Having Fruit Hurts

John 15:2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

A branch in Christ Jesus will be pruned to produce more fruit! So where does all this production of good fruit come from? James give us detail: James 1:2-4  NKJV 2  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience 4  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Trials in our lives should produce growth. If you have pruned a tree, you do it to force  its growth into that perfect form. It is the same with God toward us, He will prune what is fruitless or that which does not abide in Him.

 The fruit we produce depends on our outlook on life. If our trust is in the Lord, then we embrace God’s working in our lives. But if you are one who does not have trust in Him, then most likely you would fall into a pity party of one: ME!

Each of us is to evaluate our actions, any sin present and repent fast. But we also pray and see His plan for us. A test and many trials can present anger at times within our emotions. We wonder why us and when will this be over! Walking with God is hearing Him speak truth into those situations. For us, we must adhere to His speaking and rid our minds of stupid thinking. You cannot allow doubt to germinate within your thinking. If we do, then we have that mixed thought process going on!

Fruit will help us to endure!

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Or your faith produces endurance!

This is mirrored in Hebrews 12:2.  In Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus endured the cross "for the joy that was set before Him." He thought nothing of the pain and shame because of the joy He knew would follow His suffering. And His suffering was severe to the point of death.

 In our previous blog “ Battlefields have No Benches”….there is a war to defend the gospel. There are no park benches to rest on but only the battle before you. Trials can show up,  and we may desire to go on vacation to vacate our life in that moment, but that would be no help or solution when we must be speaking God’s words back to Him! Standing by faith in Him, we can see the positive appear on the horizon of our walk with Him. If we look close enough, we can see that the “thing” presented to us as a trial come to an end shortly. We are not to quit or give up.

 Facing trials or tribulations will mark your move toward actually fighting for life, fighting for truth, fighting to remain in that which Jesus  caused for us to live in. With God’s Spirit in us, we hold on with a grip, on that hope in Jesus. It is a walking through that fruit is produced to endure and it appears as the peace of mind. It is in that peace God hears us. It is in peace that He holds us….we are not to fear, but believe and hold onto to His truth….that we will not die, but live and declare the works of God.

For me, I know first-hand when a sentence is given that is not of  life. And when you hold onto Jesus, you hold to life in Him and His truth and that God knows my frame and He is aware of the situation. From that we can gain a love for life that is present in preparation of meals when you could not stand long enough to do them while being in the trial. You find an emotion of tears, even years later when you are thankful to spend time with loved ones, to eat a meal together and just laugh at the devil.

For me, I became aware of the great power given us to stand against the enemy. I became aware to use my tongue for God’s glory and not be afraid of the enemy. My God is greater than any enemy including satan. From this trial I had seen a process work through my life to appreciate others and to being more sympathetic to their plight. Many I have seen these last few years are those who need not a hand out but a hand up! They require a Savior: Christ the Lord.

Prayer is always important. And it is good to pray together with your spouse over your family, community and even nation. But prayer also involves that closeness of God. Remember when Jesus was crucified that He appeared on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:15) He joined Himself to the two men with anguish of heart and brought life and light to them! We must remember why we are here and what lies ahead. For in that we are refined in fire to remove impurities.

John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Locked up because of the Jews voicing threats against those who were with Jesus, these men found Jesus came near to them. He walked through shut up doors and stood in their midst.

I believe today, this word is for those who feel God cannot reach them past those shut doors. But HE can! He is walking today into those places in your midst where He is seen and He is heard. No man can stop what God is doing in this nation, and within people! If they try, they will find themselves cancelled by Him!

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

If you find that things like a virus cause you to act in a way that is nothing like Jesus consider why you might be falling prey to that disgruntled attitude. Consider that this place will not motivate for better fruit.

All the claiming one may do in asking forgiveness but continuing to pursue hypocritical behavior is not bringing people into a relationship with God. We must realize that bad behavior will not influence anyone to cross the threshold of a place of worship and really see God!

I do not like the saying: "we are all in this together, because in all honesty we are not". Some people during covid time are not saved! They neither know Jesus nor do they care about Him. But we as the believer certainly embrace that we are not alone in the struggle against self. You know the Me, Myself and I focus.

In the Message Bible, Paul writes in Romans 7:14-15 “I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.”

Paul knew and so do we that if we do not commit and submit wholly to the Lord, we will have no victory.

We desire God’s closeness but we are full of ourselves and there is not much room left for God. Yes, we must be pruned and bear new fruit! We must be healed from the inside out. In John 15:16, Jesus tells his disciples, “I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain”. A grapevine must first be planted and tended to by a gardener. The gardener prunes the areas that won’t be productive to allow good fruit to grow. 

 John writes at the beginning of John 15 that God is like the gardener. Verse 1: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the Vine-dresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  He must come into our lives and He must trim away the sin that is keeping us from growing fruit. The issue is, I don’t want to be trimmed because pruning is painful. Yes, this must mean that I must recognize and deal with that sin.  Fruit is the evidence that I am allowing God to do the pruning. Consistent trimming takes years to produce good fruit. In Galatians 5:19-26 Paul compares the fruit of living in the flesh to living in the Spirit (connected to the vine).

Where we have not allowed God to prune, the branches will appear as the withered. They can be seen as: selfishness, anger, and hatred. But when I allow myself to be pruned by the Vine-dresser, then my selfishness will be removed, and I will grow in my love for others. Anger and fear will be cut away to bring abundant joy, no matter the circumstance. Hatred for another will be pruned to allow for more patience.   We must have endurance to thrive in this hour! We are to remain in God’s word for that continued growth. And that word when it is applied in our lives, will be seen in the pruning that is occurring as we allow God to speak to us through His Word and see change come to us.

Jesus refers to himself as the “vine” in John 15. Jesus is also the Word of God. John 1:1 NKJV says “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Jesus tells his disciples in John 15:6 that their relationship with him is based on His words remaining in them. If believers do not open the Bible on a regular basis to read the words that keep us connected to the Vine, we will not produce fruit. John writes that those branches who do not remain connected to the vine of His Word, will wither, and will be collected and burned.

Having fruit hurts. When we take a look at our branches, are they revealing good fruit or they are revealing the withered away branches! Proverbs 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.  No sluggards here, we are to produce fruit that points to a good character and those works that proclaim God!

Allowing God to prune away sin is a part of that faith journey. It takes a lot of forgiving others and ourselves when we fail. But God never fails. And when our trust, and that faith that is in Him, He will show us how to walk, to behave in that way that is seen as a person surrendered in His wisdom, for humility and the fear of the Lord are prerequisites for gaining wisdom and honor now! Lord have Your way in our lives and go ahead and snip!

 

                                             New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Fruit of Our Lips: Good or Evil

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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Known to Them in the Breaking of Bread

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Of Wisdom or Stupidity

 

Can wisdom be found in this day? Do any speak truth? Will faith be found on the earth when Jesus comes for those, His believer's who are to walk by faith now in this moment?

We were getting our vehicle gassed up on Sunday about noon and someone passing by the pump where we were parked was speaking about someone who was "doing stupid". Without getting a closer ear on this gentleman's speaking, might we also take a look within ourselves and check our hearts as well? There are times when certain things stand out as being "stupid" or doing " stupid".

If you have been with us here the last several years, you know we have touched on this subject before and for some people, that which seem as "the sound Biblical", is only a presumed man's wisdom.

And would you believe there are some secular sayings that sound so religious people often believe they came from the Bible? These are but 5 sayings repeated among men and women that are not a part of Scripture….

 

God helps those who help themselves.  

I’m sure you’ve heard it and may be you possibly even said it to encourage someone to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get it done. But this verse is not in the Bible. And its premise is not true. To the contrary, God helps those who admit they can’t help themselves.

1.   Scripture is loaded with examples of God calling weak, humble people who would have been inadequate for the Lord’s work without His enabling strength.

2.   Scripture says that Christ’s power is made perfect in our weakness. And Paul states “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

3.   That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NIV).

Furthermore, James 4:10 tells us “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” If God helped those who helped themselves, that verse would read: “Show yourself capable and God will come along and help.” Many times those of us who believe we can help ourselves don’t feel we need God and therefore, we don’t rely on Him. God wants us to admit we’re helpless so we can start depending on His strength to get us through situations that may occur daily. That is called a faith walk!

 God won’t give you more than you can handle.

I think we’ve all said this at one time or another, primarily to comfort another believer or even an unbeliever who is struggling with something and some speak it being fearful that something bad might happen to them. But this verse does not exist. And this statement does not hold true. God will often give us more than we can handle so that we will depend on Him to carry the burden for us.

1.   Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (NKJV), and Matthew 11:28-30 tells us to come to Him when we are weary and take His yoke upon us so we can bear a load that is too heavy to lift ourselves.

2.   I believe we get the idea that God won’t give us more than we can bear from 1 Corinthians 10:13 which tells us “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” That verse tells us God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to resist. But He will allow us to struggle beyond our capacity in other aspects of life so we understand what it means to surrender and allow Him to carry the burden for us.

3. We are all God’s children.  Here’s another one that sounds true.  And although God is the Creator of all, He is not the father of all. Romans 8:9 clearly tells us “if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”

1.   Jesus said those who are apart from Him are children of Satan, the “father of lies” (John 8:44)

2.    Romans 8:15 tells us when we receive God’s spirit we have received “a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’”

3.    God adopts us through our surrender to Christ Jesus. Therefore, a more accurate saying is: We are all God’s creation, but we are not all God’s children.

4.    The sinner’s prayer.  As I was disciplining a young believer, I asked her if she had ever said “the sinner’s prayer.” She read it in the discipleship material we had in front of us and then asked me where it was found in the Bible. “Well, it’s not. It’s implied,” I said.

This is a tough one for us because we want to point to something in the Bible that someone needs to actually say in order to be saved. However, Romans 10:9-10 says “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” No wordy prayer involving the words “repent” or “confess” or asking Jesus to “come into our hearts” exists in Scripture.

What we do find, however, are short heartfelt cries for God’s mercy, including: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42), and “Lord, I believe” (John 9:38).  

 Manifold Wisdom of God: 1 Peter. 4:6-11  For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand, therefore be serious & watchful in your prayers. 8 & above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 as each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability (anointing) which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory & the dominion forever & ever. Amen . 

Ephesians. 3:8-12   8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is that fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and power in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness  & access with confidence through faith in Him.

God is willing to lead us into His wisdom when we are willing to accept Him from Him. That manifold wisdom of  God is to be made known by the church to principalities and power in the heavenly places. It is according to the eternal purpose that God the Father has accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 

God's word in us should speak and does it? Do we even fill up reading His word to give our spiritual man nourishment for the day?

I have told my husband more than once a week for several years that I do not want to be a “stupid” person.  For being found in that position can be “the one” who refuses to take truth from God, who refuses to hear Him speak for certainly the humble must appear before Him. But do we regard ourselves as knowing more than God does? Yikes!

And if we humble ourselves, how will God manifest in our life when humility is found? Philippians 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!” THE Ultimate picture of humility!  

 Matthew 27:54 “ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake & all that had happened, they were terrified,& exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" The very Presence of God was made manifest as a result of the submission of Christ's humility to God for mankind!

 Can you imagine a deep darkness that filled the sky when Jesus died and the ground that shook like an earthquake?  Hearing rocks falling, loud noises….and there is nothing but blackness all around? Do you think people were running around while the ground shook or did they stay in that place, frozen with fear, when they could not see in front of their face and still the loud sounds of rocks falling and screams were heard all around them?

I have paid attention to people who have come through tornadoes, who continue to live another day and they give frightening accounts of the horrific winds and the sounds that shake a home and turn it inside out in just minutes!

 

Written Word: Matthew 4:4, 5-7, 8-10 NKJV 4 But He answered & said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”   When we do this: the devil can hear us and God’s words spoken through us shakes the enemy in his tracks!

Matthew 4:5-7 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 & said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: He shall give His angels charge over you” and, “In their hands they shall bear you up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone.”  7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”

 From this the devil had taken Jesus up to a holy city, seated Him on a pinnacle of the temple….then devil tries to quote scripture. In this passage, it is taken from Psalm 91 & within that we are to have the Lord as our Refuge, even verse 9 tells us because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil befalls us from v. 10. Trust is everything /it must be in God.

FAITH……MUST FILL OUR HEARTS THAT GOD WILL DO IT!

Matthew 4:8-10   NKJV  8 again the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, & showed Him all the kingdoms of the world & their glory. 9 & he said to Him, “ All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 then Jesus said to him, “Away with you Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the LORD your God and Him only you shall serve.

We are to serve God in His bidding not that of the devil. It is only God Who is concerned in His heart for each of us! Nearing the end of a 40-day fast, Satan shows up to tempt Jesus! Jesus abstained from that which was to mortify the body or appetite. One meaning for the word ---to fast---given was to abstain from food but also voluntarily as a token of grief, sorrow & affliction. Can you imagine the grief Jesus experienced for those who fell to sin? Can you see the sorrow He felt for mankind and what step of faith in trusting His Father to deliver Him after the crucifixion? (You can see this kind of fast taken in the book of Esther: Esther 4:15-17)

 

The Manifested Word Spoke as His Father Had Spoken:  Jesus: the Manifested word spoke a word to the devil, & interesting how Jesus told satan to worship the LORD your God & Him only you shall serve….since we know why satan fell to earth…in that he was serving his own agenda to place himself above God. The devil could have stayed within the confines of the loving God, but he did not do that. Although the devil has some authority over the world, still the kingdoms of the world belong to God: Psalm 2:8 Ask of Me, & I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, & the ends of the earth for Your possession.” KINGDOMS!

                                                                                               

Proverbs 8:32-36 Now therefore listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD; 36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.

1.   The ancient paths of God are to be listened to for they lead to His plan

2.   Was with God in creation & delights in humanity: Rejection of Him & His wisdom is a sorrowful contrast on those who refuse Him & His wisdom for life

John 8:28-29 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as my Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.

 Jesus ‘ behavior was drawn directly from God the Father remaining sinless. May our behavior be like the declaring Word manifested through Jesus that we would speak as our Father speaks:

In this day & the present hour, we are Declaring the Word that speaks that doctrinal differences would give way to demonstrating the Spirit and power we find in : 2 Timothy 1: 7-8 NKJV For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.

                                                                                                               

In this day & within the present hour: We declare that the Light of Truth will dispel any darkness and expose the lies. In Him was light, & that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5) Everything owes existence to Jesus!!!!

                                                                                                 

We are thankful for the covenant of blood that has come by repentance, for restoration, unity for God’s people, those He calls sons! Amen. The Word of God, Jesus was manifested to bring light into dark places. And we declare the word of God and His message of the Cross with power: "For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. Everyone will hate you because of Me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life." (Luke 21:15, 17-19)

Let’s find what is really in God’s written word so that His wisdom will flow through us in that river of life to others. He has given us the words & wisdom to speak that none of our adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. We thank the Lord, that not a hair of our head will perish. We stand firm in Him and we win in this lifetime!

Thank You Lord for words of truth!

  New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Everlasting Foundation

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Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Enoch Whose Name is Dedication

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Grace

Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Notice we are to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we (you and me) may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. YOU and I do not require reservations at this time, we come openly to Him with trust. We come in faith expecting to see grace for our present moment and for our future. Jesus walked before us through His death, burial and resurrection.

Our freedom comes in Jesus Christ. It is by faith that you and I become free of fear from the very fear of death. As our High Priest, we know the One who understands our temptations and can help us as we become free from sin.

Hebrews 12:8-29 Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptable with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Jesus brought us much revelation. Upon His return to earth, the signal is given to remove all temporal in order that only heavenly and spiritual realities may remain.
So, yes, your reality program will no longer remain. Heaven comes to earth, and Jesus made it known when He came as a babe in Bethlehem. It was about bringing peace on earth and that was through Jesus Christ the son of God!

In regard to the written Word of God we can see where sin plays a role in the lives of people.

For every problem, individual or national, has its root embedded in sin. But what causes sin?

1.      Wrong desires brought to fruition, and everyone—from peasant to king—is subject to wrong desires. As to this country, it would be from the people all the way to the President. That is why it is important for your leadership as the President be one who has received Jesus as Lord of their lives.

2.      From the beginning of time, sinners have blamed their sins on others. Satan blamed God, Eve blamed Satan, and Adam blamed Eve. 

3. If your parents were divorced, you might have seen one blamed in the separation of family and of lives. Sin certainly plays a big role in lives of people. Sin would be helpless if it did not appeal to something in man. It is through desires that man's human nature kicks in to action. If a man desires long enough through the meditation process, the consequence is virtually inevitable. Desiring long enough certainly becomes action to perform.

By the grace of God sin and its desire can be eliminated! If you and I humbly and thoughtfully give ourselves to Christ, to knowing Him and the Word he is then manifested on earth. It is when you and I truly get involve in that which is of the Father's will for us on earth then we certainly have much less time for evil desires.

Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

You and I as the tabernacle of God must rely on the food God has provided. It must not be foods of myth or traditions. You and I, by His grace are separated unto Him. It is by removing ties to traditions of men and fables.  Our food is that which reveals that the kingdom of God has come. By the sacrifice of Jesus, you and I have secured that personal and intimate access to God. (Hebrews 10:22)

Let's worship for His return. Let us eagerly live our lives that is worship unto Him and not to a culture that is fading away.

For you and I should not be distracted by the new "fads", that new gimmick, or a "new doctrine" for our lives should look like holy lives filled with faith and overflowing with honor to Him.

Father thank You for Grace...thank You for Jesus and that which came through Him. I pray from Hebrews 12: 25 that we not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised saying, Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven. 27 (For Father) "yet once more " indicates the removal of those things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 (for You our Father) are a consuming fire.

Father thank You for the removal of that which is not needed in our lives, that we receive the heavenly and spiritual realities to remain in Him forever. Amen.

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Hear My Heart

https://youtu.be/jtybkUV91i4

Also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching at: 

 http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

God Will Not Deny Himself

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Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching:

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GONE WILD

Proverbs 12:17
7 He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
NKJV

Proverbs 14:5

5 A trustworthy witness will not lie, 

But a false witness utters lies. 

NASU

Rumor is a terrible thing! It is a dangerous path to talk about something we might have seen with our own eyes without the right knowledge. Our own perception without that right knowledge is that of the "false".  And to utter such.......is the false witness!

Proverbs 30:7-9

7 Two things I request of You 

(Deprive me not before I die): 

8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me;

Give me neither poverty nor riches--

Feed me with the food allotted to me; 

9 Lest I be full and deny You,

And say, "Who is the LORD?"

Or lest I be poor and steal,

And profane the name of my God. 

NKJV

Remove falsehood and lies far from me.

We know that God does not lead us into temptation. We can do that part really well! (remember: the sin nature)  But we are to stand fast against that which is the false..........!

2 Chronicles 18:1-34

18:1 Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab. 2 After some years he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria; and Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead. 3 So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?" And he answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war." 

4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire for the word of the LORD today." 5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for God will deliver it into the king's hand." 

Yes, this king had many prophets. They were some four hundred in number.

6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?" 7 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla." 

And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!" 8 Then the king of Israel called one of his officers and said, "Bring Micaiah the son of Imla quickly!" 9 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, clothed in their robes, sat each on his throne; and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 10 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.' " 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king's hand." 

This messenger called Micaiah........and told him saying this: "now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them and speak encouragement."  Yikes! This messenger wanted Micaiah to lie! See below:

12 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement." 13 And Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak." 14 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" And he said, "Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand!" 15 So the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" 16 Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.' " 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" 

Wow......what a predicament when one sees evil as good, and good as evil!


In verse 14...."shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?
Imagine letting someone choose for you about going to war! Yet, Micaiah was called out to bring the Word of the Lord........that whisper from God.

In verse 16 Micaiah spoke truth from the LORD..........He said......."I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.' Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat........"Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"

18 Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left. 19 And the LORD said, 'Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?' So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, 'I will persuade him.' The LORD said to him, 'In what way?' 21 "So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the LORD said, 'You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so.' 22 "Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you." 

That lying to say good things always.......to stroke the "kitty kat" fur is not a good thing to do ever. For we see from the above passage, that because of their lying to please the king, the LORD sent them that which they desired: TO LIE! "Therefore look!" "The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours and the LORD has declared disaster against you."

23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the spirit from the LORD go from me to speak to you?" 24 And Micaiah said, "Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!" 25 Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son; 26 and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace." ' " 27 Then Micaiah said, "If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Take heed, all you people!" 

Micaiah was then struck because of what he spoke in truth. Zedekiah asked him"Which way did the spirit from the LORD go from me to speak to you?" James 3:17-18

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. NIV

And Micaiah went on to say......"Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!"  So..............'thus speaks the king: "Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace." And Micaiah responds by saying, "If you ever return in peace, the  LORD HAS NOT SPOKEN BY ME.". "TAKE HEED ALL YOU PEOPLE."

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying, "Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel." 31 So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "It is the king of Israel!" Therefore they surrounded him to attack; but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him, and God diverted them from him. 32 For so it was, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 33 Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded." 34 The battle increased that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening; and about the time of sunset he died.  NKJV

Verse 29, if this king really valued "his prophets" why did he need to hide his appearance? BECAUSE, he knew they really prophesied to keep a good fellowship so to speak with him. They desired more about pleasing him than really finding the right truth in God.

(I always think of David and Goliath when I read this portion of scripture, and King Saul had tried to dress David in his armor which did not fit. David went as he did in the wilderness, and he went equipped with that which he had trained in with God's help.)

So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. The king of Syria......... had told those he commanded to "fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel." Yet he , the king of Israel  was in disguise..............so they, the king of Syria and his military men would see and think that king Jehoshaphat was the king of Israel and they rushed him. But he cried out and the LORD helped him, and God diverted them from him. So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel............they turned back from pursuing him.

Amazing how people can think lies will protect them. In this we saw one king die........being shot by a bow that was shot at random. And yet it found its mark in that which was of deceit and lies.

Making any decision without God is signing on the line with the devil. Our God is to be our light and with His knowledge and wisdom we are led in a place with no confusion and without terror. 

Gone Wild is that "false" evidence avenue.  It is where we are the driver for our own pathway. We are to turn from false sources. Staying in God and His knowledge teaches us His wisdom and will keep us out of any "fear factor". People can speak a lot of different things, but truth is of the Lord.

Staying close to our Father will keep falsehood and lies far from us. And those who speak out against us..........may the Word prevail..........that which speaks...........

Psalm 63:11

11 But the king will rejoice in God;

all who swear by God's name will praise him,

while the mouths of liars will be silenced. NIV

AMEN!

When a leader has GONE WILD.......they are choosing their own pathway and to find the one person who will agree with them in doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. In this we saw the king of Israel had 400 false prophets and 1-truth speaking prophet. In Micaiah's being questioned of the word of the Lord, he stood for truth and bringing praise to God. In his righteousness, he was dealt the bread and water of affliction. Even though he sought the Lord, he found persecution. He was the imprisoned. But even more than that, he knew the king of Israel would die. It was a grievous time for the prophet.
In James 4, we read in verses 1-4 ........as being a friend of the world.
It goes like this from the Amplified Bible:
1 What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and  how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings)  originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? 2 You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and  anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. [ 1 John 5:15]  3 [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.  4 You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]!  Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.

See: CONCLUSION OF THIS IN: Worshiping the " THE LUCKY RITUAL"


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