent with the child/children. The honorable is to be done in the workplace and at play, say at the ball game or football game. Doing the honorable toward others, but how highly active has it been in recent times? If "selfishness" shows up, then whatever is built on that will not last. It will have no life for the one on the giving end or for the one on the receiving end.
Take a look at the news, and see those who desire to be "heard". So honor is the husband giving time to the wife as she to him. They in turn give real time to their children, (our kids and grandkids should not be experiencing mom and dad with their own screen time neglecting the child or children)

Matthew 12:18-21   NIV  18 "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed will not break, and a smoldering which he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 21 In his name the nations will put their hope."

Yes, the optimum word is He leads justice to victory. The nations are to put their hope in Him and not in themselves.
Jesus gave them truth. And in that manifested presence of God, people were healed and people were really experiencing what life really was like in that day. Jesus came to set captives free, not bind them up more in themselves, and their selfish desires.

Photo by R. Twiner

Jesus said to love our neighbor as we love our selves. We are to love God and love our neighbor.
If we do not read the Bible, then we totally know not what the Lord spoke in the New Testament that has the given word on retributive justice.
The Son of Man "shall render unto every man according to his deeds."
Yes outside of God one will certainly encounter wrath who is the one not "found" in God, not with God, not on God's side!
Let's take a look!

Matthew 16:24-27   NKJV   ...Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." 25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, shall find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gain the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 "For the So of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Any commitment we give to Christ, calls for disciple and the forsaking of our lives. It is a submitting of "our own interests"

If one knows not God, has not yet received Jesus as their Lord, then where lies their commitment? Jesus gave us a new kingdom, one that is by spirit and truth. It is taken by faith in Him, and our trust in Him should never waiver. Our experience in God's justice, is that we practice justice with others everyday. We give that which is honorable. It is not by name calling, and lying to others. It is not by running someone off the road, giving them a finger sign, or a swerve at their vehicle just to let the other know that (you or we) are angry and driving with rage in the heart.
In following Jesus, one is not apt to be slamming a new leader, a new president, a new pastor at church, a new prayer leader within the body of believer's.
We are all ultimately one Blood. And under the Blood of Jesus, we stay in the justice that is of God.

No matter what the circumstance, and whether we trust, our only trust should be in God and not in man. Jesus surely showed that in prayer we read from John 17. I cannot find where He whined, but He certainly took what was on His heart for His disciples, declaring and praying for them and those who would come to know Jesus through the Apostles work in the field. (see John 17)

We must not be ignorant to God's Word. What He promised He will do. And whether for the good or for those who reside in evil, still the same God will bring His justice.
God is not mocked, what a man sows, he will reap!
In Jesus, we have the Redemptive Grace. God is faithful and He is just. He will listen, but will anyone heed? And God never, never changes.

In thinking on our own lives today, have we been honorable to others? As the born again believer, our lives are to imitate, yes bear the image of our Lord. That faith if God is understanding righteousness. He is knowing that in God's own terms, equity is being fair  ( again in honesty and not based on lies). Then too, we will see those level paths for our feet. We see God move things into our lives for our benefit and good. My husband and I have certainly seen that of late. God's justice is and will always be based on His Word. God has not changed His Word, and anyone trying to change it to fit their own life will be subject to be out of His will and purpose for them. And finally we must know that we are to humble ourselves before Him, and to serve others.

It is not in a once a month, or once a week things, but an on-going 24-7 life on how can we honor each other. It is not slamming with foul mouths, name--calling or in lying, burning someone's property, or destroying their lives by dishonest means. Truly God knows the hearts of men.

Who will you honor today?
Will it be for the one who can do nothing for you, or will it be someone you demand they drive you to the next gathering at a restaurant for a meal, or do one who you desire that someone (anyone) to take you to church when in truth you already have two vehicles still in driveable condition in the garage?  Will we honor those who we may never see again but do something for them, that will last them a life time and remember the good put upon them?


In closing: The Message Bible says this in James 2.
My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, "Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!" and either ignore the street person or say, "Better sit here in the back row, " haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted? Listen, dear friends. Isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the worlds' down and out as the kingdom's first citizens , with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. And here you abusing the same citizens! Isn't it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind? Aren't they the same ones who scorn the name-----"Christian"------used in your baptisms? You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself." But if you play up to those so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can't pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God's law and ignoring others. The same God who said, "don't commit adultery" also said, "do not murder." If you don't commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? NO, you're a murderer, period.

 Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:
Are We Missing In Action? Justice of God Equals Victory!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMzITC7FRb8



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

WHAT WE VALUE: WILL IT BRING US TO GLORY OR DEATH?

Acts 7:51-60.........51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him- 53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."

54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.   NIV

From the last two blogs, we covered in "THE FALLEN" and  "PICKING AND CHOOSING" we discovered those like Saul who kick against what the Lord was wanting established. Saul was breathing out cruelties to those saints of faith who had put their trust in the Lord. And of course in Picking and Choosing, we find those who would rather lie about why they would not attend a service, or attend a Bible study. As we saw in the teaching, what does that make us look like when we would rather lie than tell the truth?

In this scripture we continue to see those outraged by God's anointed. If we are the church, yes those body of believer's in Jesus, then why is there all this judgment going on about who gives the message and if it is the right message. Seems to me, the Word works and is given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to those in need of that specific word of God for that moment in time!

Stephen saw the effect of his speech in that group of people. He saw those enraged and ready to stone him. He saw those call him names and said he had spoke blasphemy. 

Where is that "stone"?

In giving the message of God, presents us with the choice to receive it. Should not matter if the messenger is red, yellow, black or white.............and what is white anyway..........? I know no really white folks. I remember my mom mentioning some blood-bloods once and they were probably the white folks, but I know I have some Spanish background and some Cherokee............so I am what...............?????

Now back to Stephen..........a man being persecuted, and about to be stoned for his speaking truth to them who would deny the Holy Spirit. Stephen even mentions their fathers resisting the Holy Spirit in the prophets God had sent to them.

If we are saved, and have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we can certainly pray in our heavenly language and allow God to pray through us much like he did in those days. We can operate in those same measures that they operated in at the time.

Do we want to be found fighting against God?

Acts 5:33-39................33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."      NIV

If God is directing you to have a Bible study, then have one and invite people to come. Do not pay attention to numbers of those who attend, but do pay attention as the Holy Spirit leads you through God's word.

Stephen was not deterred from speaking.  He spoke truth and continued to lift the name of Jesus. In what transpired in those moments of Stephen's speaking, men were angered seriously because of truth and they did not want to hear it. YOU know those who are called to preach and teach will continue to preach and teach. They will continually lift the name of Jesus and it does not matter the course of those around the "said speaker" of God...........the messenger sent to deliver the "specific message".

Stephen even tells them that he can see Jesus..............He was now at the right hand of God....and in the next breath, he proclaims that he can see Jesus is standing at the right hand of God!

Is it that Jesus now saw His favorite son being stoned, and was ready to receive him to glory?

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.  

Stephen even had time to pray...........! How many of us tell God that we do not have time to pray? What excuse could we use for not praying? 

And how did Stephen do that short prayer while being hit by stones and words of hateful men? He had a prayer life. He had to have sought God and spent time in prayer to have the Holy Spirit on the scene in this situation and for the wisdom Stephen spoke to those men. In those last moments he was praying that the Lord would not hold that sin against them! Wow!

It is like having a baby. It takes nine months. You have to eat the right food, exercise and have regular check-ups with the Doctor. In prayer, we check ourselves into the Word of God, eat precisely what we need and have the Great Physician to come check on us to see how we are doing. Right? 

If a ministry or even a job is like having a baby and caring for the said baby..........is it possible that we could be trying to get everything in before..........like say.....leaving for the day, or for a week off or even for a vacation? Will our absence affect others? What about ministry to others through a specific ministry? Every step.........in a job or ministry always involves others and our time away takes some planning!

For any decision, the leader in business , the church, home, in the mission field, whether Bible studies, ministering in jail, ministering in hospitals, feeding the homeless, for leadership meetings in the church, in big Business, taking care of and leading children (teaching them by example), or caring for an elderly parent, requires each of us to seek God's counsel on these important matters. It will take some prayer time, much like Stephen had to have done in his short life, to maintain the thought process for God to bless the men "who were stoning him."

Whatever we have before us cannot be accomplished without God's help! We cannot expect to accomplish in that "spirit of excellence" in God without consulting God first.

 I think of 2 Kings 5 where Elisha told Naaman to go dip in the Jordan River and he would be healed of leprosy. In all that pride and such of Naaman, still he obeyed and went to dip 7 times in the river Jordan. Naaman wanted to pay Elijah something. (verse 16)

With Naaman being healed in the dirty water of the Jordan, still Naaman wanted to repay the prophet! But the prophet had refused it. But we see something different in Gehazi. But let's read on about Stephen.  We will get to Gehazi!

Acts 6:1-11................6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

8 Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)-Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, 10 but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."   NIV

Stephen full of God's grace and power.......did wonders and miraculous signs and then ............men began to argue with Stephen................but they could not stand up against wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
(read all of Acts 6 when you have time) We can learn a lot by Stephen's example.

 So what do we value? If like Stephen, we will speak with wisdom of God, and be prayer warriors to conduct the affairs of life we must do and do it with ease.

We must evaluate that which is before us............as to study in the Word with others, attending those church services and in going to those "special events".  We must take an evaluation of the thing before us,  its importance & the estimation of its importance to us!

What is the worth of this thing before me? Will I put a worth on the things of God or do I count them as nothing when it is about me and doing my own thing?  Allowing God to ENTER our lives on every decision , we are saying I value YOU God, I value You for the decisions in ministry, in this job, in this department, in this illness, in this problem at work, in this decision for this move to another state, in this hike to the high country! God, we  ask YOU to show us which way to walk in this job, in this ministry of Bible study, in this Prayer meeting, in the department where changes are on the horizon!  If the 11th hour is here, IS God and His wisdom in THE BEGINNING OF THIS DAY?

Well Stephen certainly came to the 11th hour. He lifted Jesus to others and was stoned to death. He left his body in peace knowing that Jesus was ready to receive him to glory.

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Wow! What an ending...........and yet people still study this passage and they receive the effects of truth and the importance of being one with God!

Will we.....yes,.....will we stand one with God .........or will our character show us to be otherwise...........like the liar...........who likes to lie about why they cannot attend some function...........one that we should probably put value on.


2 Kings 5:26-27.....................26 But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? 27 Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow. NIV


The prophet naturally said that he would not accept a thing...........even though Naaman urged him, still Elisha refused the gift.

After Naaman had traveled some distance, Gehazi said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him (Naaman) and get something from him. YIKES!
Gehazi hurried after Naaman, and Naaman saw Gehazi running toward him. He asked Gehazi if everything was all right? Gehazi answered that everything was all right.
BUT HERE GEHAZI LIES..........NOT GOOD! In verse 22 of Chapter 5......"MY master sent me to say, 'two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing."

 "By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha.

"Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked. 

"Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered. 

What Naaman had, now came on Gehazi..........that leprosy was to cling to him and to his descendants forever. Gehazi left Elisha's presence. Just by lying, Gehazi changed the course for his entire descendants.  Again, what value do we place on telling the truth? In Stephen's case, it cost him his life and in the life of Gehazi, well, he chose to lie, and the rest is history..........he and his descendents suffered because of lies!!
In this we finish the series of three........being those teachings about lying and despising those called to minister either at the pulpit or in other areas as in jails or shelter or youth groups! In  THE BLOGS : THE FALLEN, PICKING AND CHOOSING, AND WHAT WE VALUE: WILL IT BRING US TO GLORY OR DEATH? have shown us the importance of not lying to others and how to be effective in ministering life as in Stephen's case.

Father, Your word states in Psalm 24.......asking this question "who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who may stand in His holy place?" " He who has clean hands and a pure heart...........who has not lifted up his soul to an idol nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (3-5) Father ,we seek that which is of value to us. We do not desire the worthless thing, the idol which may speak but brings no life to our existence. Help us Holy Spirit to hear and obey. We know it is a choice..........but give us those needed warnings like YOU do, so that we do not miss one direction from You.

We desire our character to be that which is not a liar, but truthful. We desire not to be caustic, not to be the obnoxious and the grumpy. We desire to not be like Gehazi and seek out goods rather than seeking God.

Our desire is to be holy as You are holy..........and that we have understanding of that Word in our lives. We want to be the devoted, the determined and the persistent in seeking, finding and receiving Your truth into our hearts where real change takes place.

To YOU be all the glory for all that happens in our lives as we take these needed steps toward having the character that is the faithful! It is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen and Amen.

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