Peter's House

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to
love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 Point one, He has showed us; that is positive proof of God's
intervening instruction to us. 'And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but
you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Gen 2:16-17 'In the
past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken
to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.' Heb 1:1-2

Point two, 'And what does the LORD require of you?' He asks us, if we know anything about His requirements of us; if you
have any idea of Him, His will, or His desires. Can you really believe that you have a valid relationship with anyone without
inquiring about or knowing what the other person requires of you? There is a simply getting to know His attributes, His ways,
and His character by reading and studying about Him through out scriptures in the Bible, that will be of great help.

Point three, 'To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.' Well defined points, and a very direct answer
to the question, 'what does the LORD require of you?' Let's break them down. Firstly, 'to act justly'; implies being guided by
reason and fairness, in accordance with standards or requirements which are proper or right. 'To love mercy'; is indicative of
an act of kindness, compassion, or favor. A compassionate or kindly forbearance we show toward someone who is an offender.
'To walk humbly with your God', is an awesomely amazing act of living (walk) in a submissive willed state (humbleness) with
God. This is one who is inclined or ready to submit to being unresistingly obedient to the will of God.

In his book, "Keys to the Kingdom", William S. Birnie describes some fallacies to our perception as to what true believers,
Christians, and religious people are. "We tend to classify people in categories based on our perceptions: the religious and the
irreligious; the believer and the unbeliever; the righteous and the the sinner. The Bible however focuses more on whether our
religion consists of SELF-will or whether it is based on submission to God's will." 'Religion that God our Father accepts as
pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the
world.' James 1:27 and 'Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the
case of the widow.' Isa 1:17

When 'God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.' In Gen 1:31, He blessed His creation. In James 1:17 we see 'Every
good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting
shadows.' And when Jesus is questioned by the scribe in Luke 18:18, He answers, "Why do you call me good? No one is
good--except God alone." 'But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate,
submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.' James 3:17. You, O Lord, created us to live with integrity. It is
Your desire that we have no false ways about us, but that we serve before others with honesty and in ways that'll ultimately
glorify You. We thank you today, God, that Your ideals for us are clear, Your expectations for us are high. We also praise You
that You make it possible for us to find the wisdom and strength to pursue righteousness as we seek You and ask for Your aid.
So 'If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to
him.' James 1:5. It is a strange thing, God has already given us ALL goodness, ALL we will need, ALL the wisdom we can use;
and He is still offering MORE.

God asks us, in Jeremiah 2:5-8, 13, "What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed
worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and
led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and rifts, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one
travels and no one lives?' I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land
and made my inheritance detestable. The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who deal with the law did not know
me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols. My people have committed two
sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold
water." And again in verses 17, 25, and 32, 'Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the LORD your God when he
led you in the way? You say, 'It's no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.' Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a
bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.'

SELF-will is what the prophet Jeremiah is pointing out, and IT's a major stronghold. When we have to 'DO' things in our own
way, when we think we can do ALL things through our own power, we are setting ourselves up to be god. When we ignore the
goodness God offers us daily, and cleave to worldly possessions, we show God where our hearts desires really are. I know we
can create life, by birth, but that is only through God blessing His creation. Through out the Bible, God shows us that when we
rely on our own efforts, we will be humbled, 'He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.' The ONLY thing we can
do APART from God is SIN, thus self-will could be considered a sin. SIN n., v., sinned, sinning. -n. 1. transgression of divine
law. 2. any act regarded as such a transgression, esp. a willful violation of some religious or moral principle. 3. any
reprehensible action; serious fault or offense. -v.i. 4. to commit a sinful act. 5. to offend against a principle, standard. Another
idea, Missing the mark, not achieving the goal; Separated, Separation from God. Sin results from our own selfish desires in our
hearts, and is the violation of the 'revealed' will of God.

Self-will is diametrical opposed to 'walk humbly with your God. By God's own admission, "if my people, who are called by my
name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and
will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chron 7:14 In John 15, Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the
gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will
be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, (walk humbly with
your God) and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit
unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers;
such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.' There is an ever so small line that determines whether we are
one with the Lord, or standing against Him. I say again, the ONLY thing we can do APART from God is SIN. 'Anyone, then,
who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.' James 4:17

Jesus tells us further that, 'If you obey my commands, (act justly) you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's
commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My
command is this: Love each other as I have loved you (love mercy). Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life
for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know
his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to
you (He has shown you).' John 15:10-15, 8-9, & 17, 'This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to
be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. This is my command: Love each
other.'

In that great truth, if we can confidently agree with the scriptures, "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I
will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." Ps 91:14-16. 'Even to your old age
and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue
you.' Isa 46:4, we have the assurance of God, the creator of the Universe, to rescue us, redeem us, and deliver us. So, 'We must
pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels
was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great
salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also
testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.' Heb 2:1-4

God Himself said as early as the book of Deuteronomy, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from
among your own brothers. You must listen to him.' Duet 18:15. In Heb 3:5-6 'Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house,
testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house.' Again in 1 Sam 2:35 God tells
us 'I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his
house, and he will minister before my anointed one always.' From the very beginning, God has been showing us His design, His
truths, and His will. Jesus is His faithful servant/priest, 'Although He was a son, He learned obedience from what He suffered
and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.' Heb 5:8-6 'For we do not have a high
priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet
was without sin.' Heb 4:15 'Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He
might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by
their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason He had to be made like His
brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might
make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are
being tempted.' Heb 2:14-18

I have been accused and mistakenly thought of by others as one who is bold, and not very humble. I have found that there is a
major difference between the two;

1. Boldness is acting, walking, and doing in the power and AUTHORITY given by the Lord.
2. Being Humble is just the submitting of one's will to the Lord's will.

You can't walk in real boldness, unless you have humbled yourself to God. My teachings are all in line with His great
commission, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18-20 My relationship with Him, is that I
walk in confidence and assurance of who and what He is, so that I can say, 'Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.' Heb 4:16