When Did It Become Booty?

Proverbs 12:11-12  Amplified Bible
11 He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits is lacking in sense and is without understanding. 12 The wicked desire the booty of evil men, but the root of the [uncompromisingly] righteous yields [richer fruitage].

Don't you just love reading and reading the Word and while reading a word really stands out to you? So you stop and investigate it, right? For where our hearts are located is the amount of treasure we truly have either to: wickedness and booty or to righteousness and that which is life, not only to others but to others as well when we tell others about Jesus.

So in looking closer at this word, what does this mean to me, and to those I encounter daily? Asking God this surely has its benefits and one is that sometimes I listen  a fair amount of time, and then a download happens.

The Living Bible reads this way:
Proverbs 12:11-12...
11 Hard work means prosperity; only a fool idles away his time.  12 Crooks are jealous of each other's loot, while good men long to help each other.    TLB

And the Message Bible: Proverbs 12:11-12
11 The one who stays on the job has food on the table; the witless chase whims and fancies. 12 What the wicked construct finally falls into ruin, while the roots of the righteous give life, and more life.

Now what stood out was "that of crooks jealous for each other's loot" and how good men long to help each other. And in the Message Bible, the roots of the righteous person give life and more life!

Imagine a crook, who is the jealous, of another crook's loot! Really, crook's are jealous of each others booty? Wow! And then in the second part: good men long to help each other. Harboring jealousy in our hearts is a dangerous avenue to venture down!

Yes, there are circumstances that are in our control like keeping gas in the car, the kids fed, clothes washed to wear another day, and the bills paid on time,but there are events like tornadoes or hurricanes, no one can control. And when those kinds of destruction occur, I am always amazed how many people move quickly to get out to help their neighbor in need. And in all that which is lost either in this state or one on the east coast,  the work to do is in some cases increased  10 thousand times over, to bring back many people to some kind of stability, yet there are the crooks in the same equation of restoration. And in many cases a report comes back to be highlighted on the terrible destruction of how some "folks" took advantage of another's grievous time.

But we are told those who stay on the job like taking care of the family will have food on the table. That taking care to stay in the Word of God is food on "your table". It is that "righteous person who gives life and more life as they live out their journey, not just for themselves, but also sharing with others in "disaster" type situations that the foundation in you and me is truly food for our soul, spirit and body! Amen!

There are things we need to hear from God! It is not just for the man of God to hear God speak, but for the whole body of Christ to hear God the Holy Spirit speak. He wants to warn us, guide us, protect us in the plan He has for us to walk. The Word of God prepares us to hear.

As in unbelief, not trusting in God causes us to not hear Him or His Word. An undeveloped spirit: will not hear. The undeveloped spirit is not trained in hearing God speak. (They read no word, and they will not attend a service where it is given) And many, many times it is just because the spirit man is ruled by things like anger, resentment, jealousy and un-forgiveness! So fruit is developed but is towards deafness or the hardness of heart.

A spirit of deafness, an insensitivity, is one of hardness and refuses to comply to the Word of God.

Ephesians 4:26….26 Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.  NKJV

We are to let go of un-forgiveness, any anger or resentment or jealousy. Those things cause us to harden and not hear HIM speak. If any of these are allowed to incubate within our heart, then deafness is evident, because of our not being sensitive to hear God’s voice when He does speak.

Jesus tells us of such in the sower sows the seed!

Mark 4:2-20

2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: 3 "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." 9 And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" 

10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that 

'Seeing they may see and not perceive,

And hearing they may hear and not understand;

Lest they should turn,

And their sins be forgiven them.' " 

13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?

 How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 

16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 

20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred."   NKJV

The most informative part for us is found in what He told them when He was alone with the disciples. He said:"to you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables.

Now remember Jesus was, is and will always be the Prophet. And He spoke in Parables!  He was, is and will always be Savior to the world. And He is our coming King!

And in His speaking He tells them that there are those who see, but not perceive (recognize). There are those who hear and never understand (never having insight that is God's knowledge and wisdom). For those who will not perceive and hear to understand, are they who will not repent of a wickedness.

Of course, we know satan to be the leader of those who lead revolts to steal, kill and destroy. And it looks like this: one receives a word but is sown on stony ground, and they receive it but there is no root to hold it. And then some care like tribulation or a persecution arises and with no foundation holding them, they stumble. Those seeds sown among thorns, are they who hear the word and the cares of the deceitfulness of riches and for desires for other things (those of the world) choke that word and they become the unfruitful. But those who have the word sown on good ground are those who hear the word, accept it and bear fruit.

They hear it, accept it and bear fruit to that account!

That perceive is to identify and recognize (  as a baby with it's mother) with something. So are we identifying with what Jesus speaks or identifying with the empty words of the outside world? Those who look upon the word and receive it, are those who will pull it into their hearts, hold it and guard it. They allow His Word to work in their lives.

Now I would not label people as crook's. But they are mentioned in the Word, so they exist! In looking at Proverbs 12:11-12, is there any part that would play into what Jesus spoke in Mark 4:2-20? Do we value more the Words Jesus spoke or do we value more of what the world has?  Are we working for the world's things or for God's that is life to us?

I believe those careless in their ways follow the devil's highway into that which the world fondly looks at as riches and those desires for other things. (or worldly things that carry no life in this time or even for the future) They look like the world, act like the world, and at the end of day, their box goes back into the closet to be pulled out another day!
God does not mind us having riches, but He is concerned with the riches having or owning our hearts.

And the Lord knows what we have "need" of, and He keeps us in that place that is secure and with no lack. Holding firm, we search the Word, we keep working on that which is life to us, and not just some magic get rich quick scheme but to make a difference in other people's lives in the here and now!

Psalms 23 

23:1 A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

3 he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness 

for his name's sake. 

4 Even though I walk 

through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me. NIV

The Amplified Bible reads like this: Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my Shepherd [ to feed, guide, and shield me]. I shall not lack. ( that means I lack no good thing)

2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures, He leads me beside the still and restful waters. 3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him---not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake. 4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil; for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide]; they comfort me.

In making the LORD our Shepherd, that means having asked Him into our hearts, we allow HIM to feed us with His Word, to guides us through this journey of life and He shields us as we stay close to Him. We lack nothing!

As our Lord, He causes us to relax in Him, the more we read His Word, delight in praise to HIM, then we find we are feed in that which is like sheep in deepest and tallest green grass. We rest by those still waters, and He restores while we rest in Him. HE BRINGS RESTORATION TO ANY THING THAT WAS TAKEN FROM US BY THE ENEMY. HE CAN BRING BACK TO US THE LONG LIFE, THE HEALTHY MARRIAGE, AND OUR CHILDREN SAVED BY HIS GRACE OF SALVATION!

We do not have to look over at the neighbor and covet their stuff for they should be desiring what we have in the LORD!

In those paths of righteousness, we stay in right standing with Him. We move beyond the veil into His throne room and have conversation with HIM. He is with me, with you, and with those who love Him.

Those who long to help another are giving them that which they, the survivor of a traumatic event requires to keep their walk or even find their walk with God. In this my hope is that others will know, hear and perceive God is greater than stuff. He is greater than the worst news forecasted on CNN. God is greater, stronger, wiser, and is the one True God! And in the Crucifixion of His Son, we have received His love and grace of salvation. May we not take it lightly............that which is a lightly esteem for we should be so highly favored and look upon the Word daily, to continue to receive that goodness that comes from God alone. 

To move back, outside of His will and plan for our lives, is like siding with the enemy, and those who are the deceitful, and who look for those artful ways to separate you from what you have. When our treasure is in heaven, no one can break in to take it. Our checking account is located there: we can withdraw from there when we have made deposits to that account. And God's system is not lacking, never fluctuates. The only one who is fluctuating is the one who will not keep to His purpose and will choose not to read or pray His Word. If we put nothing into that account, then there is nothing to withdraw.

Luke 12:32-34

32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  NIV

Sell those things you do not need, that which is no life to you. Ask God for that which you need and you will have it. Provide for yourself that which no moth destroys, a treasure that is in heaven, and will brought to you from the place where it is never exhausted, never runs out, but comes from the Father who delights to give to His son (or daughter).
Speak His word, declare Him God in your life, and pray for others. Do not delay to start your account. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be found.

The real and truly valued is that which is in Jesus. And we can have that every minute of the day! We can talk like Him, and expect the same as He, when we stay close to the Father and understand what our identity is in Jesus.  We too can live the miraculous life Jesus experienced.
 It should never look like booty, or what the other has..........for the Word speaks that "crooks" desire the booty of another crook! Stay in the light of God's Word and expect good from the Father of lights of whom there is no changing in Him ever. He is same yesterday, today and forever. 

1 John 2:15-17

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. NKJV

Amen!

Father, I pray for all who read this and realize that we all can have a flaw and if not checked and given over into Your hands and covered by the Word of God, we can look like the world.  It is in Jesus’ name that we pray today and agree that faith in You is more important than stuff. And in that faith we understand that YOU redeem our souls from negative emotions. You have said in YOUR Word that You redeem our souls when we put our trust in You. (Psalm 34:22)

 Father, it is our desire to not be controlled by depression, anger, anxiety, jealousy, fear

or hopelessness. You provide for those who love YOU!

 Enable us to understand and have words to say that will bring life. It is our desire to not have a spirit of deafness, an insensitivity, AS THE ONE WHO hardens and refuses to comply to the Word of God.

Liberate us to cry when we need to and not bottle emotions inside. And at the same time, give us the gift of laughter and ability to find humor  in any serious situations. For we understand storms can come, and tornadoes can destroy cities and towns, yet may we be found in praise to YOU Who made the heavens and the earth. You who keeps watch over the sparrow can keep watch over us . YOU even know the hairs on our heads!

Give us patience to possess our souls and the ability to take charge of it

(Luke 21:19) . Anoint us with the “oil of joy” (Isaiah 61:3), refresh  us with Your Spirit, and set us free from any negative emotions this day.

Help us to see that a relationship with You is not legalism. It is not rituals and agendas. We desire to seek Your face and abide in the shadow of Your wings that is safety to us and to that of our emotions. Help us to see any refusal, or any time we are not prompt to act on YOUR Word. Help us Holy Spirit to see how it is detrimental to us and our families when we do not obey. Helps us to see when we are just making excuses when we really need to seek You and pray about something specific. For any amount of time of making the same excuses we only receive the evaporation of Your Word in our lives and what runs like a river now may no longer run like a river, but be a dry bed of defeat, anxiety and pain!

We truly desire to NOT GET off the path of Your plan for us. Today, we desire to stay safe and have Your wisdom. Today Father, of any neglect of Your Word, we repent.  Amen.

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

BAD SUCCESS?!?

Joshua 1:8-9
 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."    NKJV

Can you imagine, God asked these wandering people in a desert to meditate the Word? Yeah, no microwaves, no frozen dinners, children running rampant, and scorpions, and God wanted them to meditate the Book of the Law!

So that means they had to be there when the reading of whatever was available so they could hear it, right?

From verse 1 of Joshua 1, it is the LORD speaking to Joshua.

And God told Joshua:"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Yeah, man....good success is a good thing! And we have to be "active" in making our prosperous. Meditating enough of the Word will cause us to speak it out loud, share with others, and become the prosperous.
In that there is a "good success", then there must be a "bad" success as well, for God the LORD mentions "the good success" and how to get that good and keep it. We are told it is by speaking it out of our mouths, meditating on it by looking, reading and seeking and then to observe to do what it says.

"Yeah, but God I am on a schedule!" And God would say, "well you made your own schedule, change it yourself?"

In the passage we see below the importance of being justified of that which pertains to God, for the unrighteous sin. To us was given those oracles of God!

Romans 3:1-24

3:1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. 

As it is written: 

"That You may be justified in Your words,And may overcome when You are judged."  

5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come"?--as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. 

9 What then? Are we better than they?

 Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written: 

"There is none righteous, no, not one;  11 There is none who understands;There is none who seeks after God.  12 They have all turned aside;They have together become unprofitable;There is none who does good, no, not one."  13 "Their throat is an open tomb;With their tongues they have practiced deceit";"The poison of asps is under their lips";  14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."  15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;  16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;  17 And the way of peace they have not known."  18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."  

(Yes, from the above in verses 9-18, there are those who will not seek, or know God. They practice their own "thing".) ( They are doers of empty words and are self-sufficient doing it!)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,   NKJV

Now the report in Romans 8 was that Paul  and some of his followers were saying, "Why not do evil that good may come?" But the Apostle was on his guard against this kind of ridiculous thinking. 
That which was spiritual in the Law and Prophets came through the Cross. And grace was mad available, but not abused!

Romans 5:19-21

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.   NKJV

Paul saw what "crazy" thinking would come about by some minds thinking they could DO all the sinning they wanted because they were under grace and that "grace would abound all the more, (verse 20)  (you know that "super-grace")
 Now what Paul was seeing  in Corinth was a church group who allowed sexual immorality within their ranks. The Word must be given and not watered down or parts left out to make "people" comfortable. God is truth and He desires us to walk in truth as His Son did!
Let's remember Zacchaeus....he came down a tree after seeing Jesus.........and he was repenting for all that he had done. I mean this man was talking fast for the Prophet, Wisdom, and Knowledge came to where he was gazing!
Luke 19:5-10
5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
NKJV

Yes, this was Repentance on Zacchaeus' part.

Read what Paul sent to the church at Corinth:

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Our lives must be that of sincerity and truth!

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."  NKJV

Paul said "I wrote to you in my epistle ( my letter) not to keep company with sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. BUT NOW I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard or an extortioner----not even eat with such a person.


People will read something or do just enough to get "themselves into a world hurt" and all that was needed was to find that like Joshua was told, mediate that book that is given by God, that which is life and direction for success that is the "good".

Paul noted the problem in Corinth needed addressing and he insisted that the incestuous couple be excommunicated for there were those within that church body thinking that nothing was wrong with the incest. To them, it was somehow the excellent liberty for a Christian to have because God gives more grace. Right?
WRONG thinking! JUST PLAIN AND SIMPLY WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

If you tolerate something within society and take it to the body of believer's, you wear that garment you tolerate. You will be known by that garment. God is love, and He loves those He has created, but He will not tolerate sin, in any form!

In verse 6 we are reminded of the leaven from the book of Luke and found in chapter 12.


Luke 12:1-3
12:1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.   NKJV

Success in anything for our lives starts with salvation, comes to be fruitful when we make a commitment to God's plan and purpose for us and is seen by others when we are the loyal.
There are times in our lives we must make a stand for something greater than ourselves. We must look into God's Word and His way of thinking for the purpose He has for each of us. And anything we lightly esteem that runs throughout society will look much like the Corinth Church.

WE who have received Jesus were buried with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life. For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God]. 

We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. (Romans 6:4-6 Amplified Bible)

Paul goes on to say in verse 12 of chapter 6....let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to its craving and be subject to its lusts and evil passions.

Verse 9......Because we know that Christ (the Anointed One), being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him.

He goes on to this in verse 17......BUT THANK GOD,though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed.

And in verse 18...it reads this way: And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose and action). Amen!!!!

22 But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God, you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life. 23 For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.

A true Christian is circumcised in heart.

Philippians 3:2-3  Amplified bible…2 Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists] look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.

Our boast is in Him and Him alone. 
If I or anyone comes up to one of your services and hear you mention "you" in the first 15 minutes at least five times, then I know your boast is in you and not in Jesus. 
Our boast is to be in Him, as He was given as the atoning sacrifice for us. Our identity is in Him. And without Him we can do nothing.
John 15:5
5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
NIV

Yes, there is a "success" out there. For some people, it is in all the wrong things.........and looks like:

Jeremiah 12:1-2
You are always righteous, O LORD,
when I bring a case before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all the faithless live at ease?
2 You have planted them, and they have taken root;
they grow and bear fruit.
You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts.  NIV

Psalm 73:1-12.....................73:1 A psalm of Asaph.

Surely God is good to Israel,

to those who are pure in heart. 

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;

I had nearly lost my foothold. 

3 For I envied the arrogant 

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 

4 They have no struggles;

their bodies are healthy and strong.   

5 They are free from the burdens common to man;

they are not plagued by human ills. 

6 Therefore pride is their necklace;

they clothe themselves with violence. 

7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;

the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. 

8 They scoff, and speak with malice;

in their arrogance they threaten oppression. 

9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,

and their tongues take possession of the earth. 

10 Therefore their people turn to them 

and drink up waters in abundance.   

11 They say, "How can God know?

Does the Most High have knowledge?" 

12 This is what the wicked are like--

always carefree, they increase in wealth.  NIV

We can see from the above that the wicked flourish as well as those who know their God!

Yes, there is a day coming when all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. I am thinking there will be many tears and much pleading, but God's Word stands. It is eternal. And those who do not know (in intimacy) Jesus with their heart will have nothing to stand on. 
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It is by Jesus' shed blood we are the saved.  As each of us submit, becoming the body of Christ, we begin to see in the light of Christ and how He loved us who would be the church and He gave Himself willing for us. And through Him, He has made us holy, cleansing us by the washing with water through the word and to present us to Himself as a radiant church that is without stain or wrinkle, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:22-28)

Today, let's open up to Him, and ask for help in situations that are beyond us. Today let's allow God the Holy Spirit to speak to us about the situations we may be in that may be only death to us forever. God loved us and sent His best for us. Would it not be wonderful to spend an eternity finding out about His love that is for us and not against us?1 John 4:10-11
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. NKJV

In closing: Romans 12:9-17....Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, give to hospitality 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse, 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. NKJV

Remember when we elevate ourselves, making our boast in me, myself and I, we help no one but ourselves. We are to have the fear of the Lord. And it looks like this! That fear of the Lord:   The fear of the LORD is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, and the evil way. (Proverbs 8:13)

Meditate On His love, His faithfulness, His strength:
Love: 1 John, 2 John, 3 John
Faithful: Isaiah 49:7, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Keeper: Psalm 121:5
Strength: Psalm 27, Habakkuk 3:19, Isaiah 12:2
Are One: John 17:20-23
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. NIV

Father, we pray to keep the Word before our eyes, to meditate and speak it out just like YOU did. We pray to be those who will not elevate ourselves, but make our boast in the Lord.  We understand that You have planted them (the wicked), and they have taken root;

they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Father, we ask in the name of Jesus to be those who will be the active in pursuing not with just our lips but with hearts set on You and to know Your purpose for our lives. We desire to have that fear of the Lord that is to hate evil, pride, arrogance and the evil way. Let our love be without hypocrisy. We understand that Word of LOVE is YOUR kind of love and comes from meditating like Books of 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John. Help us Holy Spirit to keep that which has been given to us by our diligence and may we always bring forth praise to God and give thanks for our Savior Jesus Christ. We desire to be One with You as You were with Father.

 May people know us by the love we expect to carry as we keep close to YOU and YOUR Ways. For Your Ways are truly higher ways and Your thoughts are the higher thoughts that lead us out of the gray areas and into YOUR LIGHT! AMEN.


Notice:
The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: Rebuilding The Temple of Praise-Prayer

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

Seriously Flawed

Now I have done much writing on one's character. And everyone has some kind of character. And generally the worst of one's character is generally on the forefront of another's remembrance of that "bad" character.
In my youth, I remember people being remembered for their "bad" character. Those who would see the "bad" character walking down the sidewalk, would not even give said person a nod toward their direction if they ("bad") had left their wife for another woman, or who had abandoned their children with no one to care for them, or even worse, they just did not hold a job! And today, people are still regarded for their character: good or bad! I remember those who could not hold a job. In fact I probably had their names memorized by the time I was ten years old. For "bad" character would be spoke about and I would file their name away for use at later date! YIKES!
Yet when we look at the New Testament and Jesus with His disciples, character did not seem so paramount to Him.
Looking at say the chapters of 9 and 10 in the book of Luke, we find Jesus releasing power and authority over them, the disciples as well as some 70 others.

Luke 9:1-5
9:1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them." 6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.    NKJV

Luke 10:17-20

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."   NKJV

Yes, seventy had returned. They returned with joy. But Jesus told them not to rejoice in the having authority and power over the enemy but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

Yes, with growth........that growing up into the mature will take some character and the amount of trust in God for the power and authority He has given us.

Many people today have trust in their own power. And they wield it however they desire the outcome to be. We saw this with the 12 disciples. They were overwhelmed with power when they came back from teaching and preaching in their own towns and cities. And we later saw one as the devil himself, and one we saw deny Jesus, and the other two mentioned, wanted to bring fire down from heaven. Yes indeed, James and John wanted to kill an entire city of the Samaritans.

In looking at Ephesians 4:30, we are told to not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. In regard to Ephesians 4 and reading we find a lot about corrupt words.

Ephesians 4:29-32

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.  NKJV

So, would James and John on speaking about the Samaritans, brought about the necessary edification? NO!

So in evil speaking of another, the Holy Spirit of God is grieved. Then a list of things that grieve: like bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking.

Anyone have a problem with anger? You know you go along for awhile, possibly years and then one day, that "anger" button is pushed and we have to find what triggered that release of anger!

John 15:9-12

9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. NKJV

John 16:7-15

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (the Holy Spirit of God)  will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.  NKJV

1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.  NKJV

We desire for the Holy Spirit to remain with us, as He did with Jesus. And from the above scripture we find, we are not to render evil for evil to any. We are to pursue what is good both for ourselves and for all. Rejoicing always, to pray without ceasing, giving thanks that is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us and we are not to quench the Spirit of God. We are not to despise the prophetic word given, holding fast to the "good" and to abstain from every form of evil. 

Although ministering to others is important. It is not as important as our "relationship" with the Spirit of God. Jesus always referred back to the Father. And Jesus was yielded to the Father's instruction. 

In my belief of His Word and my time of abiding in His love, I am always brought to His regal beauty. In regard to that beauty I always think how wonderful it would be if people all over the world would think on God and what He created. Spend time reading of the beauty of heaven and that He has prepared a place for us who believe. 

Revelatiion 22:1-5................22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. NKJV)

Revelations 21:2-8

2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." 6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."   NKJV

For to us who believe, for them who abide, this city exists and it is seen today with spiritual eyes. For our God is Spirit. And the Word He gave us is Spirit and True. For He is also the Faithful. He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He has freely given the fountain of the water of life to him who thirsts. In overcoming we will inherit all things.

To overcome, we will not tolerate sin. We will not try to get along with less anger, or be those who can not and will not take instruction.

Galatians 5:13-26

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! 

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.  NKJV

If we grieve the Holy Spirit, then we have no power, and whether our character is the good or the bad will not matter anyway, or will it?
Not grieving Him will look like kindness to others, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, joy and yes, peace! It is not provoking others or envying others.

To have the Spirit of God, is to have the same as Jesus had. Our conduct is how our character will react in situations or problems. Our power is to be in that same power that raised Jesus from the dead. And the completion of this is knowing the Father. Abiding as the "family" and knowing truth is vital to moving out of the seriously flawed  and into His plan. We truly can make mistakes, but when we first talk with our Father through His Son Jesus, we make the request of how we can move through this life and speak or make our boast in HIM!

The only way today to discern good or evil is not by watching the news at night. The best way is found in Hebrews 5:14........ 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  NKJV

Those trained by God's instruction are those who will discern the false, the counterfeit. But if we have no time to give to our Father, how can He tell us the things that are to come to us?

Yes, the decision is yours. I made mine and I will continue to abide. Instruction is good. And His power along with my willing to "not grieve the Holy Spirit" of God will prove to be to my advantage. I choose not to be taken in by the devil when the greatest days are ahead in the culmination of God's harvest. Come on and go with me, and let's make His Name great.

Malachi 1:11
1 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great among the Gentiles;
In every place incense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
For My name shall be great among the nations,"
Says the LORD of hosts.   NKJV

Amen!


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

What About That Manicured Lawn?

Every week we pass by this cemetery on our way to church. And every week I always think how many in that place never fulfilled what God had for them to do in their lifetime. Each week, I view the well manicured lawn of green. Each week, I notice whether new flowers are laid upon those places that holds a name well bound into the engraving on stone. As I view, I think how well the person or persons do their job in maintaining that manicured lawn. No one who is buried there would probably care, but those who have a loved one placed there certainly care about the looks of the place. Yes, we drive by slowly because of the minimum speed at that place in the road, and in almost a slow-motion view, speed picks up after the curve and we are off. Quickly I return to the thoughts of the service at church. My husband and I then pray.

Are our lives depicted about the manicured, the well-dressed, the clean and washed? Certainly hygiene is important. And people will notice if you have or have not showered in the last 24 hours if they happen to be around you for a short period time. Seriously though, are our lives in anyway making a difference to others? Are we an influence or are we so well-kept, no one really knows who we are, that we are the saved ones who follow Jesus? In hearing others speak and especially in restaurants and the such, I find how rare people want to make a statement out loud that they know Jesus.

I remember two friends I had when living further north of here. In that time we spent together, I remember us going out for dinner together. And we always found someone to talk to about Jesus.  We always found at least one couple, usually older than us, who was willing to strike up a conversation with the three unusual ladies. The joy of the Lord always seemed to fill that place once we started the conversation about Jesus.

Luke 12:23
 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. NKJV

What could we share with someone this week, even at church, that would encourage them? What smile could we give to someone older than ourselves? What word could we share that would bring some ray of light that someone cares to speak?

I saw this man give a salvation message: was quick and to the point! He asked, "what if this was your last time to hear and receive Jesus as your Savior? " And a man gave testimony of when this Rabbi gave the message to have life everlasting. And he said he knew he must go to the altar. He had to run and receive Jesus...........that his time was short in hearing the message. And the man's face beamed with such light. Yes, today I think of those who have laid down back to the dust. Their shell is there in the ground, but their spirit is somewhere. It does not matter about where your shell lies or how well the lawn is fertilized and kept in that beautiful green color. It makes no matter how many fragrant flowers are placed next to that cold stone bearing that name you carried. It might say something about you and it might not. But somewhere your spirit will reside forever. And what will it matter then?

Today we have a voice. Today we are the alive and are to be the "light" to those perishing. Look and see for the harvest is ripe.

John 4:35-38

35 Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' 38 "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors." 

NKJV

There was a song out probably some 18 years ago. It was how people would know us by our love. The love we have and give is the love that is from God and how He gave first.

1 John 4:10-13

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.  NKJV

Now that is really living. It is having His love as we abide in Him for we have His Spirit. Today we are not to harden our hearts. Today we are to hear salvation and then give it to others, the message of Jesus, the Atoning Sacrifice.

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have love, pity, and mercy for him, and to our God, for He will multiply to him His abundance pardon.

Receiving Jesus, we are reconciled back to God.

Ephesians 2:14-18
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.   NKJV

RELATIONSHIP....RELATIONSHIP.....RELATIONSHIP

Isaiah 57:19   Peace, peace, to him who is far off [both Jew and Gentile] and to him who is near! says the Lord; I create the fruit of the lips, and I will heal him [make his lips blossom anew with speech in thankful praise.
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.

Yes, Isaiah spoke; "MY God says there is no peace for the wicked."

Wow!
While He is close, while we live we have opportunity to receive the Lord of Glory! While we live, we can receive and give praise to His name. And we receive His peace. WITHOUT Him we have no peace.
Yes, we will spend eternity somewhere, and what covers that grave is really of no importance other than those who are left behind, who grieve for awhile. For missing that loved one is so much a part of living. But our celebrating comes when the one they have loved so dearly is with them in Paradise. When the 'loved one' chooses life in Jesus. Then life really begins. It is not about what we wear, what we drive and what school our children attend. It is not about how many may attend your church. But it is about having a Lord and Savior. It is about Jesus!

Notice:
The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: Rebuilding The Temple of Praise-Prayer

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

The Content of the Fool or The Capable Freind

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." quote: Martin Luther King Jr.

I remember the day this gentleman spoke those words. Being a young teen, I could not understand why people could not get along with one another. I knew this man to be a 'pastor' and one who spoke a lot differently than any pastors I had ever known. Yes, this man spoke about life and he spoke about a nation of people living in unity with one another.

The major thing I took from his speech was the above and I thought about it this morning. There have been many church channels carrying it. And in giving it to the "viewer" the importance is stated we must live in unity.
We had church last night and what a time with the Lord and having the opportunity to stop the teaching and pray for a lady officer and the young man with her. And they came in after our "service" had started. Yes, would you stop your "service" to minister to those who walked in off the street? We surely must pray for the Police Officers who police our communities and in that serving, we as the residents can sleep at night!

Yes, there was all ages and a beauty of color and how God worked it all together for those who love God............to those who are the called according to His purpose. (not the plans of man, intentions of those around you or me, not according to circumstances of your vehicle, job, kids or other family, not according to man, but ...according to God's purpose!)

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. NKJV

Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke "out of his heart" that his children would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. 

And that is the way our Father in heaven expects. And that judgment takes place according to the character of your heart and my heart!

What do we hold there in that place we think is hidden from the world?

I see 'protests' today and many speaking loudly of this great man of the 20th century. A man who spoke with the wisdom of God and..........spoke always from his heart. It was his heartfelt words of love, peace and unity that carries to this day. Yet, it was something that cost him his life, just like that of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is all about the content of our "character".

Oh yes, what we harbor in our hearts is seen and heard throughout the year. What we desire, those hurts and even tragedies can be seen and heard decades after the occurrence. Yet we can all bring it to God...........casting it upon Him.

1 Peter 5:6-9
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.   NKJV

Casting something out, away from us can be hard to do. And the main thing from the above scripture is the humbling of ourselves under His mighty Hand. We are to be discreet. That is: to be soft and gentle, to be restrained in walking circumspectly in our speech and in our actions! We remain in His power when we remain in Him and speak as Jesus would speak.


Our pleasing God is making the right choice to do right and receive His praise. The knowledge of God, which is instilled as a gift, compels or constrains one to depart from evil. In other words, it leads one to keep the commandments of God.
Martin Luther King, Jr saw this for his children and for his entire family. He spoke out of the abundance of his heart that was of God and of God alone. His course was set in truth and died because of it. Yet, people still remember of what he spoke of and believed. When God rules our hearts, it shows!

When our hearts are set to obey Him, it will show on the outside of us. That is: what is in your heart will be seen by others see on the outside. It is seen in our conduct.

Departing from evil is paramount for our lives to remain in the peace of God. Being humble before. God is taken into account as we live our life for God in every circumstance, in every aspect, and in every situation, and by choosing His way, we learn to hate evil and to love to do what is right, good, and pleasing to God! Godly living is the fear of the Lord!

If the fear of God is to hate evil, then the fear of God is also to love a godly way of life. The fear of the Lord is filled with moral content. It is a good life where people live in unity and not by playing the "blame game".

Those who abide in God will be the faithful. They are the honest, the happy, the loving, patient, kind, persistent, and satisfied. They seek to honor another. They seek that for others no matter their color or creed. And of course the other side looks like this: they are the selfish, the rude, the grumpy, the dishonest, the wicked, the mean, the unforgiving. And in children one can see if they are the rowdy, the rude, the playful, the fidgety, the funny, the adventurous, the stubborn or the non submissive.

Our belief is to be in God and humbled before Him. When we stay in His kingdom of rule, we abide in His truth, see His justice prevail in our lives, and seek it for others. When we know how much we are loved by Him, we cannot help but please Him.

I believe we pleased Him greatly on Thursday night. We stopped our service to do His bidding for this police officer. Our duty is toward God and His plan, not only for our lives but for those around us who may be: the broken, the abandoned, the weary and the fearful. Can we move into that place to put God first and let Him have His way in everything we do, even in a church setting?

I also believe that people we did not know were touched by God. And His touch means everything. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke a truth and it still rings out today. 

In closing:

Life's most persistent and urgent question, is "What are you doing for others"?

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. 

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.

quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Notice:
The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: Rebuilding The Temple of Praise-Prayer

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

A Good Thing Gone Wrong

What kind of production do we put on and expect God to bless it?
What thing do we really push out with the latest technology: like flashing lights and great colors to boot and leave God out of the event? When someone shouts: lights, camera, action, it this what God sees in a church service........when it is suppose to be about HIM!

And those who are trying to lead, or they doing it according to what is expected when serving God or.................?
Those of strength will lead and have "fellow friendly" person next to him, but they leave God behind on a cart driven by an oxen.
Well, read below what happened when the order of which God purposed is not followed. You have a Uzzah (strength) and Ahio (friendly) lead the way which was not order set by God Himself. And then of all things............they set the Ark of God..........on........(are you ready for this????) a new cart!!!!!

Yes that is what happened on the day David wanted to move the ark of God to the "City of David".

2 Samuel 6:1-11
6:1 Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums (castanets), and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 And David became angry because of the LORD's outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9 David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?" 10 So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.   NKJV

Now remember God has rules about moving His Ark of God.  And this fellow Uzzah must have thought he knew much about having this ark since it had BEEN there in his father's house for a long time. For we read it in verse 3, it was brought out of the house.

Numbers 3:27-32

27 From Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites. 28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and above, there were eight thousand six hundred keeping charge of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the children of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle. 30 And the leader of the fathers' house of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 Their duty included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, the screen, and all the work relating to them. 32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, with oversight of those who kept charge of the sanctuary. NKJV

From the above authority in the care of the ark was given to a certain family. And it was this family that was to continue the care.

Exodus 25:10-17

10 "And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. 13 And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. 15 The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. 16 And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.  NKJV

We must have a heart for the things of God and understand that He is holy. He desires them to be done in a manner worthy of honoring Him.

For it is with the mouth our heart speaks.......

Luke 6:45

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 

NKJV

Was Uzzah doing things he regarded as right in his own eyes? Must have, for we find him dying before the Ark of God. In just a short distance from where they started from, his decision to reach out and touch the ark has a detrimental effect on him.

So again, I ask, "is what we do for God, is it done out of the goodness of our heart for God"? Are we really pushing out with the latest technology: like flashing lights and great colors to boot and leave God out of the event?

Are we leading with the person regarded in strength to lead and have "fellow friendly" person next to him, but they leave God behind on a cart driven by an oxen?

In verse 8 of 2 Samuel 6, we understand David to be angry. He was angry because he knew great steps were missed  in moving the Ark of God to the City of David. He realized Uzzah had no honor for God. David knew the Presence of God and he decided to stop everything and move the Ark to Obed-Edom's house. David wanted to please God and to do that would take more time, and do it right that honored God.

Sometimes it is best to make sure before stepping out that what is being done is in the manner of worship to God.

Colossians 3:23-25
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.   NKJV

David waited. He heard the glad report that Obed-Edom had been blessed. Yes, he and all his house were the blessed. And people saw it as they passed by their property!
So David came and did the proper way of moving the Ark. He worshiped with burnt offerings and peace offerings. He danced before the Lord. The whole of those 30 thousand played an instrument and worshiped the Lord all the way to the City of David. The blew the trumpet!  And when David got there, we find he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. He fed an entire nation that day! Read down in verse 19.

2 Samuel 6:16-19

16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house. NKJV

Worshiping God in the right manner, is honoring God for Who He is. He is holy and when He does something, it is in His power and not by anything man can use. May we make our boast in the Lord like David. May we host God's presence, and may other's see that He is with us and we are the blessed. Amen.

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

Defiance is Beheaded

Psalm 14:1....The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt,  They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.    NKJV

Psalm 14:1 Amplified: The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds; there is none that does good or right.

Romans 3:10-13 Amplified................10 As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and
upright and conscientious, no, not one. 11 No one understands [no one intelligently discerns or comprehends]; no one seeks out God .12 All have turned aside; together they have gone
wrong, and have become unprofitable and worthless; no one does right,  not even one! 13 Their throat is a yawing grave; they use their tongues to deceive ( to mislead and to deal treacherously). The venom of asps is beneath their lips.

Psalm 5:9-10............9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;

Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb;

They flatter with their tongue. 

10 Pronounce them guilty, O God!

Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,

For they have rebelled against You.   NKJV

Defiance is seen vividly in these accounts. They do not seek God, they go wrong in every decision they make.  They are the unprofitable and when they speak, they speak with venomous words that kill another. 

In the time of David, we saw him come against Goliath. Now when thinking back to that time, we remember David minding his own business of shepherding sheep. In his 24 hour daily routine of keeping the sheep in hand, he was asked by his father Jesse to go to the front lines and take food to his brothers who were in the military and others who were in the stand off with the Philistines. David held a place in regard to God and His power, for he saw God do mighty things for him while tending those sheep in the wilderness.

We know one hulk of a man stood against the whole might of Israel and his name was Goliath. He was DEFIANCE!

1 Samuel 17:4-19

4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 

(In verse 8, we understand that the giant was after Saul. For he made the remarks that they who stood at the front line were the servants of Saul.)

12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. 15 But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. 17 Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. 18 And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them." 19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.   NKJV

Yes, David had become the messenger of what was transpiring with Goliath. (verse 18)....Carry back news of them...!

1 Samuel 17:21-27

21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. 22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 25 So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel." 26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" 27 And the people answered him in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him."   NKJV

David asks: "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel?" "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

1 Samuel 17:40-52

40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" 45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands." 

48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.   NKJV

In David's story, we find he was faithful to do what he was asked to do when asked by Jesse, his father, to take food to the brothers.  In the case of Goliath, we find hostility for others. Goliath was openly challenging Israel. He was the prideful in his own stature and muscular development. He saw Israel as weak and insignificant. Goliath was faithful to  himself. And he took that great pride and spoke. He displayed his mockery toward Israel and their God. Yes, his throat was the open tomb.

 The abominable works: the hateful and the loathing leading to destruction was evident every time he spoke.   Meaning: Philistine: pelishtiy...OT:6428....one who rolls in the dust

David was probably seen as one who came to publicly ridicule the mighty men who were to fight "Goliath"....the one who rolls around in the dust. Yet, this man was a GIANT. AND he presented a problem to King Saul and his mighty men. But David did not ridicule anyone. He took his stand with God and ran quickly to complete God's plan for him to do. And when the stone sunk into Goliath's forehead, David again ran quickly and took Goliath's own sword from the sheath that was fastened to his body, raised the sword...........and removed his head permanently.

Have you seen those who like to roll in the "dust"?  Kick up some dirt, throw stones at another person, protest loudly and still have no "good" results? Have you seen those that boast in themselves?

Our counsel is to be with the Lord. We are to find His will in His word for us. In that counsel, we find that He is the faithful and true. In that Word, we find hope, love, safety and wisdom!

Defiance is on every corner. It is raising its ugly head. And wherever it might be seen, remember what David spoke. "I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. AND I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands."

Going out in God's name is that He is 1st in our lives. We speak that His name is above every other name. We declare Him to be the One TRUE God! Consider for a moment the defiance we may project on our own. It could be the putting of our trust in our abilities or even in knowledge. Gaining knowledge that is wisdom from the world can be detrimental when not putting God 1st. That knowledge of the world is problematic. But God's Word delivers us to safety and moves us out of harm's way.

From Ephesians 6:17, we find that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Leaving His Word and guidance can bring us into many mistakes and failure. David used the smooth stone. It was the tested in the wilderness. It was the proven and in it we see Christ our Cornerstone. As David confessed God before the infidel, he was the ready and the prepared. And the sword was used against Goliath when he was knocked out cold by the small, smooth stone. Ah, yes God will confound the wise of this world indeed!

For the "giant" was only knocked out with the smooth stone to the forehead. But it took the power of God in David to run alongside the fallen giant and take his sword from its sheath and take off his head. Yes it took the power of God and David had to have a trust in God.

1 Samuel 17:37........ 37 Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"  NKJV

We cannot rely on our own experiences from trials or tribulations of the past. For David saw deliverance from the paw of the lion, to that of the bear and yet these were different animals that acted much differently in battle. Each animal attacks knowing their own skill. 
So too, we must think on where our walk is with the Lord. Do we sing praises like David did in the wilderness? In every act we do each day, is it done unto the Lord and to His praise?

And I close with this:

1 Samuel 21:1-6, 8-9........................21:1 David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met him, and asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?" 

2 David answered Ahimelech the priest, "The king charged me with a certain matter and said to me, 'No one is to know anything about your mission and your instructions.' As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find." 

4 But the priest answered David, "I don't have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here-provided the men have kept themselves from women." 

5 David replied, "Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men's things are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!" 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the LORD and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away. 

8 David asked Ahimelech, "Don't you have a spear or a sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king's business was urgent." 

9 The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one."   David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."    NIV

Pressure had come to David. Saul was breathing out lies and cruelty about David. And Saul wanted David gone for good. David fled into the Philistines territory. Looking into Psalm 34, we find a man so in tune with God that worship was forever on his mind. In reading the pages of his life and his fight against Goliath, the moment of real trusting in God came when brought before Achish the king. And appearing as a madman before the king proved success to David.  He found concealment within his own country. Yes, he found the cave of Adullam that was in the wilderness of Judah. David still sought to make "his boast in the Lord".

What the enemy has chosen to use against you, know that it will certainly come back upon himself. As with David, and asking for the bread, he gained 5 loaves..........5 meaning grace. The sword kept under the ephod was used again by one with authority as of a "priest".  We have a High Priest who intercedes for us. In our daily affairs of life, battles will show up on the scene, but where we stand, makes the difference of who fights for us. Is it in ourselves and our abilities, or is it in our allowing God the Holy Spirit to guide us through?

"Lord behold we have here two swords"........and He said, "It is enough".
 Luke 22:38.

enough...hikanos...2240........enough for the....coming season is the meaning.

And they certainly saw great war before the nation of Israel.

God's word is powerful and it is the weapon to wield upon the enemy. David used praise. Interesting the giant had a weaver's beam that if thrown into the direction of David would have went through him and planted him in the ground, yet the giant did not use it. He had the sword and did not use it. And  he even carried the javelin,  yet it was not used either.

Rely on God...........and He will show you what you have in hand that is from Him that will be used. What the enemy has in his hand will be used against himself. Understand, you have the victory in Jesus' name. Amen.

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

Is it Life You Seek?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mark 14:17-31

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amen!




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