Month: March 2017

JUSTIFIED – PEACE – GRACE – HOPE…


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Romans 5:1-5 – “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  NKJV 

 

This is an incredibly powerful declaration by the apostle Paul to the Romans, a declaration we all need to hear, learn, adopt, and incorporate into our lives.  He makes a progression that cannot be short-circuited nor bypassed.  He begins at the starting point of Spiritual Life and progresses to the ultimate of experience and overcoming.

The starting point is Justification by Faith.  If we have not received Jesus as our Savior we most assuredly do not have the next portion, Peace with God.  Our Peace comes through the finished work of Jesus and comes through the door of faith.  We enter into Grace through Faith, not works or pedigrees.  It is not hereditary it is faith that opens the door to God’s Grace and Salvation.  It is faith that brings us to a state of Justification.  Without faith, we are told it is impossible to please God and I might add impossible to access God.

Paul speaks of “This Grace” in which we stand and then the result of “Rejoicing in the Hope of the Glory of God.”  Hope is defined as “to trust, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future.”  In the Old Testament, a number of words are translated Hope.  Jeremiah 14:22 declares, “Our hope is in You.”  In this case, it means TRUST and he identifies God as worthy of being trusted.  The Israelites were also encouraged to WAIT on the Lord.  Psalm 25:21 declares, “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.”  Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”  Jeremiah 8:15 identifies the reality that LOOKING is akin to HOPING, “We looked for peace, but no good cause came; and for a time of health, and there was trouble!”  In the New Testament Paul speaks of “setting our hope on God.” (1 Timothy 4:10).  Jeremiah proclaimed that God is the Hope of Israel and Paul declares in 1 Timothy 1:1 that “Jesus Christ is our Hope.”

But Paul did not stop with the beauty of Hope in Christ he addresses the real-life issue of difficulty, tribulation, trials, struggles, and trouble and said, “…we also glory in tribulations…”  WHAT?  Do you remember the words of James, “Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations…”?  Paul explains his assertion by telling us of the benefit that comes to the believer after or during the time of testing in trouble.  It helps us to PERSEVERE.  I think of the words of the disciples when the crowd was leaving Jesus after He delivered a difficult message.  Jesus turned to them and asked, “Will you also go away?”  They said, “Lord, where would we go, you have the word of eternal life.”  There is no other Hope, no other Name, no other source of salvation so we must PERSEVERE.  Giving up is not an option.  Paul tells us that perseverance produces or builds character.  I preached this once and had a man tell me, “Preacher, I could stand a little less character.”  No, we cannot.  We need the development of Christlikeness in our lives and as we endure trials we develop a determination to STAND and as we Persevere we find Character is developed and Character produces HOPE in our hearts.  Hope that can be identified as Trust, Confidence, and Expectation.

The next statement of Paul is incredible and explains something that too many seem to miss.  HOPE does not disappoint.  Human hope may and often does but HOPE in God does not disappoint BECAUSE…   That’s the key!  Hear what he says, “Because the Love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  HOPE is anchored in the Love of God and as God’s Love is poured out in our hearts our Hope, Confidence, Trust, and Assurance is solidified.  I would suggest that if you are struggling with difficulty and it seems that the flood waters of life are so overwhelming you despair it is time to cry out for MORE LOVE, not LESS TROUBLE. 

            May the Lord richly bless you as you enjoy this day in Jesus!

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HOW ARE WE TO STAND? [Part II]


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Ephesians 6:14-18 – “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”  NKJV

 

Picking up where we left off last time in enumerating the pieces of God’s Whole Armor or the Armor of the Believer we covered the Girdle or Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, and the Gospel Shoes.  Now we will consider the next vital pieces of that armor as we prepare to live day by day and engage in Spiritual Warfare.

  • Shield of Faith.

Some have equated the statement of the apostle Paul, “above all…” regarding this piece of armor as it being the most important.  I would suggest that is not the meaning for how can you declare that the Shield of Faith is more important than any of the other pieces?  I believe that his meaning is “On Top of the other armor ensure you have, faith.”  Faith, in a real sense, is what makes the other work.  The Shield is outside the armor next to the body and provides additional defense against enemy fire.  As we take on the Shield of Faith we are not simply preparing to ward off his offensive thrusts but we are protecting our hearts with the assurance of God’s promises and our salvation.  When the devil hurls doubt, the Shield of Faith blocks it from ever getting to the heart or mind.  Satan’s most effective fiery darts are innuendos and suggestions, thoughts, and doubts.  No wonder we are told to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  This piece of armor helps us prevent even the thought.

  • Helmet of Salvation.

The mind is a fertile ground and a prime target for the devil.  We are to have our minds covered with Salvation. Our minds are placed under the Blood of Jesus and we are transformed by the renewing of our mind!  In 1 Thessalonians 5:8 we read, “And for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”  This helmet is not some physical item that we wear like a hat, it is HOPE in His Salvation that covers our minds and enables us to think the thoughts of God. It is that which anchors us in His salvation and gives assurance and peace to our hearts.  Each day being your day reminding yourself of the assurance of your salvation and allow the Holy Spirit to cover your minds, your thoughts, and your meditations with the Blood of Jesus.

  • The Sword of the Spirit.

This is the first truly offensive weapons and we are told that this is the Word of God.  Remember when Jesus encountered the devil in the Wilderness Temptation He repeatedly said, “It is Written”?  Remember He and the Bible declare that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.  God’s word is our spiritual bread and in the Lord’s Prayer we are to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”  Natural provision and Spiritual Word from God for each day are our vital life sustenance.  The Word of God pulls down strongholds and defends us as well as destroys the works of the devil.  Learn the word and you sharpen your sword and learn to “rightly handle the word of truth.”

But, I caution you to note that putting on the armor is not the end of the exercise but the beginning.  Once you have been clothed with the Whole Armor you are to PRAY ALWAYS with Prayer and Supplication IN THE SPIRIT.  Then, he says, “…being watchful…”  We are never to let down our guard and always be vigilant and alert.  The Armor protects us, prepares us, equips us, and enables us to not only STAND but WITHSTAND and to PULL DOWN STRONGHOLDS.

Let the reality of each piece of armor sink in, meditate on them and their purpose and the Holy Spirit will help you learn how to Put on the Whole Armor of God daily and become more effective in your fervency of prayer.

God, bless you as you enjoy this day in Jesus!

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HOW ARE WE TO STAND?


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Ephesians 6:14-18 – “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”  NKJV

 

After Paul’s directive and urging for the believers to be prepared and put on the whole armor of God enabling them to withstand the wiles of the devil, he gave them clear instruction and we do well to hear and heed it.  He repeated what he has said twice they are to STAND as they WITHSTAND the assault of hell against them.  Here he gives them a comprehensive understanding as to what they are to do in preparation and as an enablement to STAND and WIN.

He enumerates several pieces of armor the believer is to daily clothe himself with as enablement to STAND and WITHSTAND which indicates both defensive and offensive posturing spiritually.  Let’s briefly consider the Whole Armor identified and consider its function and purpose.

  • Girdle or Belt of Truth.

In the armor of the Roman soldier of that day, the armor was girded close to the body by a belt.  It kept the armor in place and provided a place to hand offensive weapons from.  This was a vital part of the soldier’s armor.  Paul identifies this item as the “Belt of Truth” because TRUTH, the Truth of God, the Truth Who is God is vital if we are to STAND in spiritual conflict.  Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…”  The Gospel of Jesus is the Truth of God and if we are not wrapped tightly in His truth we will become an easy prey for the forces of hell and their deception.  Remember the armor is designed to enable us to Stand against the Wiles or Schemes of the devil.  TRUTH, God’s Truth liberates and enables us to walk free of deception and delusion.  Without the “Belt of Truth,” our other armor would be subject to deception and could become out of place or misplaced.  Truth is our Anchor.

  • Breastplate of Righteousness.

The heart covering is Righteousness or Right Standing with God.  This covering indicates and urges not only the principle of righteousness but the practice of righteousness.  We know from scripture that our righteousness is filthy rags in comparison to His righteousness.  We remember the directive of Jesus to “Seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness.”  This is a piece of armor designed to cover the heart but to also remind us that we are, by the work and declaration of Christ Jesus, “The righteousness of God in and through Him.”  We take on the Breastplate secured by Truth which assures our hearts that we are IN HIM and He is IN US.

  • Gospel Shoes.

Or as it reads, “having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”  There is more here than time would permit but suffice it say that feet indicates and implies walk and/or life.  Our lives are to be anchored in the Gospel and Peace of God.  This also indicates a continual state of readiness for the Israelites were commanded to eat Passover with their shoes on, ready to travel.  Isaiah refers to the feet saying, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes PEACE; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that says to Zion, Your God reigns!”  (Isaiah 52:7) Preparation, readiness, Good News, and the Peace of God that passes all understanding are the anchors of our lives, our work, and our warfare.

Due to the brevity of time and the limitedness of space, I will cover the next pieces of our armor in the next devotional.  So, until then, God bless you and keep you is my prayer and desire.  God with God and He will go with you.

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FINALLY, MY BRETHREN…


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Ephesians 6:10-18 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”  NKJV

             When anyone gives a summation in a discourse or directive it is usually incredibly important for it either gives more detailed instruction or ties the message together enabling the hearers to act upon the directive.  That is the case here, as Paul speaks to the Ephesian believers.  He says, “Finally, my brethren…”  That identifies to whom he speaks.  He is not presenting an evangelist message calling sinners to repentance, he is calling saints to service and warfare.  This is a message to the church and therefore a message to you and me as a part of the Body of Christ and the Church today.  The message is as timeless as our Lord and of value considering the times in which we life.

He then says, “…be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”  The question I ask is, “Is this a dual directive, a double enforcement of the same truth or a directive and then explanation as to how to fulfill that command?”  I believe the latter is the most fitting and it is my view that the apostle Paul is telling them and us to BE STRONG IN THE LORD and the way we are Strong is IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.  As the old song, “I am weak but He is strong” and as Paul declared, “His strength is made perfect in my weakness.”  We are more than conquerors through Him, not in our own intelligence, ability, power, gifts, money, or anything else.  John the Baptist explained it perfectly saying, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  Paul is instructing the believers in his audience, as a final directive, BE STRONG and then explains that strength is only realized in the Power of Christ’s Might.  It is by the Power, Anointing, Authority, and Manifestation of the Spirit of God.

He then directs them in their Warfare Preparation telling them to “Put on the whole armor of God…”  The wording is important for He did not tell them to pray for God to give them the armor but for them to PUT ON the armor. That means they are to take what God has already given and with intent and determination PUT ON the Armor of God or the Whole Armor of God.  WHY?  Not so they will look the part of a warrior or have the appearance of a Super Spiritual Christian but THAT…  That what?  “That you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  They would have little doubt that the apostle was describing a coming situation in which they would encounter the devil and his forces and if they were to WITHSTAND they had to be prepared and part of that preparation was consciously taking on God’s Provided Armor.  It was something they had to do for themselves.  It was an act of faith not a formula for recitation.  It was a conscious spiritual decision and action.

He goes on to explain why they needed this armor by telling them WHO they would be fighting in the spiritual warfare they would be engaged.  He says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood…”  But, you and I do so often.  That is not our real enemy but too often we fall into the trap or scheme of the devil and allow personalities and pettiness determine our focus thereby failing to recognize our true enemy.  He continues saying, “…but against principalities, powers, against the rulers of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  This War that we are armoring up for is a Spiritual War with spiritual forces to be combatted and the only way we can contend with them is with God’s Whole Armor.

I love what he says in v.13, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”  The armor gives you a reasonable hope of withstanding the demonic attack from the pit of hell.  The armor gives us hope of enduring the assault of the Last Days Evil that is being launched against the earth.  Then he says, “…and having done all…”  All what?  Putting on the Whole Armor of God and being prepared.  What then Paul?  STAND.  The ultimate decider is that we refuse to retreat.  If you notice the armor, there is no covering for the backside only covering for the frontal assault, not for the retreat.  God does not retreat and we are more than conquerors through Jesus and Jesus has defeated the devil.

I want to deal with the armor but will hold that until next time.  Until then, I pray that you focus your attention on the Lord and His provision for your life.  Blessings as you venture into the unknown of this day in Jesus!

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THE WARNING – THE WORD – THE WAY… Conclusion


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Numbers 32:1-5 – “Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock; and when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that indeed the region was a place for livestock, 2 the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon, 4 the country which the LORD defeated before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.” 5 Therefore they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.”  NKJV

 

The Reubenites are the Kind of People who really do not want to cross the Jordan.  The reason for coming out of Egypt was to cross the Jordan and go into Canaan, the Place of Promise.  There was a very large contingent coming out of Egypt.  They were blood bought, baptized in the Red Sea and now after wandering in the Wilderness for forty years and on the brink of breakthrough they said, “Don’t make us cross the Jordan, we want to stay where we are.”  In a very real sense, they were saying, “What we have become fits very nicely into what we have already possessed and we don’t want any more.”  It is easy to ‘sit in church’ and say: “What we have become fits nicely into what we have already possessed.  We have ‘x’ number of herds and flocks and it fits nicely, so we are satisfied.”

Let me take you back a bit to the Lion King Movie where Mufasa the King said to Simba from the clouds, “You Are More Than What You Have Become.”  It is easy to get in a state of mind where what we see fits into what we are able to accommodate and we do not want to move.  It is saying, “Don’t Make Us Go Over the Jordan.”  BUT, if we grasp the Word of God we realize that we ARE more than what we have become and God is not finished molding us yet.  We need to remember WHO we are and WHOSE we are and realize that we truly ARE more than what we have become.

Let me caution you and state this was not about Reuben stealing Glory from God. It was about Reuben stealing the Glory of Jacob.  It was about Reuben wanting a Glory that was not his to have.  We find that in the local church.  It is not about someone wanting the Pastor’s job or the Elder’s job.  It is about, “What’s in it for me?”  It is about RECOGNITION and COMFORT.  Believers, we are not here for what is in it for us, we are in it for what is in it for HIM.

Reuben wanted to experience something beyond his measure.  You will never be happier than when you abide in the measure God has granted you.  If your measure is to have no authority, no leadership, no responsibility in the House you will be far happier if you abide there than if you press into a measure you have not been called to receive.  Remember the disciples in the boat had ‘heard the word’ and as a result, they got blisters on their hands struggling against the waves and the wind but they had heard God.  It was as they persisted in WHAT they heard that He came to them in the night and brought victory.

If you observe the weather, you will not launch out into the deep. Anybody can run with the weather.  The only way you launch out into the unknown is by knowing that you know that you know that God has directed your steps.  THEN, don’t quit!  Do you understand why you get turbulence where two rivers run together?  That is the place where the vision and intent of River A and River B come together.  If you are not careful in life you will get DI-VISION not VISION. Turbulence can create DI-VISION but out of that confluence where the two become one, there is quiet power.

We need to be willing to Cross over into the Place of Promise taking with us that which we have learned in deliverance from bondage, baptism in our Red Sea, learning in the wilderness, and enter into the Place of Promise and Possess the Land.  God’s gives a Warning, sends His Word, and prepares the Way.  Will we be people who are Obedient and then eat the good of the land?

God, bless you richly as you enjoy this day in Him!

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THE WARNING – THE WORD – THE WAY….


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Matthew 14:22 – “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.”  NKJV

             There is one word I want to focus on and address some questions that arise out of that word.  It says, “Jesus MADE the disciple get in the boat and go before Him…”  Let me ask the obvious questions:

  • Did Jesus Make the Disciples Get in the Boat?
  • Was Jesus in the Boat?
  • Would it suggest that there can be a time, in the work of God, where we can be absolutely led by the Lord and made to follow a Word He has given when He IS NOT in the boat?

           Back to question one.  Did He make them get in the boat?  I urge you to read verses 23-34 in your consideration.  Often, we associate the presence of Jesus with the settling or solving of our circumstances.  His presence does bring Peace but we dare not miss the point that Jesus WAS NOT in the boat and there was a storm.  On another occasion, He was asleep in the boat and there was a storm so clearly, the storms of life come when He is and when He is not in the boat with us.  Adversity is not proportional to the amount Jesus is in the boat.  It is a much deeper issue it is the realm of faith.  If we have ‘heard’ the word of the Lord and we are going to consistently apply that word to our lives, we must do so regardless of whether we feel He is in the boat or not.  Please read, Mark 6:45-51 and if it does not intrigue and raise questions you are not reading it deeply enough.

Jesus was watching them struggle and resisted the temptation to get involved at the moment of struggle.  He did not come to them until the 4th watch of the night so there was a period of time that Jesus let the disciples struggle and the situation intensified.  They were in the middle of the lake straining on the oars and going nowhere.  It was a hard situation.  Jesus could see them straining.  How often do we get religious and say that straining at the oars is unspiritual?  I suggest there is a time to strain on the oars and a time to break a sweat in labor.  In every sovereign move of God, there is a time to labor.  We must be committed to straining at the oars no matter what others are doing in other places or God is doing elsewhere.  WHY?  Because, Jesus said, “Get in the boat and go to the other side.” 

The simple question is: “Are we committed to the Word of the Lord that has come into our spirits, even when it seems that Jesus IS NOT in the boat?”  Even when the winds are contrary and our hands are getting blisters from rowing?  Even when we have done all we know to do and nothing is getting better?  Are we determined to obey His directive to “Get in the boat and go to the other side?”  That is what faith’s all about!  (Note John 6:16-21 for a wonderful reality.)  Three or four miles is a very long way to row, especially when the wind is against you and the water is rough with the current trying to push you back and the waves about to capsize your boat.  Jesus showed up and they thought He was a ghost.  What I want you to see is HE DID COME TO THEM.  He comes out of the darkness to the boat and they were willing to take Him into the boat and immediately they were at the other side.  I like that!  In the midst of struggling, straining, striving WHEN they allowed Him to get in the boat VICTORY CAME!

           Why Would God Allow This?  Why should we be made to get into a boat, when Jesus knows full well that we are going out in the middle of the lake where a storm is going to force us to struggle and strain?  Why would He put us in that position?  Why would He allow them to encounter a situation where all their hard work seemed totally in vain and was coming to nothing?  Here is a truth you must catch.  If you stop rowing you go backward so their labors were holding them in place and moving them slightly forward almost imperceptibly but it was producing something good.  If you stop rowing the wind wins and the waves defeat you.  There is a time in the experience of every believer when God will allow us to struggle.  If you are in the middle of the lake and you know you heard God but all hell is breaking out against you and defeat seems imminent what is the point?  It conveys to you a certain confidence and establishes a commitment to OBEY in Faith.  It enables us to realize that Christ in Us enables us to do all things and nothing is impossible with God.

          Anybody can run with the weather but Jesus wants His disciples to be those who will obey regardless of the obstacles and opposition.  It is a choice but it should be no choice.  We should determine that we are going to OBEY regardless.  It is saying, “I’m in this for the duration.”  It is saying, “I don’t see you, can’t feel you, and there is little evidence you are here but YOU SAID IT and I commit to doing it.”

We will consider this area just a little more but for now, God bless you richly as you enjoy this day in Him!

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THE WARNING – THE WORD – THE WAY…


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2 Samuel 15

I cannot do this justice in a short devotional or even two or three devotionals so I will hit the high points and hopefully convey that which is burning in my heart as a Word from God for the Body of Christ and local fellowships.  It is my conviction that it is the Word and the Spirit that brings Life.  Experience is a wonderful teacher but it is not life.  A Word from God is not always pleasant because sometimes it deals with issues that must be corrected and presents requirements that are not comfortable for the flesh.  Most people do not like hearing “Do No” they prefer to hear “Blessing.”  Sometimes in order to get to blessings, we have to hear the Warning, Correction, and Instruction because it matures and protects.  The less mature we are the more we resist warning and instruction.  The more flesh oriented we are the more we resist. In fact, most of the time, correction is not received with a “Thank You so much for that word.” 

It is imperative in the work of the Lord that we not get caught up in the Blessings but always listen diligently and carefully for God’s instructions and even His correction.  I have three things that I hope to address in a highlighted fashion.  There are certain questions by certain people that concern me greatly.  In 2 Samuel 15, we find some of those questions and see a scheme that is dangerous and destructive.  The Story of Absalom is one of incredible potential which turned into rebellion and resulted in total disaster for him, his followers, and the entire nation.

Absalom was ‘heir-apparent’ to the throne of David.  He was loved by everybody and noted for his good looks and popularity.  He had an incredible amount of natural ability, charisma, charm, and other qualities BUT…  That’s where the rub comes.  He allowed the ‘root of bitterness and unforgiveness’ to fester in his heart and it destroyed him.  It produced in him a Deceptive Spirit and a Spirit of Rebellion.  There is a progression that is followable in his life and one that provides a warning for each of us.

Notice the Seeds of Rebellion which began with a “Spirit of Hatred.”  This root comes out of injury.  Injury to person, ego, and pride.  It comes through words and/or deeds and is either real or perceived.  It began in Chapter 13 with Amnon’s rape of his sister Tamar and resulted in Absalom developing an intense burning hate for Amnon that would not die and he would not release.  Proverbs 10:12 warns that hatred stirs up strife and Proverbs 15:17 gives a graphic warning against hate.  1 John 2:9 warns that if we hate we are still in darkness, not God’s light and I John 3:15 declares that if we hate our brother we are a murderer.  THAT IS A POWERFUL WARNING!  Hate grows and spreads, breeds prejudice and perverts righteous and rational judgment.  It breeds a vengeful spirit and prevents forgiveness thus making it a prison.

The Spirit of Hatred resulted in the development of a “Spirit of Revenge.”  Anytime hatred and unforgiveness are not rolled onto the Lord they produce this spirit and vengeance becomes the primary objective.  This spirit usurps God’s authority, rejects His mercy, and produces an attitude of self-righteousness.  We must always remember the words of Romans 12:19, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay says the Lord.”  The following verses describe God’s desire of us toward our enemies and it is humbling and difficult.  That is a rehearsal of the teaching of Deuteronomy.  Revenge says, “My Rights!”  Love says, “I have no rights, I am a bondslave to Jesus and because of His mercy I show mercy.”

This leads to a Spirit of Selfishness which is the root of all sin.  Proverbs 16:2 tells us, “All the ways of are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives…”  I want you to note the progression.  Absalom is brought back from exile after three years but is given no audience with the king for two full years.  By this time, he is boiling over with HATE and has developed his own agenda.  He has learned to allow hate to have full vent.  He has developed a deep disrespect for authority and has tasted apparent success in his rebellion in burning Joab’s fields.  Hatred, bitterness, vengeance, and selfishness produce a Spirit of Self-Righteousness and the demonstration of a Superiority Complex that drives a person to believe they are or should be Number One.  Two more spirits result:   2 Samuel 15:4 is the Self-Exalting Spirit, “Oh that I was made King in the land…”  2 Samuel 15:3 the Spirit of Self-Deception.  He suggests to people that the king is not truly interested in them but he is and deceives many.  He would sit at the gate and ask people where they were from and their cause and suggest that if he were king they’d get the result they desired.

Those suffering from the Absalom Spirit NEVER expose that up front and often are not aware it is the driving force in their lives.  They sound sincere and their cause sounds valid and just.  Some questions seem harmless but if you have discernment you detect something behind the question that is not wholesome and unifying.  David’s men chased Absalom into the forest and the forest represents ‘confusion’.  My prayer is: “Lord, we pray not that you will protect your people in the time of our visitation.  I ask that you help your children to discern when an Absalom Spirit is attempting to gain a foothold.  Amen.”

            God, bless you and I will deal with another dimension of this tomorrow. 

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REASONS FOR UNANSWERED PRAYER…


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Matthew 7:7-8 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  NKJV

 

Clearly, this passage reveals the desire of God to answer prayer and is a mild rebuke for not praying.  There are many passages in the Bible about prayer, answered prayer and explanations why our prayers are not answered.  It is not as simple as saying, “If you do not get what you requested, it was not God’s will.”  That might be true and it might not be much more involved than that simplistic interpretation.  If we take that stance we should also take the stance that God’s Will is always done which would totally negate the need for or purpose of prayer.  That, in my view, would be completely opposite of the teachings of Scripture.  I believe that prayer is a command, has a purpose, and is effective in securing answers from God.  But what about those times when we do not receive answers to our prayers.

Let me suggest, without going into great detail, several reasons that we might not get an answer to our prayers or receive the petition we have presented before God.  It is difficult to reconcile unanswered prayer with the passage above where Jesus says, “Ask, and it will be given to you…”  He did not say, “Ask and if God wants to He will grant your petition.”  It simply said, “Ask, and it will be given to you…”  Therefore, if we ask and it is not given, WHY?

Let me take several, not in any particular order and hopefully it will encourage you, inspire you, and instruct you so that you can pray more efficiently and effectively.  What are some reasons for Unanswered Prayer?

  • Asking Amiss. (James 4:3) – “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”  WRONG MOTIVE.  God will never share His Glory and will not participate in our pursuit of carnal purposes.  He is all about the Kingdom of God, Righteousness, and Redemption.  If we are asking selfishly we are asking amiss and we will find frequently that those prayers are not answered in the affirmative.
  • Double-Mindedness. (James 1:2-8) dealing with the need for wisdom but can be expanded far beyond simply praying for wisdom and guidance, it tells us that if we are double-minded we are unstable and cannot expect to receive anything from the Lord.  A spring does not produce sweet and bitter water and a tree does not produce good and bad fruit.  If we live with one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world we have guaranteed that our prayers will go unanswered.
  • Wrong Timing. (Ecclesiastes 3) speaks specifically to this reality that there is a time for everything and we may be asking for something that is perfectly in God’s plan for our lives but the timing is wrong and God will not grant our petitions prematurely for that would likely short-circuit His purposes.  Maybe there is something we do not see that He is teaching us before we reach that time.  Remember Israel in the Wilderness?  They kept circling the mountain and spent 40 years in the wilderness as God was teaching them and bringing them to His perfect timing.  I have no doubt that Moses and Israel prayed for the Promised Land but until God’s timing, He did not grant that petition.
  • Unspecified Generalized Prayers. (Philippians 4:6) instructs us with regard to prayer we are told to ‘make our requests known unto God’.  Make Known requires specificity.  It is more than praying “bless me” and expect God to answer specific desires that are undeclared.  If you pray generalized prayers how will you know when or if they are answered?
  • (Mark 11:23) is an incredible passage regarding Faith Praying and Banishing Doubt. Jesus begins by saying, “Have faith in God.”  Then, He opens a door that few ever walk through spiritually.  He tells us to ‘speak to things including mountains’ believing that what we have declared is a factual and literal reality without exhibiting doubt.  Jesus says if we do that we will have what we said or prayed.  BUT, if we say or pray in doubt we negate the Promise and Pollute the Prayer.
  • Feelings of Unworthiness. So many passages identify that NOTHING we can be earned and everything we receive from God is based on His Grace, Mercy, and Love, not our deserving or earning. In the natural, if we do not feel worthy we tend to hesitate to make a request of others.  In the realm of the spirit, we do the same thing.  What we must understand is that we will NEVER be good enough, holy enough, or righteous enough.  It is not our worthiness but His that is the basis for our petitions.
  • Failure to Ask. Text Verse – If we DO NOT ASK we will not receive but if we DO ASK we will receive.  1 John 5:14-15 is an incredibly powerful directive that we should take to heart.  “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” 

Let me conclude with the following emphasis:  If we Ask Anything according to God’s Will HE HEARS US.  If He hears us, WE RECEIVE the Promise.  So, if we know biblically that something is God’s declared will we can and should ASK with complete confidence that He will hear that prayer and if He listens to it He will grant our petition.  Therefore, if you are not getting answers to your prayers consider the possibilities I have listed and examine yourself to see if you are failing in any of those areas and ask God to help you correct them.

          God, bless you richly as you pursue His Purposes in this life.

 

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