Noonday

From Scripture given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we are told in Hosea 4:6 "my people perish for a lack of knowledge."
The New King James Version reads this way:

Hosea 4:4-6
4 "Now let no man contend, or rebuke another;
For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day;
The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night;
And I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children. NKJV

As the prophet over our lives and those of our families, we can surely have what we say. What we speak will form that highway to travel and it will either be for the good or for the bad.

Now let no man contend as in contention with another man.
Message Bible reads this way: "But don't look for someone to blame. No finger pointing! You, priest, are the one in the dock, You stumble around in broad daylight, and then the prophets take over and stumble all night. Your mother is as bad as you. My people are ruined because they don't know what's right or true. Because you've turned your back on knowledge, I've turned my back on you priests. Because you refuse to recognize the revelation of God, I'm no longer recognizing your children.
Yikes!

Those children not recognized by God and why....because it is the man or woman who will not turn to God and pray for them.

Taking God out of this country was a bad idea. And that taking Him out included out of the schools which was by prayer and the reading of the Word of God.  In the start of this great nation........the McGuffey Readers were implemented to help children learn to read  and the need for proper education came through this reader. It promoted reading of books and phonics to learn proper pronunciation of those words. From the mid 1800's to the 1960's the book was used to teach the spiritual and the moral life OF the Words of God. It was a needed and very much vital tool to promote a population of many people to become American citizens. This book characterized the importance of applying God's life to ours. It truly shaped America in its early years. (It was established to prepare them for life.)

Today, I am appalled to hear so many teens graduating from high school cannot read and cannot write or do math but in the simplest form. Where was the teacher? Oh, yeah, God our TEACHER was removed from the schools and then other places as well.

In thinking on this speech I heard today, I heard about the verse below quoted! Not sure if the writer knew what the verse meant, but surely one piece of the scripture was given!
 "He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, and the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." See below!

Psalm 37:5-6
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
NIV

It is a wonderful passage, but we must remember what verse 5 speaks. COMMIT your way to the LORD. Trust in Him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."

It is commitment to God that will establish justice in your life and mine.

This only comes by Jesus being Lord of our lives. We must know God and abide in Him and know that the relationship with Him brings these things to our lives. When we continue to leave God out of everything, we have an empty life filled with only what the human force can bring. Without God there is no hope.

1 Kings 18:20-21

20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word. 

NKJV

If we falter between two opinions we gain nothing. We are to make God our Lord and follow Him. But if we follow anything else, then contention erupts, upheaval continues, frustration and depression set in.

If we humble ourselves and pray to seek His face, justice will return. Those who truly seek God and have Jesus seated on the throne of their hearts will pray and God will hear. And justice will have it's due course!

In Amos we are given this perfect Word.

Amos 5:23-24

23 Away with the noise of your songs! 

I will not listen to the music of your harps. 

24 But let justice roll on like a river, 

righteousness like a never-failing stream!  NIV

The Message Bible reads this way:

I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice---oceans of it. I want fairness----rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want.

Leaving God is leaving justice behind. 

Matthew 11:29-30: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 

Why would anyone, making a fair analysis by comparing God's way with his self-chosen way and seeing what mankind has produced in this world, rather have his own way rather than God's? That makes no sense whatever! You can see what happens when we follow ourselves.

If God really wanted to make life truly difficult, He would have given man absolute freedom. It really builds satisfaction and contentment, right? No, not at all.

The more we act out of our emotions the more trouble presented. 

 We must truly realize that the more we talk, the emptier our words will become.

2 Peter 2:17-19

17 These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity-for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.  NIV

Come on now, let's be honest, we have all tried to lead ourselves and others without God's wisdom. It ends up a bigger mess than when we first began.

 As a member of the human race and an American citizen by birth, I understand the important of truth that we must accept that God is THE sovereign Creator.  And God does not change for He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will not go back on His Word and change His thoughts or ways to suit little ole' you or little ole' me. Our faith is a "spiritual thing" and comes from God. Our trust is to be in Him our Father and not in any other. God is God Alone!

When we must speak, may it done in the wisdom of God and by much prayer time. When we walk out of our house, may we represent God well and obey His every command. Then and only then, will justice roll on like a river, and God will smile because He will see us in right-standing with Him because Jesus rules over our hearts and our minds. Amen!

Learn His ways! Seek His Ways and Thoughts and then Submit. See you at noonday!

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Notice: 

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Loving Others Like Christ Loves Us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mwwpwBvYvw

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Is it Life You Seek?

John 1:35-42
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).
NKJV

Seek: zeteo....2212.........in Hebraism........to worship God.........in the bad sense......to plot against

Interesting meaning of seek: as to worship or to plot against...........

Jesus was asking them, "What do you seek?" And they responded, "where are You staying?"

Jesus told them to ...."Come and see."

Are we seeking life? Are we coming to see what He will say to us?  For real life is only found in Jesus! You will not find it anywhere else!
What culture dictates is not the truth of what God has given us.

Are we really looking for His peace or our way into our peace.........that is: which is comfortable for us in this day and time? What boundary lines do we have in place? Are we keeping God's Word out and letting everything else in to our hearts?

What amount of time do we give Him? And when we do spend time with Him, are we plotting against what He is speaking to us? Wow, that is a bad place to be!

In asking this, I go back and look at Jesus and his conversation toward Peter. "You are Simon the son of Jonah and You shall be called Cephas (which is translated, A Stone.

Now Simon Peter has just met Jesus. And Jesus is calling him the hollow stone. Yes, I know the teachings on Peter the Rock, but Peter was not the Rock yet and had some way to go in his walk with the Lord!

In looking this up I have read it and it is literally the stumbling stone. 4074......petros....but that takes you to.....2786...that takes you to............OT 3721....hollow.....
So "hello, hollow stone"...............!

Now let's consider the walk Peter had with Jesus. He spent time with Him everyday after that first initial meeting. And Peter had to be drawn to the life in Jesus.

Was watching one of the movies over the holiday weekend and of how Jesus was portrayed by the one actor, Bruce Marchiano...."The Gospel According to Matthew", but the movie we saw was the one, "Emmaus".  And all the while, I thought how I believed Jesus is just like what the man Marchiano portrays Him to be. In that I considered the joyful expression on this man's face that would be the face of Jesus and the joy that radiated from His heart. He seemed to effervesce with life giving water.
That joy had to be in Jesus, and ever effervescing into life speech for others. Day after day, Peter had to see some form of light.
In truth, the man heard the Word given By THE WORD OF GOD! AND yet we saw him fail. Ah, yes, failure.
In taking the Word of God, we take our place as the righteous man and through Jesus we have that name. His Name places us in His kingdom that has come. It is always our fearless confession before the world. It is through grace that we are saved and not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. It is not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we (each of us who walk this earth ...ST) should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:7-10)

Again, seeing Peter waffle in some areas and who does not do that? It is not a good thing to do and some can fall into " a big pit" when the Word of God is not their focus.  Peter's was knee deep into his own thinking and believing how Jesus would not die. Peter spoke this in Mark 14.....verse...31  But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same. NIV

Mark 14:17-31

17 In the evening He came with the twelve. 18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me." 19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, "Is it I?" And another said, "Is it I?" 20 He answered and said to them, "It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. 21 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born." 

22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 

27 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 

'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.'  

28 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." 29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be." 30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." 31 But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all said likewise. NKJV

Even in all this of Jesus' speaking to Peter, the man Peter was still disputing what He, Jesus had told him. And Peter had the rest agreeing with him in this matter. Jesus told them that His sheep were going to be scattered. And Peter remarks, :"Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."(Mark 14:29)

Yeah Peter............you stumbled! And what will make us stumble if we do not adhere to The Word of God? What will cause us to make some really bad decisions?

Today, many are taking the stance that some things are okay. They mention word to co-exist!  In the body of Christ, many are speaking and writing that it is okay to endorse a gay and lesbian lifestyle. Yet we know from Scripture and it is made clear that kind of perverted life style brings one to death. And any who endorse it will face judgement. It is like they are inviting that judgment into their lives by promoting it publicly. And judgment will come to them and their house.

There is a very sad story given us in the book of Judges. In chapter 19 we are told of a man traveling with his daughter and a concubine. They are heading back to Jerusalem, but evening was drawing to a close, and it began to be dark outside, so the man looked for a place for the night, But nothing was available. An elderly man came by and told them not to stay outdoors, but get inside. So the old man gave them sanctuary. 

Judges 19:22 As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city, perverted (literally, sons of Belial) surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!"

The concubine is given to the perverted men so the man would not be touched or defiled by such debauchery. What was seen was violence with the sign of being of the aggressive (angry) nature. It was "not the natural" of what God had created and planned. The perverted men wanted the man.  The Levite gave them his concubine so that they would not sin against God. And they attacked. For when you read on in chapter 19, the concubine is beaten and left for dead on the threshold of the door of the old man's house.

Pressure can come with many different looks and sounds!
In both of these examples we are the reminded of the "pressure" that is placed on others in situations that are of chaos. They represent anything but the order that God set forth for those He created to live and be. In those instances, where is their trust residing?

Pressure showed itself in the Garden of Gethsemane and Peter bowed to it. He took the stance of protecting himself. And how many will continue to do that today and this hour? People need prayer and even the body of Christ needs prayer, that there is no co-exist in the Bible. It is not found anywhere in the Bible.  God disdains the perverted lifestyle! He created Adam and Eve. Simple! It was man with woman, to have children and raise them with father, mother and have siblings.

No, no hate here just a reminder of the love that God sent forth by His Son Jesus and that through Him we will have life eternally with Him. Away from Him and apart from His plan, His Word, people perish!

 Peter had to turn away from the " me, myself and I mentality" and truly embrace the Lord Jesus. He had to let go of tradition and titles and other people's perspectives. Peter had to learn to have a place at Jesus' feet and really see and hear Him speak. Peter had to learn that the voice speaking loudly to us, should be the Lord's voice and not the world's. For in giving regard to other men who walk not in truth of God's Word will only bring one back into slavery and into a place of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of a calm and well balanced mind and discipline and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)Amplified Bible

We are to abide in Jesus, and the word He gave us. In that self-discipline toward really capturing all He told them and tells us as we make our way through the pages of the Gospels, we find we gain self-control and His love in us that will protect us from that "spirit of fear".

In closing: Jesus is asking: "What do you seek?"

And what will we tell Him today..........? Is it unto life everlasting with Him................or the perverted that will perish? 

What will be our answer?
Will we be found seated at His feet heeding His teachings and warnings or will we cast it away?

2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.  NIV

Amen!




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