Trial Upon Trial

That Tsunami Wave

Matthew 24:11-13 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

That “endures” is hupomeno ( hoop—ahm—en—oh. This has the meaning to hold ones’ ground in conflict, bear up against adversity, hold out under stress, stand firm and to persevere under pressure, waiting calmly and courageously.

So in essence this word has the meaning to stand in activity that is energetic resistance to defeat that appears as the calm and the brave indeed!

Today the pressures seem to mount daily. If one would keep in touch with the news, one would find their daily existence will be interrupted by an attack of a vengeful virus, their mind will be bombarded by economic pressures and down-turns of the markets, there will be seen persecutions in how you worship God and what truth you believe the Bible to hold as that standard in a decaying culture and society! There are social pressures: you find no one liked the last posting you placed just before bed last night. And the family pressures mount in how many children you might have and what activities that they are tied to weekly outside of all their school activities that takes up much more time than seems available in a twenty-four hour period of time. 

There seems to be this mounting tsunami wave that grows higher and wider to come into your seemingly quiet neighborhood and find you are very much wet and bothered without leaving the sanctuary of your bedroom but find quickly that you are exhausted beyond measure and oh, so tired at the barrage of activity that mounts to take you down into the sewer system and out of sight! YIKES!

If we know scripture then we know these things will only mount further into more pressures on your health, your wealth ( if you have any) and a bad tsunami hit against your family, your children  and your home. Pressures build but we have an answer. 

Philippians 4:8-  to think on that which is true and noble not fantasy…

Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy ----meditate on these things.

You do not need those networks that make up news as you go kind of news. No, you require that which is truth inside and out. YOU need the truth to make those decisive answers in regard to all the upheaval and chaos that appears in the streets, your local grocery market and on television commercials!

Proverbs 25:19 instructs us, "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint." Faithfulness always indicates a person who deals truthfully; he can be trusted. Yet, dealing with unfaithful people is usually painful because one never knows whether they will come through. 

Thus, our evaluation of ourselves comes down to this question: How can God trust us if we are not striving to be honest now? For you and I must be trusting in God and faithful to continue in this walk with Him. We are to be found with Him and speak as He would speak.

Find a noteworthy news that gives details that are accurate and not made up for that which affects you and yours! But even more important, find those scriptures that detail where you want to go today and tomorrow into your future with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 sets a standard: “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Christian maturity is revealed by how we behave in everyday life, particularly under pressure.

1.    How do we act in the car in traffic that outnumbers the lanes on the highway we travel or how do we act at the grocery store when we cannot find the item we require and the lines are back up to the bathroom area of the store?

2.   As businessmen, do we pad the expense account? How do we act on our own in the little things? Are we honest in all financial matters?

3.   How do we treat other people? That’s where the real Christ is evidenced in our lives!

4.   What do we do in our homes away from the church folk?  It’s not how we act in the church that counts so much; anyone can act really nice there!

We sometimes forget that God is not only at church, He’s everywhere. He sees the corners of our heart that we’d rather not have Him (or anyone else) see. He sees what goes on behind our closed doors. He is the only one who can help us overcome the pressures of this world, the devil, and our flesh.

The Bible says that we must discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim. 4:7). 

Discipline, by definition, means going against my feelings. I may not feel like exercising, but if I’m disciplined, I do it anyway. I may feel like spending money impulsively, but if I’m disciplined, I go against my feelings because I have decided to live by a budget. And we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves!

Paul wrote Timothy this: 1 Timothy 4:6-7 NKJV If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, & exercise yourself toward godliness.

Getting down to the nitty-gritty of everyday life, can at times be difficult in keeping our minds on the Lord. WHAT we watch for hours will have an effect on our thinking!  The devil is always trying to divert us to think carnal thoughts instead of keeping our thoughts in subjection to the Word of God. 

How can we be free of worry and anxiety? We must deliberately change our thoughts. We must look to the Lord and ask Him to free us of our fears, and then we must think on things that bring peace. Philippians 4:8……. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”

Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

The Lord not only wants us to know His peace, but also He wants us to distribute His peace. The body of Christ needs healing and needs those who sow seeds of peace instead of discord. If we want peace in our churches and homes, then we must be the ones who are the peacemakers. If we obey the Lord and walk in His light, His peace will come to our entire family. “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children”

Peace is one of the most beautiful treasures that we inherit from our Lord. Money cannot buy HIS PEACE! BUT it is free to all who will come unto Him.

1.   We can have His peace even in the midst of our wrestling match with the enemy. Even when Satan sends His biggest giants our way, we can like David, stand firm in the fact that the God we serve is greater by far than anything else in the universe. Praise God!

2.   We no longer have to base our confidence in ourselves! Instead, we can rely on Him, the Rock of our Salvation. If David had tried to stand against Goliath in his own strength, he would have been completely destroyed. But David knew who was with him and he knew that he had overcome because “greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world”

3.   1 John 4:4 NKJV  You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

If  you remember the story of Pharaoh, he had the Hebrew nation to build his store cities…that is he had them build that which is filled not just what he desired, but what he thought he needed! Our heart is to filled with all the treasure that is Jesus Christ the Word! (can find this in Revelation 19:11-16)

By the power of the HOLY SPIRIT we all can be victorious in our everyday lives. We can overcome the devil and our flesh. We can be ministers of peace and reconciliation on this earth, and walk in perfect communion with God. We can be free from pressure by learning to yield to the Lord and resisting the devil (James 4:7).  Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil & he will flee from you.

1.   The Bible says that the devil will flee with his pressure. How do we resist the devil?

2.    By speaking the word of the Lord over our situation. For example, if we are being pressured with fearful thoughts, we should quote scriptures that speak of victory over fear.

Today you and I have victory over fear: James 4:7-10 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up.   

Freedom from Oppression is submitting to God. In confessing God’s Word we come to His rule in truth that is righteous.

CONFESSIONS:   For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Father, You have warned me in Your word not to believe every spirit but to test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 O God, as You increase my belief, teach me also what not to believe.

In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. Isaiah 54:14

 Any strength or action is to come from God that makes for peace. By any coercion, or compulsion will force one to be led into the place of oppression to be intimidated & harassed. 

Father, thank You for showing us that we are to be patient and enjoy friendships without a " culture pushing vanity on parade before us".  Now may the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ Jesus.

May I live according to the Lord’s purpose for my life  and not try to change to fit that mold of any culture for that only can be an opening of a door to possible dangers

 Thank you Lord God for purifying my heart by faith. (Acts 1:5,9) How I thank You that a lack of faith will never nullify Your faithfulness. (Rom.3:3) If I am faithless, You will remain faithful, for You cannot disown Yourself. (2 Timothy 2:13) 

Father, Your Word says that faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ Jesus. (Romans 10:17) Cause me to continue to listen to Your word! Without Your Word, my faith will never grow.

For I know pressures will mount, but You are with me. You will never leave me nor will You forsake me. Thank You for walking me through the trial upon trial, I have the victory in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

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Toning Down our Actions

What is the actual "intent of our heart"?
Is it really for the God-thing that is His life, love, peace, joy and power? Or do we still have some heart issues that will be revealed in the next blow on the emotions. People are all around you. People can and will bring problems to another. What amount of control do we still desire to have over others? Do we check ourselves on that issue of the heart?

From 1 Thessalonians we find the Apostle talking from chapter 2 of no hidden agendas.
1 Thessalonians 2 3-20       Message Bible
God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with this Message. Be assured that when we speak to you we're not after crowd approval-----only God approval. since we've been put through that battery of tests, you're guaranteed that both we and the Message are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas. We never used words to butter you up. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take advantage of you. Even though we had some standing as Christ's apostles, we never threw our weight around or tried to come across as important, with you or anyone else. We weren't aloof with you. We took you just as you were. We were never  patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way another cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. And we did.

You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the bone, up half the night, moonlighting so you wouldn't have the burden of supporting us while we proclaimed God's Message. You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among you, with keen sensitivity to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren't freeloaders! You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life. And now we look back on all this and thank God, an Artesian Well of thanks! When you got the the Message of God we preached, you didn't pass it off as just one more human opinion, but you took it to heart as God's true word to you, which it is, God himself at work in you believers!

Friends do you realize that you followed in the exact footsteps of the churches of God in Judea, those who are the first to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ? You got the same bad treatment from you countrymen as they did from theirs, the Jews who killed the Master Jesus (to say nothing of the prophets) and followed it up by running us out of town. They make themselves offensive to God and everyone else by trying to keep us from telling people who've never heard of our God how to be saved. They've made a career of opposing God, and have gotten mighty good at it. But God is fed up, ready to put an end to it.
Do you have any idea how very homesick we became for you, dear friends? Even though it hadn't been that long and it was only our bodies that were separated from you, not our hearts, we tried our very best to get back to see you. You can't imagine how much we missed you! I, Paul, tried over and over to get back, but Satan stymied us each time. Who do you think we're going to be proud of when our Master Jesus appears if it's not you? Your're our pride and joy!

                           *************************************************

Paul wrote from his heart. His heart intent was to this group of believer's as the father with his children. His heart was fixed on their good, not to their demise, not their eternal hurt, but was tuned into their life with God.

What attitudes do we carry against another? What action presents itself when "said" person you have attitude against walks in the room?

If they caused some friction within us, then that is "our" character that is rising up in featuring or giving that appearance to the thing we do not like about "said person". So a heart issue remains in the heart, and it is given a nice room to "exist".  In that room of our heart, is it given the accommodation of a standard room, or maybe the executive room or how about the Deluxe?

We have character! That is: we can be loving and the loyal. Or we can be the unloving and disloyal. We can be kind or down right rude! We can be disrespectful, impatient, the angry, showing no mercy, and grumpy.
Saw recently of driver on an interstate highway, driving a couple off the road in a road rage, because they were not going as fast "as he wanted to travel" on that interstate highway! Yes, they are still looking for the perpetrator who would do such a thing to another. Heart Issues???

Met any grumpy people lately? Or how about some controlling folks?

The heart can house the most amazing things. And people may not know "they exist" till they come across that trigger from another person who sets it off, even with alarm sounds. 

God's Message, is the Message of Love. And to receive it, we must have an open heart to it. AND HE WILL CORRECT WHEN CORRECTION IS NEEDED!

We are to make room in our hearts for the Holy Spirit. It is surely that anointing which empowers us to be like Christ and to do good works. It is the Holy Spirit HIMSELF, and He is passionate to accomplish something very specific in us-------------to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. The more room we make for HIM in our lives, the more He puts His power and revelation to work for that purpose. He is the One who reveals what the Father is doing and saying and then equips us to do and say it.

Communication with the Spirit was the secret to Christ’s ministry and it is the secret to ours. The testimonies of God teach us what the Holy Spirit is like and how to move with Him. They keep us aware of God. They teach us how He invades the impossible when the perspectives of those around us are focused only on the temporary, and the physical circumstances.

Without a constant awareness of God and the testimonies that speak of His nature, we will inevitably reduce our vision! Not only that we can reduce a ministry down to what we can accomplish with our gifts and our own strength is amounts to very little of anything. 

It is not by might nor by power but is by the Spirit of God we accomplish all He purposed for us to do.
What we start with flesh will have to be worked out in the flesh. But with God all things are possible to them who believe!

The Holy Spirit can show us where or when we overload with an emotion in one or maybe several areas. He can show us the answer and how to cancel out the humanness of it and stay within the Spirit of the Living God to see the needed RESULT come for us!

GOD IS THE COMMUNICATOR!

COMMUNICATOR:

Matthew10:27-28….27 "Whatever I tell you in the dark,

speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on

the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body

 but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able

 to destroy both soul and body in hell. NKJV

Matthew 10:18-20

18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake,

as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they

deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should

speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should

speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your

Father who speaks in you. NKJV

  

John 10:27-28…...27 My sheep hear My voice,

and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them

 eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone

 snatch them out of My hand.   NKJV

GOD IS MERCIFUL!

MERCIFUL:

Luke 6::35-36……...35 But love your enemies, do good,

and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your

reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.

For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father

also is merciful.

NKJV

 Romans 9:14-16………..14 What shall we say then? Is there

unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He

says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will

 have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever

 I will have compassion."  16 So then it is not of him

 who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

NKJV

 GOD IS TRUTH!

TRUTH:

Psalm 119:160………...160 The entirety of

Your word is truth,

And every one of Your righteous

judgments endures forever.

NKJV

 John 1:17……17 For the law was given through Moses,

 but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

NKJV

 GOD IS LIFE!

 LIFE:

John 5:21……. 21 For as the Father raises the dead

and gives  life to them, even so the Son gives life

to whom He will.

NKJV

  

John 6:35, 47-51……….35 And Jesus said to them,

"I am the bread of life.   He who comes to Me shall never

 hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me

 has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life.

 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven,

 that one may eat of it and not die.

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven.

 If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;

 and the bread that I shall give is My flesh,

which I shall give for the life of the world." NKJV

  

John 11:25-27….25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection

 and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die,

he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me

 shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to Him,

"Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God,

 who is to come into the world."

NKJV

GOD IS VICTORIOUS!

VICTOR:

  

Proverbs 21:30-31...30 There is no wisdom or understanding

Or counsel against the LORD.      31 The horse is prepared

for the day of battle,    But deliverance is of the LORD.   NKJV

 HE IS OUR HOPE!

 HOPE:

Isaiah 40:28-31……..28 Have you not known?  

Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD,

The Creator of the ends of the earth,  

Neither faints nor is weary. 

 His understanding is unsearchable.  29 He gives

power to the weak,   and to those who have no might

 He increases strength.  30 Even the youths shall faint

And be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,

31 But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles, 

They shall run & not be weary, They shall walk

And  not faint.  NKJV

1 Peter 1:3…...3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord

Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy

 has begotten us again to a living hope through the

resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, NKJV

The intent of our heart will be seen. YOU can hide it for awhile, but in the end it will show itself very much alive, housed in a very nice compartment of the heart. When we apply God's mercy, His love, His faithfulness, His truth and life into our speaking, it cleans up that heart issue or issues. Decorating our heart with HIS Word, will change our lives dramatically.  It can take some time, but God is in no hurry. He cares for you much like we saw with Paul in those in Thessalonia. You can know God has your best interest at heart.  Then those triggers will no longer be there. The more we apply HIM into our hearts and speaking we are truly the NEW MAN IN CHRIST JESUS!

WE do not come with our own opinions, we come to deliver the Message, the Word of God that will prevail in your life. Amen.

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That YOU MIGHT Have PEACE Through THE STORM

Isaiah 53:4-6
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
NKJV

Jesus paid a high price for us having died for our sins (iniquities) and such bruising that brought to us His peace.

The New Living Bible states this:

Isaiah 53:4-6

4 Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! 5 But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed-and we were healed! 6 We-every one of us-have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God's paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us! 

TLB

Mark 14:34
34 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch."
NKJV

In Jesus' last hours before crucifixion, He intimated with His heart how His soul was exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Thinking on His life, He carried much love, but got hatred, hardness of heart and much unbelief. He had sorrows that brought Him to prayer in those last hours of life. Yes sin brought sorrow to Him. He was impacted to such a degree that He was sweating drops of blood. Seeing those that He came to, reject Him, and experience such pain in knowing, those He came to save would reject Him even to His death.

Sorrows that weighed Him down, yes beaten for our sake's, that we would have peace. It is those who believe, who receive Him as Savior that will have this "kind of peace". "But how, Shelley? How could He have peace?"

John 14:25-31
25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
NKJV


Jesus had peace that only the Father could give Him. He speaks of peace that He would leave to us, not as the world gives, for that is chaos, but as the Lord gives us courage in our hearts. Then immediately we go into John 15 and He talks about abiding in the Father and in Him. He talks of the Holy Spirit. See below:

John 15:20-27

 20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'  

26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. 

NKJV

Jesus had the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit for He came upon Him when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. Jesus had experienced the hate of those who were reviling Him because He spoke of their sin. As Jesus is, was and is to come ........He bearing witness of truth from the beginning, we too, must bear truth. We are to abide in Him and the Father and hear the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives when saved.

Isaiah 52:13-14

13 See, my Servant shall prosper; he shall be highly exalted. 14 Yet many shall be amazed when they see him-yes, even far-off foreign nations and their kings; they shall stand dumbfounded, speechless in his presence. For they shall see and understand what they had not been told before. They shall see my Servant beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know it was a person standing there. So shall he cleanse many nations. 

TLB

In looking back to chapter 52, we find that the Savior, Jesus was beaten and bloodied, and so disfigured one would scarcely know Him as a person. No, you could not hang that picture of the crucified Savior on your dining room wall.

No, man had no peace till Jesus came. Now Israel could have experienced that peace many times, as they either collectively joined together in giving praise and honor to God, and obeying His commands. But on the whole, as for the man who lives on this earth, peace was left in the Garden of Eden. That relationship with the Father and His guidance was changed when Adam followed the LEADING OF HIS WIFE EVE! We must keep to the order God has planned for His children.
Where there is no order, then chaos ensues!

That peace was something that comes from God. And it was sent through His Son Jesus. We the wounded and the polluted by our sinful nature, were made "whole" complete with nothing missing, nothing broken in our lives when confessing Jesus as Lord of our lives!

He was the bruised, the oppressed, the One who was beaten beyond any recognition showed us how corrupt the flesh nature really was according to God and His standards. Every wound of my heart or yours was taken by Jesus. Every hurtful word or hateful abuse was first taken by the Lord. In all that battered, bloodied and disfigured body He carried the hurt that occurred in my heart and yours first.

That peace Jesus obtained was by violence. It was that violence that takes the life. Looking back to Noah and the flood, we see the rain becoming a flood that would take a violent force against any who remained within those flood-driven areas of the land. It was those who were in the Ark who remained dry within that Ark which rode upon the water of the flood, who would ultimately live to start again.

How could He, Jesus remain so faithful to God to do the thing needed for man-kind? He remained in God Himself. "Yeah, Shelley, but Jesus was God. Yes, but Jesus did not call down those legions of angels to assist Him, did He?"
He is the true Christian. And the way we should walk today is in those steps He took while He walked this earth. When we remain, abide in His teachings and His ways, we find that peace, which fights against any chaos in our lives, and keeps us secure in the shadow of the Almighty God!

Psalm 91:1-2

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High 

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust." 

NKJV

Abiding in Jesus, we find the same peace He held. He walked, not cutting Himself off from the synagogue or from those leaders who were there at that time, like the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus could face them, and walk away victorious because of His strengthening relationship with His Father God. The more time He spent in prayer and the Word, the more He gained the authority to speak peace into His situation. Jesus remained faithful to God and kept no sin in His heart. He was the ultimate sacrifice!

1 John 3:8

 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

NKJV

The more we learn how Jesus walked each time, the further into more peace and into that strength we move, and that peace can only come from God. It was not by separating Himself from that which He had to do.
Likewise we must not refuse to do that which seems hard, or anything the Lord would speak to us to do!  We must continue to walk with those God has placed around us, and speak to those we must speak to and with, we find, when a "storm" does come, it is one that we call that peace of God, to see the chaos removed. Jesus addressed each question and presented them with questions that ultimately pointed back to God the Father.

What authority do we carry when walking through this journey of life? What amount of authority can be seen when facing an enemy we have never met before? The only authority that counts is that which is from God, and remaining in Him, and staying away from sin will mark the path we walk, abiding in Him, and seeing those waves grow calm. It is staying away from sin, for any that darkens the doorway of our lives must be repented of and move on in God's Word and plan. In reflecting on God's plan, and the Redemption through His Son on the Cross, we each are brought back to this "one thing".  Do we really want more of the Jesus Who was the crucified for us or are we happy with the one who man depicts from the painting of the Cross on our living room wall? For many years, when our daughter was still young, we too, had the picture of the crucified Christ, the one with eyes looking to heaven and with the halo around his head. One could see this man's face, the wound on his side and the nails through hands and feet. But it was not till the 1990's that we actually heard how Jesus was crucified. I learned a lot about the weapons used in that day and yes of the cat o' nine tails. You know those leather strips held broken glass and metal pieces in their length and you had nine of them.  When I understood those passages, that though a man, no one could see His visage. NO one would know what He really looked like because of the massive damage done to His body and face. Yes, what Jesus did that day was to die for us, and in His resurrection from the Dead, we gained full legal rights that were PAID IN FULL! TODAY, we have rights to healing, to being whole in our bodies, to being whole in our minds and our emotions and to live in peace all of our days.

In the light of God's Word, is our decision today going to be one in the tradition of men or is it in an expectation of learning about what was gained for us at the Cross? Will we sincerely go by the Word of God and remind ourselves of the day at the Cross, the day at Calvary when everything became dark at noonday?
Many years ago, I went with my parents to Carlsbad Caverns. It was a length of hours to make this tour deep into those caverns made by all that rivers of water so many years ago. At one point, I believe it was the one cavern room called the Garden of the Gods that we gathered or huddled together, that the guide said the lights would be shut off. Our small group of about 35 people, experienced a depth of blackness that day I have never forgotten. The lights were off for only some twenty seconds, but that blackness certainly felt like it enveloped us all in one instant. No one moved from the place where they stood, and the coolness of that depth, deep in those caverns, certainly made one "feel so small and insignificant". I wondered if those who watched Jesus die on the Cross felt that darkness at midday. (or noonday) I wonder if they were enveloped in such darkness that their emotions took them to depths of such despair that all they had done to Him, all that they spoke to Him, and now standing so close and could not touch or speak a word!

Luke 23:44-46
44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' "
NKJV

Will we seek that which brings life or just continue to seek man and his mental knowledge. For the image of the man on the Cross in most cases, is one seen as from man's own mental image. But the image our Father wants us to recall is the one that depicts His Son WHO went to the Cross for a dying world! Our taking up the Cross daily is reminding ourselves that we too, must die to the things of the world and to have a walk that is in the image of Jesus Christ the victorious ONE!

Taking selfishness to the Cross, we are choosing to seek to find our place, and that peace in Him. Those fancy homes and cars and high-paying jobs certainly look good, and sound good but in the long run are like that which is built on the sand. In the end, all was just a fancy castle built out of sand and nothing more.

 Our identity is in Him and in Him alone! For it is truly how we are to live, move and have our being. (Acts 17:28)  Apart from Him, we can do nothing. (John 15:5) We are not to be those distracted, for surely in this world people will have tribulations and trials, but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For Jesus overcame the world. He deprived it of power to harm us. (John 16:33)

 Luke 1:76-79
76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 
77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people 
By the remission of their sins, 
78 Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 
79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace."  
NKJV

Father God, we are not of the world according to John 17:11,14............we have come to the Kingdom of God, so we do not operate in this world's system. We neither talk or act like the world.
We know we can have tribulations but Jesus overcame the world. Today, we receive His strength, His peace and that power of the Holy Ghost to walk through with our heads held high. We will not be the cowering and wondering what we will do next, but our choice today is finding our place in YOU.  Today Holy Spirit guide us out of any stress related problems and into Your peace and joy. Help us to see the process and the time it will take us to gain that authority for we know we have it all now, but getting that past from our minds will take some work and much time. Your grace is sufficient.
We understand that an "excellent" life begins with that excellent thought life and attitudes. As all fruit has a root,  the root of our actions is our thoughts, words from thought, our emotions (moods) and those which can take root. Help us to get excited about taking part in dealing with that thought life, and to pay attention to that which comes out of our hearts. You our Father desire truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6). Help us to see that which is of benefit to us in this life walk.
Today, we pray to be those who will pay attention to that thought life, to our words, those moods and attitudes that are rooted in it. Holy Spirit we loose You into this situation of our thought life. Help us to have and keep that purposeful heart that maintains a godly attitude. Help us to speak only those godly words for life. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8) Father YOU seek the pure in heart, and YOU are surely the expert in removing the worthless things while making sure the process is retaining the things of value. Our commitment is to face YOUR truth and allow change to come to us in Jesus' name. Amen.


Please join me in part 2: Deserts and Devils



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

Responding in Faith

What is fighting the "good fight of faith"?
Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith!

Hebrews 12:1-2.....................12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV

When we read verse 12, we are to lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us to run an endurance race that is set before us! That race is a life journey, a walk of faith with the Lord entrusting our every step into His confident hands!

1 Timothy 6:11-16.................11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.    NKJV

Lay hold of a life that pursues righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith holding onto that eternal life through Jesus.

Matthew 27:11-14.....................11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. 

12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge-to the great amazement of the governor. 

NIV

Life can seem unfair! But as we see with Jesus, we must choose how to deal with people in fairness, patience, truth, gentleness, righteousness and godliness seasoned with much love!
What if Jesus chose to speak against those bringing accusations? What if He wanted His say at that moment in time? What if He just let "loose" and told them it was about Him? No, because Jesus was led by love to forgive and to continue obeying His Father who directed Him to the Cross!

If there is something going on in the workplace or at home, do we look at the circumstance instead of looking into the face of Jesus?

Do we throw all caution to the wind, so to speak and dwell on the circumstance or situation or will we keep the faith and keep a good confession in the presence of many witnesses?

Will we confess:

Ephesians 5:1…..I am Your follower.

Ephesians 5:2……. I walk in love.

Ephesians 5:8….. I am light in You.

Ephesians 5:15…. I walk circumspectly.

Ephesians 5:18…...I am filled with the Spirit.

Revelation 12:11…..I am an overcomer.

1 Peter 2:24…..I am healed.

John 8:36….I am free.

Matthew 5:13…...I am salt.

1 Corinthians 6:11 amp……..I am consecrated.

1 Corinthians 6:11…...I am sanctified.

1 John 5:4….. I am victorious.

Everything You say about me is true, Lord. In Your name I pray. amen

Or will we let it "all hang out"? Will our words, sound like God our Father or the world?

It is important to fight with the faith in God's Word. To do anything else is like committing a spiritual suicide. We should always be determined to respond by holding onto joy in Jesus.

So what if it looks like things will never change? NOW would not be the time to stop believing! Only meditating on the world's view of things can lead people into bitterness and conjure a false view of God. God is good and He is good all the time, every day and in every circumstance. We must align ourselves with His truth and thoughts by confessing what He says about us. Bitterness about a situation will only cause one to lose direction in life and that moves one into the "enemy's camp".

Psalm 68:1-3......Let God arise,

Let His enemies be scattered;

Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. 

2 As smoke is driven away,

So drive them away;

As wax melts before the fire,

So let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 

3 But let the righteous be glad;

Let them rejoice before God;

Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. 

NKJV

Bitterness about a situation will cause one to be a wanderer with no certain path on which to walk.

Isaiah 38:15-19............15 "What shall I say?

He has both spoken to me,

And He Himself has done it.

I shall walk carefully all my years 

In the bitterness of my soul. 

16 O LORD, by these things men live;

And in all these things is the life of my spirit;

So You will restore me and make me live. 

17 Indeed it was for my own peace 

That I had great bitterness;

But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption,

For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. 

18 For Sheol cannot thank You,

Death cannot praise You;

Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth. 

19 The living, the living man, he shall praise You,

As I do this day;

The father shall make known Your truth to the children.   NKJV

In verse 17, the writer tells of us choosing his peace but his peace had great bitterness. But he goes on to tell that the Lord delivered his soul from that corruption, that sin which ensnares one.

Here we find that the Lord restores us day by day not to wander in bitterness of the soul but to live. He wants us alive to Him and give thanks for His goodness in delivering us from the things of the world.

We must understand that "bitterness" is a self-inflected venom that will kill.  Staying in bitterness will only lead one into more troubles and forget how to forgive others.

How does our faith measure up today? Is our trust in God alone? Do I think God needs my help to get things moving in this situation or circumstance at home or in the workplace? Do I think I need it done "my way"? Am I declaring it is "all about me"? Yikes! That would be a bad place to be in the journey of life. Are we putting on the confession to many witnesses of those listed above like being one who walks in love, is filled with the Spirit, am an overcomer or does something else spew out of our mouths? Am I thinking I deserve something that was given to someone else? Do I think I need to speak every thought I think out loud?

When we choose to say that we walk circumspectly, we walk as in the way of the Lord being mindful of others. It is bringing others to His word as well. To be an example of what a "Christian" looks like in living life, and not as a distraction, or something that belongs of this world.
Ephesians 5:15...."see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as the wise."
"Circumspectly"...... Greek word..."Akribos"....means diligently, perfectly, circumspectly......
"see then"..........Greek words "Blepo oun" .......take heed, take action or make sure
"walk" ....Greek word..."peripateo" ....to live, or to be occupied with"

TAKE HEED TO BE OCCUPIED WITH DILIGENT, PERFECT (INSTRUCTION)


Confessing God's Word, His power, His goodness and faithfulness to us is a choice even when it appears that bullets are flying in our direction. The Word of God is the same yesterday, today and forever. It will always remain the same in the face of any cultural disintegration, and moral upheaval. It is following Jesus daily and keeping that faith which brings victory to us in any circumstance or situation.

The choices we make today toward holding onto the Author and the Finisher of our FAITH will instill in us a strength and courage to know that we are walking the way Jesus walked. This walk involves not only us but in also involves all our future generations!

1 John 5:4….. I am victorious.

Father, today in Jesus' name, I pray for those who are bowed down. May their hearts take courage to know that You are their strength. Your thoughts and ways are the way to life with joy and peace. Father thank You for all who read and pray this out today. May they know You have not given them a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. I pray Father they would hold onto Your thoughts, feelings and purposes for them from Your heart. I pray they will be renewed with the fresh mental and spiritual attitude as they run to Your Word of safety.
Father, thank You that Your children are set free from every evil work. We praise You that the joy of the Lord is our strength and stronghold!
The things of this world are put to death today. Our fellowship, we pray is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Today we are alive from the dead and we walk circumspectly with others understanding there are witnesses to our faith walk. We move away from that which is past and move forward into the future, to that which lies ahead. Yes we strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which You are calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us! Our hope is in You. That hope which never disappoints or deludes or shames us for YOUR love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. Whatever the circumstance we face today, Lord we roll that work upon You, commit and trust it wholly to You; and believe that You will cause our thoughts to be come agreeable to Your will and so our plans will be established and succeed. Amen.


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