The Love TEST : are you a clanging cymbal? 1 Corinthians 13

Okay, here comes that Sword of the Spirit. The Lord has been searching my heart lately and showing me some things. Not fun, but I can understand why Adam and Eve wanted to run and hide in the garden, because sometimes I want to run and hide too.

If you were to ask me if I loved other people, I would say ” OF COURSE! I have the Love of Jesus in my heart. I forgive, and quite frankly, I can’t think of anyone I hate.” I would answer this patting my back, “oh, Lisa, you are just sooooo Christ like” If you were to ask my friends, they’d probably agree too….uhhhmmmm, right?

So lately, I can hear the spirit say and remind me : Love does not demand it’s own way. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!  Really?
Not that I’m some big brat, but I do like things to go my way. I’m just being honest. I plan my days, my hours and my trips- allowing for some interference, but if my entire plan goes haywire-I not always thrilled (ok, I get mad). For instance: My Disney trips are planned from morning to night- I have everything mapped out- where we go first, who gets the fast pass, what restaurant we will be in for lunch, who gets the next fast pass, while I get in line for small world, and run to line for Mickey signing.Then a quick run to the parking lot to get to our 6:15 dinner reservations at sho-gun. My family doesn’t mind, in fact, they know if they follow me, all will go well and everyone has fun. I tell my outside family and cousins ” no, I will not go to disney with you, you do not want to go with me”. So they know, that’s one place I draw the line when it comes to sharing the day. However,circumstances beyond my control……. throw me in a big family vacation… with other dictators besides myself- totally annoying! I could rip out my hair and roll around the asphalt screaming or take an advil and tell myself this will be the worst day ever (which is actually my coping mechanism, that way if anything good happens, I’m super happy)

To add to it, I was flipping through channels early this morning and I heard Sid Roth say “What is love, that one would lay down his life for another”. Immediately my mind said to me, yep, Lisa, that’s you…… There isn’t anyone you wouldn’t  lay down your life for. Before I had a chance to pat myself on the back, the Spirit reminded me “are you kidding? you didn’t even let that car get in your lane yesterday”

So the Lord has been showing me, maybe I’m not all there like I thought I was. This one “not demanding my own way” is going to be a tough one to get through. I didn’t realize how many things I want -“my way”. I can’t even watch the tv unless the clicker is in my hand- seriously- I think I have small seizures if I can’t hold it while I watch tv.   How can I not demand my own way?  I’m getting a stomach ache just thinking of this change in me- not going to be easy ! However, I’m jumping in and will accomplish this- not on my own, but the grace of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus. Pray for me.

Now on to the LOVE TEST— and note to self- don’t just ask yourself in your own wisdom these questions, but ask the Lord to show you if there is anything in your heart you need to change…

1. Are you Kind? Do you consider others? what do your actions say?
2. Are you patient? How do you behave in line at the DMV? Are you patient with others? Do you allow for the faults of others with patience? Do you expect everyone to be where you are spiritually and get annoyed if they are not as holy as you?
3. Do you get jealous? Do you despise your brother’s house? Do you want to kick your sister’s car? Do you stand angry and silent when someone tells you something wonderful in their life ” I won $100,000 with the lotto numbers you gave me”
4. Are you boastful? Do you love to toot your own delirious horn? Do you take a compliment and let everyone know about it for the next 10 years (in your own words).
5. Are you proud? haughty? prideful? Do you judge others? Do you think you are super Christian and everyone else is pathetic because they are not at your high level of religiousity?
6. Are you rude? be truthful! How do you treat others? Are you nice to everyone? Do you consider other’s feelings? Do you talk to others and say hello? Do you enjoy slinging rude comments like darts to insult people? How do you treat others who are rude to you? yikes! it was easier thinking of all the rude people we know- wasn’t it? Well, how do you respond to the rudies?
7. Do you demand your own way? guilty!
8. Are you irritable? I’d like a recall on this one- but that is not gonna happen – so when I’m irritable – I’m not being loving????  great, another one I need to work on. If you’re judging me here, let me know and I’ll give my kids a huge chocolate bar and send them to your house for the afternoon. hahahahahahaha, then tell me you never get irritated. okay, fine, I’ll work on that too.
9. Do you keep a record of wrongs people have done to you? yes you do! I know it. Erase them from you brain and determine not to think about them again. Give it to God. I don’t want my wrongs recorded, so I probably shouldn’t record the wrongs of others either. Fix your thoughts Phil 4:8
10. Do you rejoice about injustice or rejoice whenever the truths wins out. Sounds like a safe one, doesn’t it. hmmmm let’s rephrase.. Do you rejoice when you are caught in a lie? Do you rejoice always in the truth? Do you try to make your own truths?
11. Love never gives up! Are you determined- have you set your mind to never give up? Are you always walking with the Lord and remembering and hoping in all His promises? – it’s another post- but I’ve been noticing examples in scripture where Persistance pays off – it’s true. Be persistant and determined in your prayers, your studies, and you walk with the Lord. Don’t give up on the Lord, and keep praying for the salvation of those around you- and never give up. (The serpent chants “I can’t, I can’t”- if you catch yourself saying that, consider it’s orgins)
12. Are you always hopeful? or are you always complaining? stop complaining! Where’s your faith? Don’t you know the Promises are God are true- they are yes and amen!
13. Love never loses faith- Fear God and not man! Do you let the words of man worry and shake you or do you rely on the Lord your God?
14. Love endures all things. Satan wants you to give up- he chants “I can’t, I can’t” in your mind continually.  You know that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! He will give you the power to endure all things.

 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proudor rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

  If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

     May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty Power.  May Christ dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and the length, and depth and height, and to know the Love of Christ which passeth all knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Related articles

• Sunday, May 20, 2012 @ 2 Corinthians 11-13 (phyllisbenigas.wordpress.com)
• All You Need is Love (jesusyouthtcr.wordpress.com)

Where do babies go when they die?

God’s ways are as mysterious as the pathway of the wind, and as the manner in which a human spirit is infused into the little body of a baby while it is yet in it’s mother’s womb. Eccl 11:5

David said, “While the baby was still alive, I fasted, and I cried. I thought, ‘Who knows? Maybe the Lord will feel sorry for me and let the baby live.’ But now that the baby is dead, why should I fast? I can’t bring him back to life. Someday I will go to him, but he cannot come back to me.” 2 Samuel 12 :22-

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Jer 1:5

     If you are searching for an answer to this- I hope you will find it here. You will not get man-made ideas, rules made from the church or made up imaginations. Here you will receive the absolute truth and I pray that it would bring peace upon you and tug on your heart to come back to the Lord- to give you hope for tomorrow, peace for today and a stronger faith in our Heavenly Father. May the Lord comfort you and give you wisdom to understand.

You guided my conception and formed me in the womb.
 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
 as I was woven together in the dark of the womb
 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
      and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
      Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
      as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
 You saw me before I was born.
      Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Job 10:10. Ps 139:13-16

     Loosing a child is indescribably painful. It is a tremendous feeling of loss, uncertainty and for some fear and anger. Where is my baby? Where is my child? I felt like screaming for her; running to the ends of the earth to find her. It was hard to believe that she just disappeared. How can that be – my mind just couldn’t understand it. She had to be somewhere. I searched and prayed earnestly with all my heart.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18

    In order to explain what the Lord showed me and told me, I will start my story from the beginning:

     Years ago my husband and I were expecting our first child- a daughter. We were so excited and had already begun to prepare for her. We had the room ready, crib set up and many cute outfits and gifts all ready in her room. At 25 weeks of pregnancy I went into early labor. She was born weighing only 2lbs. Her name was Sarah. The doctors told us she had no chance of survival. She passed away in my arms 20 hours after she was born. I felt like someone had grabbed her out of my arms and run away with her. I heard everyone say “she’s in heaven, she’s okay” BUT I WANTED PROOF. Was she okay? Was she scared?  Was she a person? Did she have a soul? Where was she?

              To explain how I felt- it felt like she had been kidnapped- Where was she? How could this happen?  I could feel something leave her body and I desperately wanted to know where she was.  I held her body- but at that moment I knew she was gone- her body was only the covering- and she had disappeared.

      I cried out to God- where is she? Where is she? Where is she?

Though God brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. – Lamentations 3:32-33

 Sorrow is better than laughter,
      for sadness has a refining influence on us. Eccl 7: 3

And this was my prayer:

Dear Lord,
       I won’t dare ask you why this happened, because I know I’m a sinner. I know I can’t know or understand why this happened, but one thing I need to know is- where is she?  Is she okay? Please let me just see her. Please ! Please! My friends around me have abortions and even though I know it’s wrong- I’ve excused them with their excuses- but was it really a child? Was it nothing? Was Sarah nothing? I’m confused Lord- the world tells me that it’s nothing, so does my Sarah exist?  If I didn’t baptize her- would she really be in hell- like everyone says? The world tells me one thing and my heart tells me another.

      Lord, I remember King David said when his son died “He cannot come back to me, but I can go to him”  Lord, can I really see her again- where is she? Lord, I remember the parable of the annoying woman who kept coming to the king and finally the king gave her the request because she was so persistent. Lord, I know you will answer my prayer. I will pray day and night, day and night until you answer me. I will never stop and I know you will answer me. If I pray until the day I die- even then I know you will answer me. I need to know where she is. Show me, show me, show me, and I promise I will not bother you again about this once you explain where she is to me.
Amen

In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. – Psalm 18:6

Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. – Psalm 69:16-17

     I was persistent and prayed earnestly with all my strength.. I prayed with every breath I took all day and all night the same prayer-day after day after day-it was all I could think of. I would never give up. I knew the Lord heard me, I knew He would answer me.

THE LORD ANSWERED MY PRAYER AND BROUGHT ME TO HER:
           Exactly 10 days after she died:  I had gone to sleep and suddenly I was somewhere else.  Suddenly I was in a huge house or mansion . I was in a foyer of this house or mansion. I remember specifically it was all made out of  wood. To my right were double entrance doors and to my left another door- as if to a kitchen, and also stairs. Before me was a large open door that lead to a huge room. I stepped forward, still in the foyer and looked……… I saw a huge room I could see no end to it. It was organized with wooden cribs in rows that went on and on. Throughout the room were women buzzing about taking care of all the children. I remember they were the most most loving women. They were coming in and out of a door to the left of the room. They wore long skirts and a white shirt. The room was filled with babies of all sizes. Tiny tiny and bigger babies like mine. The room was full.  Instantly I knew things. I knew the women here who took care of the babies were very loving. I knew God had given them this job in heaven to take care of all the babies who die.  

      When I was there, without anyone speaking to me, I suddenly knew things I never knew before.

     As I stood there- I knew that I knew that I knew- that I was home. I just knew. It was as if I had come from this place and was now back home. It was similar to the feeling when you come back home from a long trip- when you are happy to finally be resting at home where you belong- that’s what it was like. Without a doubt in my heart- it’s our home and where we long to be.

         There was a lady approaching me and knew who I was. She knew Sarah and my Grandmother and she knew how each baby had died.  As I looked around at the room and all cribs,  I asked her “What is this?” ( We spoke to each other without sound somehow- I could almost cast out my sentence and words to speak- we couldn’t read each other’s minds, but we could communicate somehow without noise- hard to explain- but it made sense at the time) She responded back to me “This is where all the babies come- just like yours- the miscarriages, still birth, the abortions and the deaths –like your child” She told me my grandmother visits her and when she was old enough she would be with her. I was so excited to hear about my grandma, I insisted she let me see my grandmother- but she refused. I argued back and forth begging to see her but the lady told me she had instructions and I was not to leave the house I was in.

    She brought me my little Sarah and I was able to feed her  2 bottles. She was the same size she was in the hospital- but a bit plumper. I was able to feed her the bottles and hold her close. I didn’t want to come back home. I wanted to stay. I held her as long as I could until the lady returned. She told me I had to go back. I said “NO! I’m okay here, I don’t need to go back, I’m okay, I’m not going back.” The lady said “You have to” , No I argued back, Im home, and I’m staying” The lady said “You must go back- The Lord has work for you to do”

       Last thing I remember was Sarah on my lap- I had to leave and I had to hand her back. I was thankful for this moment, yet sad to go. I didn’t want to come back. I wanted to stay, it was my home. I fell into my sleep and woke up sitting up quickly in the middle of the night- in shock! What just happened? Then I remembered…the Lord had answered my prayer. He had shown me where she was. He had shown me how much He loves my daughter. I knew that His love for Sarah equaled my love for her times infinity. Of Course, He is our Father- and He is Sarah’s father. He loves her and is taking good care of her.

Do un-baptized babies go to hell? NOOOOOOO

       I rejoice that He answered me and gave me peace with my questions. He put understanding in my heart. I now know that I, too, will see her again. She cannot come back to me, but I will go to her.  I understood how short our lives really are.

       I have set my face to do the Fathers will and live in obedience so that I may again return home with Him.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. – Nahum 1:7

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. – Zephaniah 3:17

This is a verse I clung to during this time:
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Rom 5:3-5

Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. – Luke 6:21

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you,” says the Lord. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. – Is 66:13, 58:11

I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. – Jeremiah 31:13

Gatekeepers! Watchmen! You are to speak out (The Lord has called you out to be Bold today)

Gatekeepers have three primary roles

1. To protect the Lord’s house.  This means they defend the gospel, the truth of the Word and Protect the holiness of God’s house. Their hearts are on fire with the Fear of the Lord. They want the Lord’s house to be a house of Prayer and they are not content until they see the Lord’s will come to place. The gatekeeper protects the House. They know the scriptures well and are full of understanding. They are bold to speak out against the sins of the church- even if it means they will be mocked, hated or even kicked out of the church. They stay close to the House of the Lord
2. They keep the Lord’s people on the right path, keeping them from drifting from the Lord. As a staff or sheepdog would keep the sheep together from straying, so the role of gatekeeper is the same. He is responsible to oversee the people, gently guide the drifter back and keep those on the threshold of evil paths from taking another step in the wrong direction. They are bold and not afraid to tell the truth of God;s word, knowing full well they are saving many from the fires of eternal hell.They are prayer warriors and intercessors for the people
3. They keep watch for the master’s return; ready to usher in the King of Glory

Who is a gatekeeper?
According to the Old Testament, a gatekeeper was a Levite. Gatekeepers where also watchmen on the walls.They were ministering priests from the tribe of Levi. Gatekeepers were trusted officials and high priests in the servant role of protecting the Lord’s house. They were stationed at all 4 gates (N,S, E, W). They also appointed and taught others around them to guard the gate as well. Their hearts were fully committed to the Lords will. Today’s gatekeepers hope and pray for revival and eagerly await the Lord’s return. They are always prepared and continually remind others to be ready. Gatekeepers made sure that nothing unholy entered into God’s house and nothing was allowed to leave unless it had approval. They were in charge of the Temple items and treasuries of the House of the Lord.

RUNNING AWAY FROM THIS IS NOT AN OPTION (Jonah didn’t win) You are commanded to speak out and warn them

Pay attention : (Ez) The Lord’s Message came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people. Tell them, ‘If I bring war on this land and the people take one of their citizens and make him their watchman, and if the watchman sees war coming and blows the trumpet, warning the people, then if anyone hears the sound of the trumpet and ignores it and war comes and takes him off, it’s his own fault. He heard the alarm, he ignored it—it’s his own fault. If he had listened, he would have saved his life.
⁶“‘But if the watchman sees war coming and doesn’t blow the trumpet, warning the people, and war comes and takes anyone off, I’ll hold the watchman responsible for the bloodshed of any unwarned sinner.‘
“You, son of man, are the watchman. I’ve made you a watchman for Israel. The minute you hear a message from me, warn them. If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked man, wicked woman, you’re on the fast track to death!’ and you don’t speak up and warn the wicked to change their ways, the wicked will die unwarned in their sins and I’ll hold you responsible for their bloodshed. But if you warn the wicked to change their ways and they don’t do it, they’ll die in their sins well-warned and at least you will have saved your own life.
“Son of man, I’ve made you a watchman for the family of Israel. Whenever you hear me say something, warn them for me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You are going to die,’ and you don’t sound the alarm warning them that it’s a matter of life or death, they will die and it will be your fault. I’ll hold you responsible. But if you warn the wicked and they keep right on sinning anyway, they’ll most certainly die for their sin, but you won’t die. You’ll have saved your life.
“And if the righteous turn back from living righteously and take up with evil when I step in and put them in a hard place, they’ll die. If you haven’t warned them, they’ll die because of their sins, and none of the right things they’ve done will count for anything—and I’ll hold you responsible. But if you warn these righteous people not to sin and they listen to you, they’ll live because they took the warning—and again, you’ll have saved your life.”

“Gatekeepers: gather the drifters and show them the right way”

 

Gatekeepers role of protecting the people :  The gatekeepers of these last days have been commissioned to protect the sheep. You are to devote yourselves to holiness and to protect the sheep from drifting away.

   I saw a great crowd of people and no one was going the right way. Great crowds were everywhere. Not one person was facing the same way as another. Everyone was going and looking in different directions, scattering themselves. They weren’t concerned with where they were headed and kept walking in whatever direction they turned without any consideration. There was a lot of noise, and as I looked around I heard deep within my heart and all around me “Gatekeepers for the drifting”.

 This is not a topic I would have written about nor have I ever considered the term gatekeeper of the drifters. However when I did research I found it quite interesting. If you are reading this,  it may be your time to stand up and speak in the righteousness of the Lord- not for our own self-righteousness, but for the Honor of the Lord and for the salvation of those who are about to perish. We can no longer fear what man thinks, what he may say, do, or even notice their countenance – Fear God and what lies ahead for all of us. Take your stand and don’t turn to look around to the right or left, who cares what people think- ask yourself this “What does the Lord say?”.  Will he call you “Good and faithful servant” or an “evil coward”. Yikes, I know, that sounds harsh, but that’s what the scripture says. Don’t we all wish we could be make everyone happy with our words, but that is not our job. Our duty is to speak the truth in Love, snatching up those about to perish. Amen? Amen.

Biblical examples of why some drift or fall away

1. envy
2. false teachings
3. temptation
4. wickedness
5. laziness
6. fear, lack of faith, no fear of the Lord
7. love of money
8. sitting and standing with the wrong crowd (Ps 1)
9. unbelief

How can I help my fallen brother?

9. • Remind them that we must all repent of our sins  Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
   • Teach them to listen carefully and cling tightly to the Good News : But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.  So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
   • Warn them of false teachings and doctrines: 2 Thessalonians 2:3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
   • Tell them they have to choose. Do you belong to the World or to the Lord. Warn them of the dangers of being lukewarm. Luke 8:13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
   • Continue to minister to them: Colossians 1:23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
   • Praying always for believers everywhere, without ceasing

TELL THE PEOPLE: Tell them, ‘As sure as I am the living God, I take no pleasure from the death of the wicked. I want the wicked to change their ways and live. Turn your life around! Reverse your evil ways! Why die, Israel?’
TELL THE PEOPLE: There’s more, son of man. Tell your people, ‘A good person’s good life won’t save him when he decides to rebel, and a bad person’s bad life won’t prevent him from repenting of his rebellion. A good person who sins can’t expect to live when he chooses to sin. It’s true that I tell good people, “Live! Be alive!” But if they trust in their good deeds and turn to evil, that good life won’t amount to a hill of beans. They’ll die for their evil life.

TELL THE PEOPLE : On the other hand, if I tell a wicked person, “You’ll die for your wicked life,” and he repents of his sin and starts living a righteous and just life—being generous to the down-and-out, restoring what he had stolen, cultivating life-nourishing ways that don’t hurt others—he’ll live. He won’t die. None of his sins will be kept on the books. He’s doing what’s right, living a good life. He’ll live.

‘Your people say, “The Master’s way isn’t fair.” But it’s the way they’re living that isn’t fair. When good people turn back from living good lives and plunge into sin, they’ll die for it. And when a wicked person turns away from his wicked life and starts living a just and righteous life, he’ll come alive.

 

A gatekeeper protects the house of the Lord from corruption and worldly ideas. Stand true to the Word of God and do not waver. Protect the people from following lies, false ideas and wrong doctrine. Protect and cling tightly to the Word of God, protecting the Lord’s house and His Ways. You must keep the people from stumbling off the narrow path. Keep the Lord’s sheep safe until He comes back again, always staying ready and looking out for your master to return.  He has commanded us to watch for His return.

SCRIPTURE TO THINK ABOUT: (proof to back up what I’ve written above)

Nehemiah 7:3 I said to them, “Do not leave the gates open during the hottest part of the day. And even while the gatekeepers are on duty, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint the residents ofJerusalem to act as guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve at sentry posts and some in front of their own homes.”
Nehemiah 10:39 The people and the Levites must bring these offerings of grain, new wine, and olive oil to the storerooms and place them in the sacred containers near the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers. “We promise together not to neglect theTemple of our God.”
Psalm 84:10A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
Mark 13:34“The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.
John 10:3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Colossians 1:23  But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
Hebrews 2:1[ A Warning against Drifting Away ] So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
Psalm 141:4Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.
Psalm 94:18When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
Psalm 18:36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
Job 12:5He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
Hebrews 6:6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
2 Thessalonians 2:3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Luke 8:13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Colossians 1:23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 17:5
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Acts 7:9And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
Acts 2:25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Jeremiah 25:16And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.
Proverbs 12:3A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
Psalm 121:3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Psalm 112:6Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
Psalm 66:9Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
Psalm 62:6He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
Psalm 62:2He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
Psalm 46:5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
Psalm 30:6And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
Psalm 16:8I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
1 Chronicles 17:9Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,
Jude 1:24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
2 Peter 1:10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
James 5:12But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
James 1:2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Hebrews 4:11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

 

Do you have something to say? Do you know something is wrong and you haven’t sounded the alarm? Be encouraged today. Spend time with the Lord and pray about it. Ask the Lord to search your heart and make sure that pride/ haughtiness hasn’t slipped in. Meditate on Ps 131 and speak boldly for the Lord – don’t go in seeking great things for yourself, but for the glory of the Lord. Keep your focus.
  Don’t think this is for you? If you have children- you are the watchmen over them and their hearts. Do you know someone who has drifted from the faith? Then pray for them and speak to them in love warning everyone everyday.

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The Fear of the Lord vs. the Fear of man. Who do you fear?

           As I was reading the bible this week, I noticed within the stories a message:
“Fear God and not Man”.

1- Peter’s denial of Christ.  Peter feared man in this situation- He didn’t want to deny Christ; his spirit was willing and he spoke words of strength, but when evil came to sift and shake him, he temporarily fell under pressure. He felt awful, repented, and as the Lord had prophesied, Peter went out of that situation strengthened and stronger in order to encourage his brothers (and probably with a more humble and understanding heart)
2- Saul, Israel’s first King. He lost the throne because of two wrongs he did. The first wrong: Saul didn’t do as Samuel told him In 1 Sam 13-14, Saul decided to act in the way he thought was best- but he didn’t obey (he made excuses to Samuel for his doings) and it cost him the throne. The second test he failed is when Saul was told to attack Amalek in 1 Samuel 15. He was to destroy everything- but he didn’t. First he blamed the people (notice he didnt’ repent first) he only repented when he felt the pain of losing the kingdom. Notice Saul’s words to Samuel: “ I have sinned, I have feared the people and their voice“.
3-Judas– took the side of man over the Lord. I know it may seem like he liked money, but I think he liked being “popular” with the “in crowd” also . Notice how he couldn’t wait to run and tell the pharisees about what he was about to do. He treasured the approval of man over the approval of the Lord. I can just see him proudly meeting in the Temple and enjoying the new-found status in his betrayal of Christ. He had the opportunity to repent and time to think about it, but he had let it sink so deep into his heart it consumed him. The devil throws wrong thoughts, ways and ideas into our thoughts like an arrow. We can choose to obey them or disregard them.

    Sometimes we need to consider our ways,at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16, Haggai 1:5,7

We could debate more on this- Pontius pilate, the pharisees, Abraham (when he lied about his wife being his sister), and many more.  There may be times when we may fear man, but the Lord has given us the ability, the power, and the wisdom to overcome this. If we have been guilty of this, consider our ways…did we repent? make excuses? blame others? tell ourselves we were right? hmmmmm. Has fear stopped us in our tracks?

My Lesson
In my own life I have understood that to Fear the Lord is to trust Him. It means that I do not have to shake in fear when I hear a bad report – if it looks like my world is about to fall apart, if I get bad news from those around me – I will not be afraid. I stand unshakable.  I cried out to the Lord in my distress when it seemed as if my world was coming down and out of the darkness of the sky came this verse to me:

¹² I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; Isaiah 51:12

    It didn’t immediately comfort me (I wanted a different answer) however, as the days went on I finally understood what the Lord was telling me- that I am not to fear the bad reports around me. Although it may seem like the world is falling apart around me based on words of other, this is not true! Why should I fear the words of man? Who is man that I should fear Him? O, My soul, why are you so discouraged, put your hope in God. In God alone I trust and this is the fear of the Lord.

 Expect rejection and persecution when you do the Lords work:
Remember that they are not rejecting you, but they are rejecting the Lord our God :   And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.1 Samuel 8:6-8 

What is the Fear of the Lord and is it evident in your life? Have you found yourself fearing man more than God?

He listens to us!
  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. Mal 3:16

BE BOLD and courageous
  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. heb 13:16

He Watches Us and Delivers us
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

Tremble in His presence! Listen!
 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
Fear ye not me? saith the Lord:
will ye not tremble at my presence,
which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
Neither say they in their heart,
Let us now fear the Lord our God,
that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Jeremiah 5:21-24

 The Fear of the Lord is

1. To obey His voice
2. The beginning of  knowledge
3. Wisdom and knowing to depart from evil
4. Where you find the Knowledge of God
5. To hate evil, pride, arrogance, evil ways and filthy mouths
6. The way to prolong our days
7. A place of confidence in the Lord
8. A fountain of life
9. keeps us from the snares of death
10. is needed before instruction and wisdom
11. Is the instruction of wisdom
12. Keeps us from evil
13. Brings riches, honor and life when combined with humility
14. Where our heart should be all day- not envying sinners
15. One of the seven fold spirits of the Lord
16. gives quick godly understanding
17. Our treasure= through which we receive wisdom and understanding which results in stability and strength of salvation
18. A Precious Key for our churches
19. The way to increase our church family and walk in harmony together
20. a way for our churches to walk in order to have comfort, rest and unity with the Holy Ghost
21. what the Lord notices in your life
22. Prepares you for the Lord’s teaching
23. To delight in His commands
24. rewarded with blessings
25. Keeps you safe prov 29:25
26. To fear God is to trust Him
27. Our duty in Life – To fear God and keep His commands
28. reminds us not to Trust in mans words or to be swayed by the countenance of others
29. keeps us from fearing man
30. the spirit of the Lord that the Lord is searching for within us
31. To trust in His Ways, not our own ways
32. To hope in His Mercy
33. in that which the Lord delights to see in His people
34. blesses us with the Mercy of the Lord and righteousness unto our children’s children
35. The Lord taketh pleasure in those who fear Him
36. There is no want to those who fear Him
37. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him! A key of our protection and deliverance in troubles because the angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them

 To Fear Man

1. is to lack knowledge and wisdom
2. is to be wise in your own eyes (Saul’s downfall)
3. is a snare and a trap in your life
4. the sign of a fool
5. is to despise wisdom and instruction
6. is to love evil
7. will shorten your days
8. is trouble
9. envy sinners
10. is to not honor God’s laws or commands
11. is to despise God’s ways
12. despise the Lord
13. trust your own ways

 Hear the Word of the Lord:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.  In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.Prov 1:7,9:10. 8:13,2:5,10:27,14:26, 15:16, 15:33, 16:16 , 22:4. 23,17,Ps 111:10, Job28:28

  And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.  Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;Is33:6, Acts 9:31, 2Kings 17:34,Job 1:8, Job 2:3 “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?  Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.   So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Ps 25:12, 112:1, Prov 29:25, Eccl 12:13, Heb 13:6
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?  Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Prov 3:7, Is 50:10, Mal 1:6, 3:16

 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Ps147:11,115:13,103:17,34:9,34:7,2:11,1

   Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

Think about:   There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Ps 53:5 and 56:4

My Theory:

Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.

According to scripture and what the Lord has done in my life, I believe there is an order with the 7 fold spirit. I believe we receive the Fear of the Lord first because “Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom and true knowledge”. After the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord, we receive the spirit Knowledge, then might, then counsel. Next gift received after this is spirit of understanding,(Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart) then the spirit of wisdom is given (a gift) – and we are always growing and growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church.

May the Lord Strengthen and encourage you today. May He make you a bold witness for Christ.
Teach us your ways, O Lord, that we may walk in your truth. Unite our hearts to fear your Great name. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen!

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