Reflections

Proverbs 27:19
19 As in water face reflects face,
So a man's heart reveals the man.   NKJV

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech-- 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  NKJV

I like how water reflects face. I like seeing waterfalls, and beautiful tranquil rivers and streams. We can see the face of another person, and sometimes we can know their heart instantly. Specifically of what they speak comes out of the mouth and what they have garrisoned in the heart maybe for years comes out.

In the above we see that word and how that word speaks about the heart issue. In the lower passage we see, that turning to the Lord, a veil is removed. It much like looking into a mirror.....that glory of the Lord.....we are being transformed into the same image (of Jesus) from glory to glory.........by the Holy Spirit Himself!

The more we open our Bible to read it, the more it should reflect as well our faith, and love for God!

Our grandchild has her first big Bible. She holds it, looks into the pages, and then hands it over to you (the adult) to read to the Word to her. No she has not mastered reading yet, but she is so hungry for truth. Her parents relate to her the stories in the Bible and how Jesus calmed the wind. When we are together, she wants me to give a story from the Bible and then she relates one to me. She is growing in the Lord!

In all this, her heart is filling with faith and love for God. She loves worship and lets you know which songs of worship she loves to sing. Do we have a song to sing? What about a made up song of love to God for all His goodness.......is there one in your heart?

Whatever our life lived on this earth may be, will we still look to eternity with God......?  Like in the song Hosanna out some years ago, we are to see the King of glory coming in the clouds of fire. Seeing His love and mercy with people singing. Do we call on Hosanna in the highest? Is our faith that which is selfless, AND THAT WHICH LOOKS LIKE ONE WHO prays and seeks on knees to speak to Hosanna, in the highest?

As our eyes are opened to the unseen, we see His plan for us. Oh Lord everything we have, and all that we are for Your kingdom's cause as we walk from this earth into eternity with YOU!

May our Bibles be worn out, with notes written and poems composed to YOUR glory and goodness. May we be overtaken today to know that love that is mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ bringing us to eternal life. (Jude 20-23)

If we leave a tattered Bible behind, what will people know about us? Could people find something to speak about you or me, if they picked up that Bible and read it when you or I have gone from this world?

 I have a couple of Bibles that are falling apart from the main seam, and I keep them. They are not far from me. I have notes on top of more notes concerning my thoughts and such, and other things a scripture spoke to me. I carry another with me in the vehicle and one in my handbag. 

Ultimately, it is not about how many Bibles you own. The only important matter here is that you open it daily to find out if the scriptures are true. Like the Bereans we should be willing to open the Bible to find out truth.

Acts 17:10-12

10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. NIV

Father, may we reflect Your glory in and through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus let us continually offer to God our Father the sacrifice of praise.....the fruit of the lips that confess His name. (Hebrew 13: 15)

AND (Hebrew 13:20-21) May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead, our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the sheep equip us with everything good for doing His will and May He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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

In REMEMBRANCE

Philippians 2:1-4
2:1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  NKJV

Being in one accord and of one mind sounds simple. Taking a  look at communion and the breaking of bread......we find scriptures that mention not only of those things as breaking the bread, and taking the cup of blessing in receiving the Blood shed for us on the cross!

In the passage below, we find that which was written and testifies of the fellowship with others in hearing the Word of God taught, which are two things listed. (gathering together and hearing) The other speaks of the breaking of bread and in prayers.

Acts 2:36-39

36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  NKJV

Those glad to hear the word he preached continued steadfast in that word, fellowship, in breaking bread and prayers.

In 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 14-17 below....we see Paul referring to the cup as communion "of the blood of Christ". We also see the bread as that "of the body of  Christ". Yes, we have seen that for some time have we not? But that coming together, that participating gives us the advantage to participate in the benefit's of Christ's death.

1 Corinthians 10:14-17

14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.    NIV

When we take Communion, we are giving much thanks to Jesus and for our deliverance from sin. Partaking of communion causes us to also partake of benefits from His crucifixion on the cross. Because of our deliverance, we are empowered on this side of the cross. We partake and in so doing, come away with a voice of victory that we are no longer slaves to sin. We are no longer slaves to sickness or death. Jesus, is Our Passover causing us to rise in power through the Holy Spirit.

When we recognize the importance of the communion in that with other believer's, hearing the Word of God together, participating in the "Communion" and prayer.......we are refreshed........the renewed to soar as eagles.

Mark 11:24-26
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."
NKJV

When we stand....in prayer........we are " persevering "......in prayer. It is holding fast on the sure Word..... by praying, trusting and leaning on God Himself!

In taking Communion we are to check ourselves for anything we might hold against another person. This comes to mind as I write this today:

Luke 18:9-13
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' NIV

The tax collector saw where he stood and wanted to remain clean before God.........."have mercy on me, a sinner".  "Yes, but Shelley I have received Jesus as Lord."  But I ask you: " have you driven down I-5 today"? Did you stay or keep to that love walk with others say while driving or by the time you got to your "destination"? That is hard to do! But we must remember God forgave us...........He loved us first!
1 John 4:20-21
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.     NKJV

2 Peter 1:16-21
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.   NKJV


We have a "sure word" to stand........to persevere.......and that by taking Communion and having fellowship in hearing the Word, we gather forces.

We take .........yes partake.........choosing to participate in the benefits of Jesus' death and resurrection. In it we are reconciled back to God. Through His death, we are the saved.

Romans 5:9-11

 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.  NKJV

In the "Bread" and the "fruit " of the vine we are the nourished and the empowered from the risen Christ through His Holy Spirit!

1 Corinthians 11:23-29

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 

NKJV

AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS.........HE BROKE IT!

Verse 24 is the looking at Jesus when he broke the bread for His body.

Verse 26 is of our looking for His return and the third thing we take note is this: Verse 28...we are to examine ourselves. Examining comes through prayer ...RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD GAINING HIS WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT.......for any who will not examine then become those who are not "honoring" toward Jesus. 
I like what our pastor spoke on Thursday, about coming to the Garden, conversing with God and having that fellowship. Communing with God and knowing Him is important and is life to us!

If one spends all day watching "soaps' and spend no time in the Word of God or prayer........then one has no spirit or life....NO POWER....! Could probably tell you what JO-JO did but nothing about God and His love, life or majesty! If we will not "HONOR" Jesus in our life, then what will we have for the future? If Jesus has given us life through His broken body of the Cross, then we know we have every benefit that He chose to give us from that place of "sacrifice".
Do we not as parents, work, pay bills, and keep a portion for our children to see that they have food, clothing, and protection in a home life?

John 6:53-65

53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."  NIV

Jesus wanted to show them the importance of remaining in the spirit of His departure. He wanted them to keep the instruction to remain in HIM! Like verse 62, He was returning, going to ascend back into heaven. He, Jesus, remained faithful to the Father and those who were to be "the family of God". Jesus gave His life: in remembrance we take Communion to remember that "sacrifice" yes, but also all that "we gained in this life now" by that sacrifice. Amen!
In closing: We are reminded of Jesus speaking in Mark 3:31-35!
Mark 3:31-35
31 Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." 33 But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."   NKJV

In life, what we value determines our outcome! We find our true "SOURCE" when things go awry!

If our faith and trust is in our job.......and look to, adhere to that only, for that pay-check, then when that lay-off comes and you are not expecting  "THEM" TO lay "you" off, then who is your family?
Who would you turn to then? If job is your family, what then? What if money is your family and you run out of money, who do you turn to? If you run out of water tomorrow, who will you look to as your source?
What if "pastor" is your family? Surely we need a leader and surely we need the teaching, but man cannot be God to us.
If we value only what a Dr. tells us about our health concerns and do not consult God on the matter, then our trust, our faith.....is leaning on man and him only...........the outcome is determined by what the said "doctor" tells you, and recommends to you what to do. And the outcome is determined by what instruction you have followed! But if we follow Jesus Who is truth and light, and allow Him to lead us to victory. When we abide in Him as a family, we listen to His instructions and abide in safety and wisdom of His Word. Doing God's will is so important to us always. For whoever does the will of God is Jesus' brother, sister, and mother! Giving honor to that which is given as instructed to us will give us safe harbor, direction to life and abide in the Wisdom of God!

Like in John 6 and verse 57 -58.......... as the living Father sent Jesus and HE lives because of the Father, so the ones who feed on Jesus will live because of Jesus This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."

THOSE WHO FEED ON JESUS WILL LIVE...........ABIDING IN THE WORD OF TRUTH.

That coming to gather around the Word of God, having fellowship, breaking of bread (COMMUNION) AND PRAYERS...........causes us to have employment when others are losing their jobs. That communion, that fellowship with God causes us to have water when others do not! That rallying with God and remembering that shed Blood of Jesus causes us to have every need met. In that abiding with Jesus, we have nothing missing, nothing lacking, and nothing broken in our lives. We have favor and wear it as a shield when we line up with God! (Psalm 5:12)  Hallelujah! He has risen and given us life abundantly. Let's obey the instruction to abide, that DOING THE WILL OF GOD! SO when something goes terribly wrong, you will "your real brothers, sisters' and mothers! They will be those who will come to gather in word and in prayer............abiding giving glory to God for safety and wisdom to go forward in life without hindrances or distractions!

If your church does not have Communion, you find out how to do it and you and your family take Communion together. Take it with those who will gather to hear the Word and pray. To God be all the Glory. Amen!

Father, our prayer, to be the discerning. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. YOUR Words spoken to us by Jesus in John 6 are spirit and they are life. Our desire is to keep "fellowship" in communion around the Word and in prayer and to participate in the holy communion: that real food and real drink for us. That which has come from heaven. It is the love expressed on the Cross and we should really see that in the body of Christ. That fellowship is to be what YOU Father planned from the foundation of the world. May we be found to be the faithful who will keep persevering and looking for Jesus return. We today, make a commitment and anticipation to renew our dedication to YOU our Lord through Communion with the elements representing Your body and blood. And we make the commitment to have fellowship around Your Word and in prayer. Because of the reconciliation, we see Your power, goodness and Majesty. To God be all the glory! Thank You Father for Jesus and it is in His name we pray and commit. Amen.

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

Only One Returned

Luke 17:17-19
17 So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" 19 And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."    NKJV

Amazing word given...........ten came..........ten were cleansed.........yet only ONE CAME TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD!

Did only one have the "grateful heart"?

Luke 17:11-19

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" 19 And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."    NKJV

Having a faith in God.........being made well......made whole, delivered, the healed, the saved.

WE can see Jesus had gone to Jerusalem and was passing in the midst of Samaria and Galilee. When entering this village, it must have been in Samaria.........because by the time we get to verse 16, it states the healed one was a Samaritan. Only the foreigner would give glory to God! 

All had spoken together, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us, yet as they went and all healed, only one returned.

Have we not seen that before........the least likely to return,........was one who gave thanks. It  is the one so touched by God returns again and again to give thanks. They return to church to be with other believer's. Aah yes, there are many who come, and may speak like you can speak, but what is in their heart regarding the goodness of God?

Instead of this Samaritan obeying the letter of the law........he came to give thanks to God! Instead of the ritual and religion, he came to give thanks to Him who created him.

Mark 10:46-52

46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. 

NKJV

In the above scripture passage, we see pretty much the same thing. We see the group going with Jesus and His disciples as they left Jericho. We find the blind man Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, by the road begging.

He can know it is Jesus because of what he hears the crowd speak. Because he heard, he was able to speak out, " Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Instantly there were those, you know who they are, probably seen them in church. They are the ones........who say.............."ssshhhh"..........or "be quiet". or they give a look, when you are yelling and giving praise to God...............giving a yell,........AND  those next to you, rolling those whites in their eyes, letting you know that you are offending them, by being OH SO "LOUD ABOUT JESUS".

COME ON NOW, I KNOW YOU HAVE SEEN THEM, RIGHT?

Then, after those try to quiet Bartimaeus above the "roar" of the "crowd", then Bartimaeus again speaks, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Yep, he did it again. THEN JESUS STOOD STILL. HE COMMANDED Bartimaeus to be called.

THEN, the blind man threw aside his garment...........while those with Jesus told him to come. He threw off that which stated, "he was the BLIND MAN", HE WAS THE SON OF A BLIND MAN. He threw off that which denoted a beggar in despair.

AND Jesus spoke to him..........."What do you want Me to do for you?"

And Bartimaeus answered..........."Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." AND IMMEDIATELY HE RECEIVED HIS SIGHT AND FOLLOWED JESUS ON THE ROAD.!

IN  a crowd of people there will always be a low roar, but even more so when there are people walking down the road together. Ever been to the Spaghetti Factory in Seattle......????......well, that is "a roar of people speaking like all at the same time." It can get pretty "loud" in there. I remember eating in there a couple of times, and each time I could not hear the people seated across from me or next to me while we all gathered to eat.

Matthew 23:5-12

5 "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' 

8 "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.  11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.    NIV

Jesus taught us that those who were called Rabbi, surely like the title. They liked being greeted in the marketplaces and for those there to call them "Rabbi". But Jesus said His disciples were not to be called "Rabbi", but the one who was the Master, the Father in heaven, was the Teacher of all in Christ.

When Bartimaeus mentioned "Rabboni", he was calling him "Lord". He was speaking, 

"Jesus, "Son of a King" have compassion, mercy on me!"

Bartimaeus cried, he SCREAMED OUT LOUDLY.........SON OF A KING HAVE MERCY ON ME!

What a glorious picture of that which was broken was now made whole! What was of the poor, the blind was now restored to run and jump AND YES SEE. He was restored to follow Jesus and not be led by anyone. May we all have that same type of life, to be the healed and restored to follow Jesus willingly and not be led!  May we all follow having an active part in seeing the glory of the Lord daily in our lives.
Will we return to give thanks or just be "one of the nine".......who were healed but not made whole like the "one"!

Father, we pray in Jesus' name to be men and women who will have the same courage to speak loudly in returning in giving thanks to You. As we do, we expect that light of Your Word to continue to bring us to Your glorious presence which is of the King, the rightful ruler of our hearts. We desire to submit willingly to Your authority and rule. Put that longing in our hearts to talk with You and hear Your voice. May we always be willing to step away from the "crowd" and give a  yell for Your goodness to us. We have seen restoration and life brought to us through believing. We pray to continue to have faith -filled lives. May we live each day with a leading by Your Holy Spirit.

Lord, please quiet those voices from the outside that represent to us the world and our five senses. Today we are the accepted in Jesus and we are free. We pray to follow You all the days of our lives and live in Your House forever and ever. You are the King of glory.Amen.

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

GOING FORWARD: TO BUILD!

1 John 4:1-6
4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.                 NKJV

I like what our pastor spoke on Thursday evening. He was speaking on that KEEPING IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT! Of course, we know what that is, right? But he simplified it: walking with the spirit is the building up and anything else is the tearing down.......that spirit of error!

In looking into that which we see in those with a prophet's call will see this:Jeremiah 1:9-12

Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: 

"Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 

10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,

To root out and to pull down,

To destroy and to throw down,

To build and to plant." 

11 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree." 12 Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word."            NKJV

Like what was given to Jeremiah, the prophet, certainly represents the picture of whatever is to be built was first rooted out........that which did not belong there in the first place. Pull down anything existing in structure........see it destroyed and then to build and plant.

It was a seeing what needed to come down.........that needed to be destroyed in Israel. But in all this for Israel.........that which was given to Jeremiah was for judgment to the people and the land! But we have the PROPHET:JESUS!

Today, we can see people who thoroughly want to destroy what has been established by God and they will use any means to do it. But in truth, these folks are only hurting themselves. We certainly do not want to be found fighting against God.

DISCERNMENT

IT IS GIVEN BY GOD: 

Daniel 2:20-22

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

For wisdom and might are His. 

21 And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise 

And knowledge to those who have understanding. 

22 He reveals deep and secret things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

And light dwells with Him.     NKJV

He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. Is that not the most wonderful thing to hear? 

Like Daniel, we can see into that darkness, and find answers that may seem to stop us. But finding this takes prayer. When we read the entire portion in context, Daniel had asked his companions to pray as well.

Daniel 2:17-23

17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said: 

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

For wisdom and might are His. 

21 And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise 

And knowledge to those who have understanding. 

22 He reveals deep and secret things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

And light dwells with Him. 

23 "I thank You and praise You,

O God of my fathers;

You have given me wisdom and might,

And have now made known to me what we asked of You,

For You have made known to us the king's demand."              NKJV

Yes, Daniel went to his house.......and sought out his companions and asked that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret.

Verse 19.....the secret was revealed and Daniel blessed God of heaven.

We certainly can find wisdom in the pages of Proverbs..........and read a chapter for everyday of the month!

GIVEN TO US THROUGH HIS WORD:

Hebrews 5:13-14

13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 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

We find in the verses above that we can discern both good and evil.........truth and error.....by taking on the solid food........that is God's Word for us! That solid food helps us to grow and to exercise in discernment!
Our living on milk only is for infants. But the real meat is for those who have grown in their Christian walk. It is by doing that which helps us practice the Word, learning right from wrong and walking in righteousness. (Hebrews 5:12-14 TLB)

Philippians 1:9-11

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.               NKJV

Loving God's word will produce in us a discernment that is rich in truth, Embracing God's Word brings to us the good.......and show us clearly that which should be avoided. He directs us through to that which is excellence and of the best thing for us.

GIVEN TO A RENEWED MIND: KNOWING GOD'S WILL

Romans 12:2

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.      NKJV

2 Corinthians 2:16-17

16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.      NKJV

ASKING: TO RECEIVE DISCERNMENT FROM THE WISDOM OF GOD

James 1:5-8

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.   NKJV

NO doubting now, but if you lack wisdom ask God who will give liberally and without reproach.

Is it not interesting that God adds this portion to this verse...........no doubting.........for that man is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind?

Ever seen this in church? Church service begins.......people are worshiping..............PERSON....comes in and sits at the front and middle of congregation. They will not stand.............but said PERSON....just sits............placing their face in their hands. Then in the next moment.........the cell phone comes out..............PERSON......takes it in hand and writes out some text. In the next moment.............PERSON.........puts phone down............places face in hands again............and THEN LEAVES THE SANCTUARY...............never mind service has BEGUN!

NOT WORSHIPING GOD RIGHT NOW!!!

PERSON............goes out to the foyer to find some shoulder.........NOW, THIS IS NOT FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. AND interesting is the truth....of.....how many are out in the foyer.....some 15 -20 minutes after service has started.
What do people need to talk about while a service of worship is going on?
Not sure why I thought of this: but here goes!
Back in April, we had put some property on the market to be sold and praise the Lord, it sold! Hallelujah! My husband had wanted to go up and check on the property when we put it up to be sold. The few days before he was to go, we heard about this young woman, 19 years old..........drove off an overpass of I-5 while she was texting. She flew over and that Ford Explorer slammed to the ground. Yes all was recorded..........and it happened at 3:40 pm.......blocking southbound lanes till after 5 pm that eventful Friday the 10th. ( the texting we heard some days later as many investigated this tragic end)
What would have been so important to cause one to text and drive at the same time? My first thought was if "she was saved".

So we come back to PERSON. What if something really big is coming toward her and she needs God for the answer?

PERSON...........now has several patting them on shoulder............and said PERSON.............does not know what to do in THIS SITUATION. REALLY?!? Saved for decades now, and gone through really high water and things that can cause death..........and.......come out on the other side.........and still this up and down, up and down..........OH, POOR PERSON!

I have been there. But we really must grow up in the Lord. Friendship is awesome. Cherish your friends but do not let THEM become a "god" to YOU.

I like what Joyce Meyer said about something like that! She mentioned her early years, and how she was up and then down......depressed, not depressed.........and in reality.....she mentioned that those times of being up and down can sometimes be because "PERSON" likes the attention.......more  ................ than God teaching them how to go forward. They really like the ATTENTION!

But the main thing I remember what Joyce said was, that her husband would call her on it......this very thing, when she acted like this........! And he would speak something ...and Joyce said that he was right............She would be up one day and down the next. She was happy one day and sad the next. She said if someone did not speak to her, or she did not have the day she thought she should have had...........well, it was all over! Then she would go back and be depressed. But Joyce's husband told her she needed to stop doing that. Either God was God in her life or He was NOT! (She probably has a teaching on this!)

Well, Shelley, I think you are just judging PERSON. Scripture tells us that we can judge their fruit! What fruit are they producing?

Matthew 7:17-20
17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. NIV

Matthew 7:19-20
19 So the trees having the inedible fruit are chopped down and thrown on the fire. 20 Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit produced.  TLB
Not good for anything.....my words!

I go back to the teaching on Thursday night, and the scripture our pastor gave on Galatians 5. And like God's fruit, there is (verse 22-23)  love, joy, peace, long suffering, 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

Yikes, yes, there it is.........crucified that flesh creature with its passions and desires. Now, let's take a look at us. Do we do any of that? If we live in the Spirit, then we are to walk in the Spirit. 

Okay........so let's say, we have to stand in line at the grocery store.........will we complain about it? It is the city you know! What about not being chosen to do something you really want to do? What about the pastors not noticing you at all.............they will not talk to you! Yikes!

So if PERSON is really needing say help for something serious....like life or death......why take it out to the foyer..........God says He inhabits our praises, right? So what about worshiping God and finding the answer in asking Him about it instead of man!

We must let God lead us, and that is into truth always! People like PERSON can certainly have some trying moments in their lives, but however hard that wave comes and however painful it may be......it is by His Word and His touch on our hearts that will brings us to the moments of victory. Yes our times are in His hand. He Who created the Heavens and the earth........He is the Master craftsman and He has a wonderful plan for PERSON!

But what if you or I "try to help PERSON"........BUT only end up giving her some crutches.........instead of what she really needs. What if you gave PERSON a boost last week and she still acts like she does? Well, Shelley, she seems to hear from God! So does the devil! 

Job 1:6-12

6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" 

Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." 

8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." 

9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." 

12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." 

Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.    NIV

I have been in that place where the pity pat worked for about 2 minutes. But ultimately we all need God............that friendship with man can take you so far, but it is that friendship with God that brings us to peace in HIM! And believe me, I would rather be in His peace when needing to make a MAJOR DECISION! Seriously, if someone has had the same behavior pattern , and nothing changes, then it is only God who can help. We should not be dealing with stuff that causes us to fall back into unbelief. If we have that kind of stuff that is a wave after wave............up one minute and down the next..........we as the individual have to find out why we do it, and then stop doing it!

FOR that word in James 1:5-8........is truth and anyone double-minded will not receive that wisdom of God.

I would rather have the wisdom of God and know that He is with me when those bad reports come. For people cannot be with you at 3 AM in the hospital room when the Admitting Dr. appears and tells you  ARE of the "high risk" you just signed up for, but the ONLY other answer is "death".

No, our trust has to be in God and in His wisdom.............to know when there is "truth or error" in our lives. We must know when to sign our names and get the needed treatment or leave it alone and go home. (see blog on HIGH RISK!)

I certainly like spending time with people and love hearing them laugh and tell their stories, but I am not one to stroke the fur. If we truly desire to move out of the mundane and into the supernatural of God, we must be men and women who seek God daily to know His wisdom. It is in Him that we are to live, move and have our being.
If we see someone in need, pray for them........encourage them in the Word..........maybe they need someone with them as they go for a test at the hospital or maybe help with a suffering or dying spouse, but we are not to become god to them. We are to direct them to God.

In closing:

I return back to what our pastor was speaking and that which builds us. If we are seeking that which strokes our fur, is that not the "bad thing" in getting people to rally around us? Are we those who attend church "with our own agendas" or we truly there to worship God?

In our distinguishing that which is Holy from the common thing is this:

Leviticus 10:8-11

 10 Your duties will be to arbitrate for the people, to teach them the difference between what is holy and what is ordinary, what is pure and what is impure; 11 and to teach them all the laws Jehovah has given through Moses."           TLB

1 Peter 3:3-6

 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.   NIV

And do not give way to fear................good word.........!

1 Peter 1:13-19

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 

16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."  17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 

NKJV

Conducting our lives is that which is of faith and hope that are in God. Not living anymore in ignorance, but living out our lives in the fear of God. If our hope is in God, will we not trust Him completely? Like Jeremiah the prophet, we are the prophets of our own lives. As God had called Jeremiah, God has called us each to that which He placed in us long ago. It is certainly His plan to build. But running to others when we have a crisis can become serious when we begin thinking they have the answer for us. If we keep running to them instead of God, we become of no effect. And the devil will know it. It can then turn out to be detrimental at times. For some folks certainly have loose lips, and loose lips can sink ships. Certainly we are to be those leaders who solve problems, but our first priority should be to pray for them, and not just give a pity pat on the back!

Ours is not to think towards the negative of a "thing" but toward what God has planned. If one like PERSON, desires to be wrapped up in the wave after wave of doubt and unbelief, then where is God in all that? In the Superstorm Kartrina back in 2005...........who should "one" have run to? Seems like most did not have an answer and most could not come to help..............there was flood waters everywhere!
People did not need the pity pat on the back, they needed a solution to the problem. AND ONLY GOD HAS THAT ANSWER.

 In Daniel, we can read throughout many times when he and his companions were put on the line, so to speak..............that someone was coming against what they believed..........as in ONE GOD...........and not to pray to HIM....but Daniel brought his companions together to pray. If there is a crisis or a problem, by all means seek out a prayer person to agree for a healing, a promotion, a salvation, or even finances to come, but not to have the "fur creature stroked"!

Let's not be those with the "doom" mentality. We have a God who has a place wrapped up for us and that is in that knowledge of Him.

May we pray like Daniel, and speak as the "prophet" over our lives............and expect good things!

We can look into that "darkness" and know without a doubt that God will bring His light and gives us details of what we can do going forward.............to build! Amen!

Father, thank You for Jesus. He was made wisdom to us. As Jesus grew and became strong in spirit, may we also become the strong in spirit; filled with wisdom. (Luke 2:40)

May we even speak like Jesus did when He was only twelve years old, and that others would be astonished at our understanding and answers. May we be about Your business and not the world's. May we forego the "me, myself and I" trip.

But like Jesus, we desire to increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with You our Father and with men. (Luke 2:52)

May we be so much like Stephen to be full of faith and power doing great wonders and signs among the people that will bring glory to YOU our Father. (Acts 6:8) 

We desire to not be those "tossed by every wave".....like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For whatever wind of doctrine........even our own made up ones, have to be stopped. We desire to not be double-minded in all our ways. We have people counting on us as in our husbands or wives, children and even a elder parent or two.

Father, in Jesus' name, we pray and give thanks for the communication of our faith becomes effectual by acknowledging every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. Wisdom and might are YOURS. (Daniel 2:20) It is You who gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. (Daniel 2:21) It is YOU Who reveals deep and secret things.........that which is in the darkness. Thank You for giving to us that which we have asked of YOU. We are those who today are led into truth by Your Holy Spirit. And whatever He hears from the Father, He announces and declares to us those things that are to come. Thank You Father.AMEN!

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

EAT WHAT I GIVE YOU!

Acts 18:9-11
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, "Don't be afraid! Speak out! Don't quit! 10 For I am with you and no one can harm you. Many people here in this city belong to me." 11 So Paul stayed there the next year and a half, teaching the truths of God.   TLB

Acts 18:9-11

9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, & do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.  NKJV

IN the above passage we find, the Lord telling Paul in a vision to not be afraid. "Speak out!" "Don't Quit"!

There was no synagogue open for him to minister and preach the Word, so God saw to it that a house would be opened for the Word to be taught.

How interesting is that?

And this house was located next door to the synagogue. It was opportunity for Paul's speaking to continue and that those who went to the synagogue could come hear the gospel preached.

For what lay ahead for Paul in those coming against him, would rear its ugly head and reveal all those who were against Paul and that which he taught. In that year and a half, Paul did just what the Lord asked him to do.

Acts 18:12-26

12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. 13 "This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law." 

14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law-settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things." 16 So he had them ejected from the court. 17 Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever. 

18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. 

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 

24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.  NIV

Here we see a group decidedly making accusations against Paul.(verse 14)  They brought Paul in to complain. These Jews said that Paul was teaching something contrary to what they knew and that he Paul was starting a new religion. At that time, Judaism was recognized as a religion in Roman law and anything outside of that was breaking the law.

But Gallio found no false teaching in all that Paul spoke. Gallio refused to give judgment against Paul in this matter. The Jews then were so mad at this decision that they turned on Sosthenes and beat him.

It is evident that these Jews had malice in their heart toward Paul. It is also evident that Gallio was not going to be apart of this group of haters toward Paul.

In some commentaries it says that Gallio was not interested in those things and would not elaborate or give much time for these things the Jews complained about. Other commentaries said Gallio was just a mild mannered man who would rule in peace.

Whatever the complaint, Paul was still told to not quit and keep on speaking that which the Lord gave him to do!

I love this scripture passage below!

Ezekiel 2:6-8

6 "And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. 7 You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."   NKJV

And this one!

Ezekiel 3:4-15

4 And He said to me: "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, 6 not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. 8 Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house." 10 Moreover He said to me: "Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. 11 And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' whether they hear, or whether they refuse." 

12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great thunderous voice: "Blessed is the glory of the LORD from His place!" 13 I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, and a great thunderous noise. 14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. 15 Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days. 

NKJV

Wherever God sends us to give the message, He always has a plan. I remember the first time He gave this to me, while ministering within the jail. God will make our faces strong, so whoever stands toe to toe against you, you can and will stand to see His Word go forth. I like that adamant stone.......harder than flint...........He has made Ezekiel's forehead and will do that for us when we must give the Word of life to a rebellious people. Now, not all people are rebellious, but some can certainly be hard of hearing that Word. Like I have written before, I saw many come to the Lord in the Jail and many of those who came, would come to the Chapel with a song on their lips and love in their hearts for God! It was grand to see what the Lord was doing in that place! I think fondly of those times and how some of those ladies loved God and surely expressed it in going to a service. I rarely see that with a regular service at church.

Do you know what happens when you strike a flint rock..........? It will produce some sparks to light a fire!

Receive into your heart all MY WORDS THAT I SPEAK TO YOU, speak to them, and tell them,............"whether they hear or whether they refuse..........blessed is the glory of the LORD from His place!"

Ezekiel heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures. He heard activity going on.  Activity was begun........and those ministering spirits are there to minister to us ...........and go as we command from the Word of God........and do we send them out?

If we are commanding that which be in heaven will be here on earth for us, then will we not see the glory of the Lord from His place? Will we witness like he did in Ezekiel 1:10, the very faces of the man, the lion, the ox and of the eagle?

Ezekiel 1:10-14

10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out upward; each had two wings, one touching the wing of another creature on either side, and two wings covering its body. 12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. 14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.

NIV

This would be the leadership, the counsel of the Lord as we see in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

In  the Gospel of Matthew, we see the lineage of that which led to Jesus. In the book of Matthew we find the visit of "Wise Men"....Matthew 2:1-15, we find the exit of Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus in Matthew 2:19-22, and we find their return to Nazareth in Matthew 2:23.
Protection for the coming King was seen. (although each gospel gives an account of the role Jesus would play in king of Israel and rule the earth) only Matthew puts an emphasis of His role, the KING.

Matthew was of "the king, the lion of Judah". Matthew 16:16.............16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."     NIV

THE End of Matthew, we see the King appointing his disciples to go. All authority had been given the King...........then commanded those to go and make disciples of all nations. He is with us!
Matt 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.   NKJV

  .............as king.....Jeremiah 23:5-6....5 "The days are coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.    NIV

Revelation 5:5............. 5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.
NKJV

The Gospel of Mark was about "the ox, the servanthood". He was the sacrificial "lamb" and the long-suffering servant.  Mark 10:45.........45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."               NKJV

Mark 1:7-8.............7 And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."     NKJV

THE close of Mark shows Jesus ascending to heaven. Now seated at the right hand of God.
Mark 16:19-20
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.           NKJV

as servant Zechariah 3:8........8'Hear, O Joshua, the high priest,
You and your companions who sit before you,
For they are a wondrous sign;

For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.       NKJV

In the Gospel of Luke, we see the humanity of Jesus. He carried to the cross, the sins of the world and REDEEM MANKIND.

Luke was about "the man, Son of Man".Luke 19:10....... 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." NKJV


IN the Close of Luke we find.......in Luke 24:36-53....the Jesus in His humanity point out the scars in His hands and feet. He ate before them and spoke of that which had to be fulfilled in Him. Thus it was necessary for Him to die and rise from the dead the third day. He spoke of them of "being His witnesses" (verse 48) He departed into heaven and THEY WORSHIPED HIM and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. They were written as those who were in the temple praising and blessing God. (verse 53)


as man Zechariah 6:12......12 Then speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying:

"Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!
From His place He shall branch out,
And He shall build the temple of the LORD;  NKJV

The Gospel of John was about "the eagle, the Son of God". Jesus was the "Angel of the Lord." 

John 7:42
42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?"   NKJV

Micah 5:2

2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 

though you are small among the clans of Judah, 

out of you will come for me 

one who will be ruler over Israel, 

whose origins are from of old, 

from ancient times."  NIV

John 12:15

5 "Fear not, daughter of Zion;

Behold, your King is coming,

Sitting on a donkey's colt."  NKJV

Zechariah 9:9

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your King is coming to you;

He is just and having salvation,

Lowly and riding on a donkey,

A colt, the foal of a donkey.   NKJV

John 19:36-37

 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken."  37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."    NKJV

Psalm 34:20

20 He guards all his bones;

Not one of them is broken.   NKJV

Zechariah 12:10

10 "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.    NKJV

John 20:31.............31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.            NKJV


IN the Close of the Gospel of John, we find the relationship.........restoring Simon Peter............we find relationship in Jesus preparing them something to eat...........(John 21:15). Jesus spoke "Follow Me"!  Jesus, God in the flesh, had many miracles. And John noted that many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one...........he supposed that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written about Him. Amen. (verse 24-25)



Hosea 6:2.........2 After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,..That we may live in His sight. ...NKJV

Isaiah 40:31.......They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.    NKJV

Oh yes, we see Jesus as the Messiah,.....we had seen through His crucifixion a resurrection. In Matthew, he came as the suffering, but He is returning as the conquering..........the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords. In Mark He was the suffering servant who gave His life for ours. As in Luke, we see HIM who came to seek and to save the lost. And in JOHN we see the incarnate, the Son of God.........who was and is and is to come,.............the Light of the world.

We died to gain His life, the good news, to everyone who believes in Him to be saved. And He came to bring us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit..........to operate just as the early church operated. Trusting Him causes us to soar as eagles, to rise higher and higher and to gain the same perspective God has for our lives. It is in what we eat, that which God gives us will give to us strength to soar on high, to not be weary, but be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Amen!

Now is not the time to be afraid, to not speak, but this is the very hour, to "not quit" and to continue to speak the things the Lord gives us in our hearts. He will guide us through unhindered to see that His Word will prevail! Speak where the Lord guides you to and through, and see the miraculous power of God in your life!

IF THAT PROTECTED KING IS LORD OF OUR HEARTS, WE HAVE THE LION......THE BOLDNESS TO GO FORWARD. WITH THE OX OF SERVANT-HOOD, WE LOOK TO SACRIFICING OUR LIVES DAILY TO SERVING THE LORD WITH GLADNESS. IN LUKE, THE HUMANITY OF JESUS......WE SEEK TO GAIN A CHARACTER THAT IS WORTHY........THAT IS THE FAITHFUL, THE ONE WHO PERSEVERES, WHO IS IN PEACE, SEEKING ANOTHER'S WELL-BEING, READY TO GIVE A WORD OF THE FAITH THAT IS IN US...........

If we are the followers of what is good, even if we suffer for righteousness' sake, we are the blessed. (1 Peter 3:13-14)
We are not to be afraid of their threats or be troubled (verse 14) and sanctify the Lord God in our hearts, ready to give a defense to everyone who asks us the reason of hope that is in us. May we know those who try to defame us, or revile us of our good conduct in Christ will be the ashamed. In the will of God, it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (verses 16-17)NKJV

Then we ultimately soar..as the Eagle.....we soar into the.....higher and higher in the thoughts and plans God has for us. Jeremiah 29:11-14.

Jeremiah 29:11-14
 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.     NKJV

That is relationship and it is us being gathered out of captivity, from sin, and to the place the Lord has for us. It is the place of future and of hope. It is in the place of peace that we once again, rejoice, we smile and we dance giving glory to God for us in the land of the living.

Father, thank You for the message You have for us to deliver those who come across our path today and every day. Today we desire to receive into our hearts all that You speak to us through Your holy Word. It is that Word of truth that declares Your goodness to others. Blessed is the glory of the LORD from His place!
In Jesus' name, we pray to be those who will not "quit:" but will speak all that You desire for us to speak to others. We know that the beginning of this is that place of quiet to hear You speak. May we be diligent to follow You, seeking You in Your Word that sets captives free. We pray to be those who will seek more on knowing Your Kingship Jesus, knowing the sacrifice You gave for us, that we would know Your character as the man who did what His Father told HIM to do and then soar like we find in John, Because in John we find a closer relationship with the Lord of glory. In John we find the spiritual life. God is spirit and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.(John 4:24) The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts as nothing.(John 6:63) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to spirit.(John 3:6) Father, we know for the one whom You have sent speaks the Words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. (John 3:34)
We embrace Your Word and those You send our way today. We deliver to others with a joy in our hearts. ( For ) A Truthful witness saves lives. (Prov.14:25) Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place. Amen and Amen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where is that "stone"?

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

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

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

Do we want to be found fighting against God?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

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

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


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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