GOD’S PROVISION – Not Just the Good, but the Best…

Spiritual Blog - Law

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 – “And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” NKJV

Back to the contrast, Paul gave of the Gospel of Legalism and the Grace of God and the reality of Death vs. Life. One of the many things I love about the apostle Paul was his quickness to give God Glory rather than seeking to call attention to himself. Paul continually expressed his confidence and trust in God and declared adamantly that his (Paul’s) sufficiency was from God not anything within himself. We must never forget that Paul was a brilliant highly educated man yet he refused to depend or rely on his own adequacy, he depended on the Lord in all things and at all times.

The Legalist told the people that anyone who kept the law would become spiritual and gain special acceptance and favor with God. All Legalistic ministries have a way of inflating the egos of people and creating a false security in actions rather than pointing to Grace. When you promote Grace, you must tell people that they are sinners who cannot save themselves. That is not very ego building, is it? Paul’s testimony is found in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” I like that! No one is sufficient in himself to minister to the hearts of people that sufficiency, ability, and power must come through the Holy Spirit and His anointing.

I find it interesting the names or ways Paul identifies the Old and New Testaments. In (v.6), he calls the Old Testament THE LETTER and the New Testament is referred to as THE SPIRIT as he referenced the message of Grace. I must insist that you not assume that Paul is attempting to contrast or offer two approaches to the Bible. He is not contrasting LITERAL INTERPRETATION and SPIRITUAL INTERPRETATION. He is simply reminding us that the Old Testament Law could not give life and according to Galatians 3:21 it is the ministry of death. The Gospel of Grace, on the other hand, gives life to those who believe, because of the Person of Jesus Christ and His Work on the Cross.

I also must insist that you not assume Paul to be saying that The Law was a mistake or that its ministry is not important. It is our School Master to bring us to Grace. Paul understood that the lost sinner must be slain by The Law and left hopelessly and helplessly lost and condemned before God’s Grace could save him! Legalism brings death but Grace brings life! Preachers and Teachers who major on rules (minors) and regulations keep their flocks under a dark cloud of guilt and that is not where God wants us. That Cloud of Guilt kills joy, saps power, and renders our witness ineffective. Christians who are constantly measuring themselves against other Christians, comparing results and competing soon find that they are depending on the Flesh not the Power of the Spirit of God. That is what the Bible speaks of as ‘having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.’

There has never been a standard that could transform people’s lives and that includes the Ten Commandments. ONLY and I mean ONLY God’s Grace can do that. Only the Grace of God ministered by the Holy Spirit can transform a lost sinner into a living epistle that glorifies Jesus Christ! Paul’s doctrine of the New Covenant was not an invention of his own intellect. He had studied and read passages like Jeremiah 31:27-34; and Ezekiel 11:14-21. The Old Covenant Law, with its emphasis on external obedience, was preparation for the New Covenant message of Grace where the emphasis is on the INTERNAL and the transformation of the heart.

The Old Covenant is incredibly important but pales in the glory of the New Covenant which is a Better Covenant established on Better Promises and the promises of the Old were nothing short of amazing. I want to talk about that contrast a bit more but will pause here and pick up next time in contrasting the glories of the two covenants.

God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

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GOD HAS GIVEN US – Not Just Good, but the Best…

Spiritual Blog - God Best

2 Corinthians 3:1-3 – “Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” NKJV

It is indisputable, you cannot have a counterfeit without a genuine. It seems that whenever we find a desirable genuine someone is attempting to develop and promote a counterfeit. Even in the world of specialists such as art, some of the most skilled critics are deceived by fake masterpieces. It happens in all areas of life and those who study counterfeit currency contend that the best way to identify the fake is to study the genuine. That is also true spiritually.

This was true in the beginning of the Gospel’s presentation and is still true today. There were and are those who spread and offer a counterfeit gospel. That happened in the early church and the counterfeit was a mixture of Law and Grace. It was spread by those called Judaizers. Their major emphasis was that Salvation came through Jesus PLUS keeping the Law. They also taught that the believer is perfected in his faith by obeying the Law of Moses. You might be surprised to know that this was a growingly popular gospel in Paul’s day. It was the Gospel of Legalism. I am quite confident that the popularity of this gospel had to do with the propensity of human nature to earn or deserve rather than simply trust God’s Grace. It is easier to MEASURE religion than true righteousness. How many do you know or have you met that said, “When I get my life straightened out I’ll go to church?”

Paul considered these false teachers PEDDLERS of the Word of God. (2 Corinthians 2:17 NIV). He considered them to be RELIGIOUS RACKETEERS who preyed upon the ignorance of people and completely rejected their devious and deceptive methods. (2 Corinthians 4:2). He despised their tendency to boast about their converts. (2 Corinthians 10:12-18). He revealed that one of the reasons the church at Corinth was behind on their promised contribution to the special offering was that the Judaizers had robbed the church. (2 Corinthians 11:7-12, 20; 12:14). Paul considered them a blight upon the testimony of the Church and tools of hell. He was not shy in identifying or calling them out.

The question that comes to my mind is, “How did Paul refute the doctrines and practices of those false teachers?” He did it in the most powerful and meaningful way possible, demonstrating the Surpassing Glory of the Ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here in the third chapter of Second Corinthians, he contrasts the ministry of the Old Covenant [LAW] with that of the New Covenant [GRACE]. He demonstrated the superiority of the New Covenant, a better covenant established upon better promises.

It would be virtually impossible for me to address these contrasts with great specificity and detail in one setting but I’d like to begin listing them and highlight some important points to help each of us progress in God and have ammunition for refuting false claims.

He Contrasted Tables of Stone with Tablets of Flesh (Human Hearts)…2 Corinthians 3:1-3. The Judaizers were name droppers and prided themselves in having letters of recommendation from important and influential people in the Jerusalem Church. They argued that Paul had no such credentials and therefore he should be rejected. It is a sad state when a person has to resort to measuring their worth by what people say about them. Paul needed no letters of recommendation, he had the demonstration and power of God evident in his life and ministry. The analogy Paul uses is interesting for when God gave the Law, He wrote it upon Tablets of Stone. Israel could read it but it would not change their lives. The Law is external and for the transformation from darkness to light we need something internal. The Legalist admonish us, DO THIS, or DO THAT but they cannot give the power to obey. The Ministry of Grace, on the other hand, CHANGES THE HEART for it works on the inside. The Spirit of God takes the Word of God and writes in on the heart. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

The experience of Grace means far more than some denominational letter of approval of it is Life Changing. The true test of ministry and message is found in Changed Lives, not press releases or statistics. The Law reveals sin but the Gospel bring us to the forgiveness of sin. The Law exposes the heart but Grace heals the heart and cleanses sin. The Law shows us our deficiency but Grace shows us His sufficiency. It is truly the difference between Death and Life.

I want to discuss that aspect and will do so in the next devotional but for now, I commend the Grace of God to you and declare that Salvation is JESUS, not Jesus And Anything. It is by grace that we are saved, through faith, the gift of God and never by works.

Abundant Blessing for you is my desire and prayer!

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PERSISTENCE – – The Key Ingredients for Persistence in Prayer. [Continued]

Spiritual Blog - Persistence

Galatians 6:7-10 – “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” NKJV

One additional element that is vital in our Pursuit of Persistence in Prayer and fulfilling the Purposes of God in our lives is we must have a Place of Prayer. It is important to not be helter skelter or hit and miss in our time or place of prayer. If you have a specific time and specific place of prayer you will be far more inclined to pray than if you simply pray when the mood strikes you and it is convenient. Jesus suggested that in Matthew 6:6, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” The word “secret place” or “closet” in the Greek is [Tameion] it means a secret chamber, closet or storehouse and some have suggested that it could be rendered “bed chamber” as an expression of a place of intimacy and rest.

Abraham or Abram as he was known then had a special place sanctified or set apart for prayer, as seen in Genesis 13:2-4, “Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.” Jeremiah had a place of prayer, Lamentations 3:55-57, “I called on Your name, O LORD, from the lowest pit. 56 You have heard my voice: “Do not hide Your ear from my sighing, from my cry for help.” 57 You drew near on the day I called on You, and said, “Do not fear!” Jonah found that God gave him a place of prayer, Jonah 2:1, “Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly.” I would suggest that if you do not establish a place of prayer and frequent it God may well engineer your situation where you will find your place of predicament a place of prayer. The place you could have avoided if you had gone to your place of prayer and prayed.

Let me offer a few suggestions for your Place of Prayer. Look for a Quiet Place where there are few, if any, distractions. A place that you will not disturb others or be disturbed. A place of solitude where you can be alone with God. Also, look for a Specific Place. If you have a specific place that you pray, not a shrine but a place where you can get alone with God and pray you will be reminded of the importance and need of prayer. Finally, look for a Functional Place. You do not want to make your place of prayer the Living Room where others are coming and going interrupting you. You do not want to make it the garage where it is often too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer for you to focus. You want a place that is comfortable but not conducive to nodding off. A place that is conducive to private prayer. You and only you can determine what works best for you. I have a friend that says he lays in bed and prays. If that works for you that’s wonderful. It would not work for me because I’d probably drift off to sleep and lose my focus.

It is important that we develop a Prayer Perspective, make Prayer a Priority, Pray with Purpose, develop a Pray Plan, and find a Prayer Place. I believe those will help you become Persistent in Prayer and develop a consistent Prayer life that will impact your world and life for the Cause of the Kingdom of God.

God, bless you richly is my desire and prayer.

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PERSISTENCE – – The Key Ingredients for Persistence in Prayer. [Continued]

Spiritual Blog - Persistence

It is imperative and vital that we have a Prayer Perspective and Purpose but there are yet more ingredients necessary if we are to learn to Persist, Persevere and Overcome in Prayer. We must have a Prayer Purpose. The disciples clearly understood this as is reflected in Acts 11:22-23, “Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.”

To Pray with Purpose is to Pray with Desire. Psalm 38:9, “Lord, all my desire is before you.” Mark 11:24, “…what things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” I believe that goals or specifics are important in prayer. It is important to establish a target on which we focus in our petitions. Let me suggest a three-fold statement which expresses our reason and purpose in prayer.

I Pray because it Pleases God.
I Pray because it Helps Me Grow.
I pray because it Touches Others.

We also need to have a Prayer Plan. I believe that prayer is learned, cultivated, and can be taught, otherwise, the request of the disciples would have incurred a rebuke from the Lord. They asked, “Lord teach us to pray” and He gave them an example. Note Luke 11:1, “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” His instruction included some clearly defined elements that are valuable for us to consider. It begins and ends with worship. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.” (Matthew 6:9) “…for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.” (Matthew 6:13). It includes Intercession as we lift the needs of others before the throne. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done…” (Matthew 6:10) and Petition, “Give us this day our daily bread…” (Matthew 6:11).

There is nothing wrong with bringing our personal needs before God for God is honored when we seek him asking His blessing upon our lives. Consider the prayer and example of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10, “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So, God granted him what he requested.” He prayed BLESS ME INDEED! We dare not omit Bible Reading from our daily process for it gives strength and foundation for our prayers. We also must not omit Confession as reflected in Matthew 6:12, “…forgive us our debts (sins)…” And Matthew 6:13, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…”

I will once again pause and come back at least one more time in suggesting vital elements and ingredients in Persistence in Prayer and learning Perseverance. May the Lord richly bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in him!

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PERSISTENCE – – The Key Ingredients for Persistence in Prayer…

Spiritual Blog - Persistence

I want to examine a few key and necessary ingredients for establishing Persistence in Prayer and learning how to Persevere. In the pursuit of success and excellence, it is imperative that we begin at the right place and have the right foundation.

We must have a Proper Prayer Perspective if we are to Persevere. Perspective is the point of view or understanding we have in or about a subject. Our Perspective or View will determine how we pray. If we consider it lightly, we will easily or eventually disregard the necessity of prayer. In Colossians 1:9, the apostle Paul prayed that the Colossian believers would be “…filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” That is important as we discover what “Spiritual Understanding” is. It means that we adopt the Perspective that God has about any given subject. It was the lack of that Perspective that prompted Jesus to say to Peter in Matthew 16:23, “…you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” We need to embrace God’s Perspective of sin, salvation, holiness, and life. How does God view the Prayer of the believer?

He sees it as an indication of our trust. I had a man tell me once that he did not believe we should pray about all things, only big things because God was too busy to be bothered by the small stuff. No, if we pray about all things and in all things, we demonstrate our trust and dependence on God and we learn to TRUST and REST in His Promises. God sees our prayer as an indication of our Concern and is often an indication of Spiritual Depth as well as our capacity and desire spiritually.

We must have a Prayer Priority. In my years of Christian service, I have discovered that most believers agree that Prayer is important for spiritual growth. HOWEVER, prayer is often last or almost last on the list of our daily priorities and/or activities and then it disappears completely as we become distracted by the busyness of life. We need to be reminded of the directive of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” I saw a list published by a major Christian denomination enumerating its Twelve Goals for the Coming Year. At first glance, it looked good and complete. It included things such as improved Youth Ministry, endeavors to include and encourage more women to become involved in Church functions, more effective pastoral counseling and improvements in Christian Education. The one thing that did not make the list was PRAYER. Their lofty goals and ambitions will fail without being seasoned in prayer.

We must set a Daily Appointment for Prayer. If we do not set aside time for prayer it will get set aside. When we consider the biblical record, we find that for those who pressed in and accomplished things for God Prayer was the First Priority in their lives. Samuel’s parents had a practice of rising early for prayer. (1 Samuel 1:19). Hezekiah rose early for prayer. (2 Chronicles 29:20). David rose early for prayer. (Psalm 57:8). That is a short list of many who had a practice of beginning their day with prayer. I believe that before Prayer will become a daily habit we must SET a Prayer appointment and keep it regularly.

We must Guard our Time of Prayer and not let other things take priority over it. Psalm 55:16, “As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord will save me.” David guarded his time of prayer regardless of how others responded he guarded his prayer time. We should also Stretch that Time as much as possible as we PRESS INTO THE PRESENCE of God. Never rush your time of prayer and earnestly endeavor to schedule your day around prayer not insert prayer where you can in your busy schedule.

I will pause here and deal with this a bit more because I sense it is incredibly important for us to become that which God has designed and desired. May God richly bless you as you Persist in Prayer and Press into His Presence.

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PERSISTENCE – – The Christian’s Mountain to Climb…

Spiritual Blog - Persistence

I have said quite a bit about PERSISTENCE in the past few days but it is something that is heavy on my heart and something that I fear is waning in many hearts today. In the Journey of Prayer, there may be nothing more impactful than PERSISTENCE. The historic record is filled with accomplishments of men and women who PERSISTED in Prayer. In the secular world, the great leaders of our time are those who exhibit PERSISTENCE. Those who refuse to quit achieve success.

I see Four Price Tags of Success that I’d like to share in brevity today.

Painstaking Preparation.
Aiming High.
Help Others to Grow.
Expect Long Days and Sleepless Nights.

John Wesley challenged people to harness the power of Faith and Prayer saying, “Bear up the hands that hang down by faith and prayer. Support the tottering knees. Have you and days of fasting and prayer? Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein and mercy shall come down.”

One of the characteristics of our time seems to be QUITTING. Far too few in this generation have the spirit of determination and striving. The painter Raphael encapsulated the spirit of determination when asked, “What is your greatest painting?” His response was, “The Next One!” I believe that one of the things the devil most fears in believers is the Spirit of Persistence, especially Persistence in Prayer! If we truly believed and understood that the devil has NO POWER to hold back our answers from God I believe we would be more persistent in prayer. He may delay it, for a time, but HE CANNOT prevent it from coming. That is encouraging and exciting to me. Delay is not denial nor is it defeat it is delay.

To PERSIST in any endeavor is to HOLD FIRMLY and STEADFASTLY to that endeavor despite obstacles or setbacks. PERSISTENCE is to be “obstinately repetitious, insistent, or tenacious in some activity.” Years ago, I heard the testimony of a woman who had prayed for her husband for over 30 years. She said, “I prayed for him day after day and asked God to Save his soul. This week he bowed his knee and accepted Jesus as his savior.” OVER THIRTY YEARS! That is persistence and perseverance. That is the good Spirit of Striving. That is Determination. That is refusing to be denied. George Muller said, “The great point is never to give up until the answer comes. I have been praying for 63 years and 8 months for one man’s conversion. He is not saved yet, but he will be. How can it be otherwise for I am praying!” That is persistence and faith. I have long contended that the only way the devil can win is if we quit and the only way we can lose is to give up!

Due to time and space, I will pause with that and come back in the next devotional and discuss some of the necessary ingredients to become PERSISTENT in PRAYER. In this hour, we live one of the most needed activities and acts of war that we, believers, can engage is Prayer and we must be Persistent in that endeavor.

God, bless you richly as you Persist in Him and Press into His Abundant Life!

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INITIATING ACTION – – Who Is Responsible???

Spiritual Blog - Prayer

James 5:13-18 – “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” NKJV

There are some words, in the Greek, translated into our English that is confusing and this passage seems to contain some of those. I only say that because I have dealt with the philosophy in Christian conversation that this passage makes no reference to Divine Healing but Salvation which, the argument is that it represents ULTIMATE HEALING. I agree about Salvation but disagree on the context and content of this passage. Otherwise, unless we are making this entirely spiritual and eliminating the physical totally, it is dealing with both the Spiritual and the Physical.

The more I have studied this passage and recently with the battle my wife and I are fighting for her health, I have asked the Holy Spirit to illuminate my understanding regarding the intent and content of this passage more fully and clearly. One of the immediate things that came into my consciousness was the question, “Who initiates the CALL FOR PRAYER?” That, in my mind, is a very important question and one I will attempt to expound upon momentarily. But first, let’s walk through this passage and see if its light will illuminate our path in the desire for healing and health.

James begins asking numerous questions and offering specific instruction. If one is SUFFERING, the prescription is PRAYER. If one is CHEERFUL the prescription is SINGING PSALMS. If one is SICK, the prescription is MAKE THE CALL. Who makes the call for the Elders of the Church? The one who is sick! The first responsibility of the person suffering any sickness is CALL FOR PRAYER. That means you cannot remain in the shadows but must reach out for help from those who are charged with your spiritual care. The Elders have a specific duty, according to this directive, to do two things: Pray over the sick person and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. Both are incredibly important and while the latter may be somewhat symbolic, representative of the Oil of the Holy Spirit and invoking His Power and Person into the situation, it is significant. No, I do not adopt prescriptions that become formulas in God because that tends to diminish our dependence on Him and transfer it to a formula. God does not work in magic, He responds to faith, not a formula.

The Elders fulfill their duty and charge by PRAYING and ANOINTING with oil and then James reveals what happens or is expected to happen. The Prayer that they Pray is identified as THE PRAYER OF FAITH. What is the expected result of that prayer? HEALING. Before you challenge me and say, “it does not say healing it says, save the sick,” I ask that we go to the Greek. The word translated save is “sozo” which means heal, preserve, save, do well, be whole. It conveys the idea of a hedge being built around something and its imagery is that of a deliverer coming to the rescue and protecting or setting free. James continues saying, “…and the Lord will raise him up.” That word in the Greek is “egeiro” and means to awaken, lift up, rise, stand, take up. The picture is that of being roused from sleep and the understanding is that the sick person is being raised up from their disease and it no longer has power over them.

Then James takes us another step and connects the physical and the spiritual or the body and the soul, saying, “And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” Wait? Up to this point, we have not heard the instruction to repent which is required for forgiveness of sin and salvation, only calling for the Elders to pray when suffering and sick. There is Spiritual Healing here but that is not the only provision. Because the person calling the Elders of the Church is likely a believer this is not coming for salvation but calling for the Prayer of Faith for Healing and a side benefit is forgiveness. Jesus frequently connected healing physically and forgiveness spiritually. NO, I am not saying if you are sick it is because you have sinned but I am saying that sickness exists in the world because of sin and God deals with both.

James continues in instructing and encouraging believers to become transparent to the point that we do not pretend to be flawless or faultless. He says, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed.” The Greek word is “iaomai” which means to cure, heal, make whole. Why does so much of the Church today not believe in Divine Healing? That is a mystery to me when I examine passages such as this, read the words of Jesus regarding healing, consider the provision of the Atonement in Isaiah 53 and numerous other biblical passages.

James concludes saying, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” All of us desire our prayers to be effective and if we are consistent we should acknowledge that our prayers should also be fervent “energeo”. Our prayers should weigh heavy enough on our hearts to be offered in passion and energy. NO, I am not saying you must shout at the top of your lungs and work yourself into a frenzy but your heart should burn within as you pray. The need you are focusing on HEALING should compel you to fight passionately for the answer. Jesus even identified healing as the children’s bread in Matthew 15:26 and we are His Children, therefore we can expect to eat of His bread.

If you are sick – CALL for Prayer and if you are suffering – Pray yourself. We should enter each day with Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord! We enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His Courts with Praise. He is the same Yesterday, and Today, and Forever!

I am praying for your healing and hope that you pray for my family as well. God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

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THE GREATEST PRAYER EVER RECORDED… (Continued)

Spiritual Blog - Prayer

John 17

We considered the greatness of this prayer because of WHO prayed it and the CONDITION or SITUATION Jesus faced when He prayed. But what else makes this prayer the greatest ever prayed?

Consider WHAT Jesus Prays.

I believe that Prayer that asks nothing accomplishes nothing. Specific Prayer gets specific results. There are four words that could be used to sufficiently summarize Jesus’ Prayer – GLORY, SECURITY, SANCTITY, and UNITY.

In the first five verses, our LORD asks the Father to Give Him the Glory He held and enjoyed before He came to earth. Without this petition being granted the remaining requests would be futile and fail. In verses 6-19 our LORD prays specifically for His disciples and He prayed for their SECURITY and their SANCTITY. In verses 20-26, He prays for the entire Body of Christ and His major request was UNITY. How we need that today and how we have missed the importance of Christian Unity in today’s world. These four requests are incredible guidelines for us to follow and should cause us to reflect on what He has given us – LIFE!

I have heard some foolish prayers in my life and even received a call once from a person who had just been involved in a car accident, a minor fender bender, and the request was, “Pray that this did not happen.” SORRY, that would be foolish and fruitless because IT DID HAPPEN! We should always test our prayers with the Word of God and ensure they meet the biblical parameters. Prayer has power! RATHER, believing prayer has power! I have talked to doctors who tell me that every physician longs to study after the greatest in their field. Lawyers yearn for the opportunity to sit at the feet of the best and brightest of their profession. Educators who long to be the best want to study with the best and Theologians will sacrifice much to be schooled by the most revered. You and I have the opportunity to LEARN PRAYER and follow the example of Jesus from the Greatest Prayer ever prayed. In this prayer, we SEE HIM. In this prayer, we LEARN how to handle life’s crisis situations. In this prayer, we LEARN how to model your prayers and lives to fit God’s pattern, purpose, and plan.

Consider WHAT This Prayer Has Given Us.

In a very real sense, it has given us TODAY! When Jesus was meeting with His disciples in the Upper Room He concluded with the words of John 16:33, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” HALLELUJAH! I urge you to take note that in this prayer Jesus used the word WORLD 19 times and I believe that makes this prayer an instruction manual for OVERCOMING THE WORLD. He clearly declared that He had OVERCOME the world and prayed that HIS JOY would be infused into the hearts of all His followers.

Jesus gives us COURAGE to overcome the world, knowing He has already overcome. There are multiple definitions for WORLD. It can be the created universe as seen in John 17:5. It can be PEOPLE or HUMANITY as seen in John 3:16. It can be ORGANIZED SOCIETY as seen in John 17:4. Jesus said in John 17:6, “…they [the disciples] are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” We were citizens of THIS WORLD but now we are citizens of HEAVEN. We operate and live in this world but our authority is God’s Kingdom. We have been delivered from this World which is a ‘deceived world.’ We have been delivered from this World which is a ‘dangerous world.’ It is PASSING AWAY. (1 John 2:17; 1 Corinthians 7:31).

You may think you are safe in the confines and environs of this world but is it passing away. Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and Earthy will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” The world is dangerous because it is deceptive and leads people into destruction. It is dangerous because it is defiled. It is dangerous because it is divided. Even in the Church, we have a hard time getting along. We put labels on everything and everyone and they only tend to divide not unite. Jesus gave us an example how to overcome the world. He taught us that it is deceived, dangerous, defiled, and divided. His answer to a deceived world is Eternal Life. Through His name, we have security and through His blood we have cleansing. Through His love, we have Unity. Henry Ward Beecher said, “It is not good for a man to pray cream, and live skim milk.”

We need to take inventory in our lives. What is my attitude toward the world? Are we being deceived and robbed of reality in Christ? Are we placing ourselves in danger that could ruin our testimony, work, or home? Is this world defiling us? Are we creating unbiblical divisions instead of seeking UNITY of the Faith? I challenge you to consider that we are not Blessed for our study of the Word of God we are Blessed because we OBEY THE WORLD.

James 1:25 – “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the Law of Liberty, and abides in it… This man shall be blessed in what he does.” There is potential, power, peace, and purpose to be gained in Christ. This Prayer opens the Door to God’s Abundant Life and we need to embrace and walk through it.

Blessings abundantly as you enjoy this wonderful day in Jesus!

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THE GREATEST PRAYER EVER RECORDED…

Spiritual Blog - Prayer

John 17

I am totally convinced that nothing worthwhile and lasting can be accomplished without prayer and with prayer nothing is impossible! That is one of the reasons that I am a part of the ministry of Breakout Prayer Network www.bpnradio.com a 24/7/365 Internet Radio Station that has as its primary function to call the nation to prayer. Charles Spurgeon said, “Some brethren pray by the yard, but true prayer is measured by weight, and not by length.” I believe that is correct! It is not the length of your prayer but the weight of your prayer. It is not your using vain repetitions but the how deeply it moves you within that is the most important.

In John 17, we have the Greatest Prayer ever recorded in the Prayer of Jesus for Himself, His disciples, and all believers. It is brief but the awesomeness is breathtaking. There are 650 definite prayers in the Bible and not one of them comes close to this prayer. I believe it is the Greatest Prayer ever prayed but what makes it so? What sets this prayer apart from all the other prayers of the Bible? Although I will not attempt to be thoroughly detailed I will highlight a few reasons for you to consider and hope they benefit and inspire you in your Walk, Work, and Warfare in Christ.

It Is Great Because of WHO Prayed It.

I hold the view that if Jesus prays something it must be very important. He is not only God’s Son but He is God the Son. He is the eternal God who came to earth in human form, lived a sinless life, offered Himself as our substitute, paid the price for our redemption, rose from the dead, and is now ascended to the Right Hand of the Throne of God making intercession for us. John 20 reminds us of the purpose of the recorded miracles and signs of Jesus was that “you believe that Jesus is the Christ…” I believe that is a reason that John included this prayer in His gospel.

Only the Son of God could ask the Father to GLORIFY HIM. Moses asked to SEE God’s Glory but Jesus RECEIVED God’s Glory. Jesus identified that this was the Glory that He had BEFORE THE WORLD WAS when He was with the Father. Jesus knew He was one with the Father and the way He prayed indicated that He was God. He prayed saying FATHER but told us to pray saying OUR FATHER.

Jesus prayer was an example for us. There are 19 recorded instances of Jesus praying, but why would God pray? Jesus was our example for living and everything He did as a man and for man was in total dependence upon the Father, so He prayed! If Jesus needed to pray HOW MUCH MORE DO WE?

Consider the Situation at the Time of the Prayer.

Jesus was about to go to the Cross. He had just finished giving His disciples detailed and in-depth instruction [John 13-16] and now He prays this prayer. His prayer reminds us that Prayer and the Word of God are inseparably joined. If we have all Word and no Prayer, we have Truth but no Power. We are light but not heat. If we have all Prayer and no Word we are in danger of becoming harmful fanatics. Heat but no light. A Proper balance is necessary for us to fulfill our mission, commission, and ministry on this earth.

2 Samuel 12:23 – “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.” In Acts 20:32 we read, “And now I commend you to God (PRAYER) and to the Word of His Grace, which is able to build you up.” In Acts 6:4, the disciples understood the importance of prayer saying, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

Jesus prayed for Himself as He was facing the trial of the Cross. Jesus began His ministry praying, continued praying, lived praying, and died praying. In praying for Himself He prayed for us. I ask you to consider some parallels regarding prayer. Abraham interceded for Sodom but Jesus interceded for the entire world. Moses interceded for the nation of Israel and even offered to die for them, Jesus died for the entire world. Solomon prayed a long prayer in his dedication of the Temple but Jesus’ prayer meant the creation of a Spiritual Temple and the birth of the Church. Phillips Brooks wrote, “Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your tasks.”

I want to say more but realize that time and space is limited. I hope you grasp the importance of prayer and consider this prayer’s spiritual revelation. I pray that it will inspire and encourage you to carefully evaluate the words of Jesus and realize that it is God the Son praying for humanity and focusing on us in the shadows of His greatest time of testing, the Cross.

God, bless you and we will pick up here next time. Have a Fantastic Day is my desire and prayer!

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GOD’S REQUIRMENT IN PRAYER – Persistence…

Spiritual Blog - Persistence

Luke 18:1-8 – “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” NKJV

This has been a problematic passage for believers for a long time and will continue to be UNLESS we grasp some powerful truths presented in this parable of our LORD. If God knows all things, and He does, and if God desires to give His children good things, and He does, and if God hears us the first time we pray, and He does WHY PERSIST? Why not ask once and then forget it? Before you say, that is what we should do, I ask you to hear some thoughts I have on this matter.

I have heard many renowned men of God argue against PERSISTENCE in prayer. Although their arguments have often been eloquent and a valiant attempt to defend God and argue that persistence was our trying to force God to do something He was reluctant to do, I believe Persistence is biblical and desirable. Many of the great men of prayer in our Christian history have contended for PERSISTENCE in prayer. P.T. Forsyth wrote, “Prayer is never rejected so long as we do not cease to pray. The chief failure is its cessation.” But, even more, powerful are the words of our LORD as illustrated in two parables. Jesus taught the need of PERSISTENCE.

In our text, Luke 18 we find the widow who had been abused and wronged. Day after day she brought her case to the judge, a man who “neither feared God or cared about what people thought.” He was, at first, indifferent but through her persistence, he relented and said, “Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” That is where it is problematic for Christians. Jesus was not making the point that God was anything like the insensitive and unjust judge. God does not have to be worn down and badgered to get Him to reluctantly respond. Jesus’ point was that when God’s people PERSIST and ‘cry out day and night’, He as the just judge will provide their petition. Luke prefaced the parable with the word of Jesus, “And Jesus told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” That’s the key!

God’s delay may result in us losing heart and giving up, but Jesus urged us not to succumb to that temptation and tendency of LOSING HEART. Remember his question, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” PERSISTENCE is needed in the development of our relationship and faith. I have long contended that the devil cannot win UNLESS we quit. If we do not grow weary in well doing, in due season we will reap IF WE FAINT NOT. If we quit, we lose but if we persist we receive!

In Luke 11 our Lord makes the same point saying, “I tell you, even though he, (the neighbor) will not get up to give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your persistence he will rise and give you all you need.” NO, God does not need to be nagged and if we do not need what we are praying for all the bugging we can muster won’t move Him. If what we are asking is at odds with the Will and Word of God, you can persist until you are totally exhausted and it won’t matter. God does not answer prayer because He is pressured He answers because it is right and good.

Persistence is not for God it is for us. Have you ever noticed that people who get what they want the moment they ask for it often begin to take things and people for granted? If God granted every petition the first moment we asked our human tendency would be to treat Him like our genie, supermarket, or candy store. Persistence demands WAITING and “they that WAIT upon the LORD renew their strength, mounting up with the wings of an eagle, they run and do not grow weary, and walk without becoming faint.” WAITING is powerful in our spiritual development, enhancing our resolve as well as our character and maturity. God will use PERSISTENCE in prayer to purge our desires molding and transforming our desires into His purposes. PERSISTENCE does not guarantee you will get what you have asked for but it does guarantee you will get what is BEST FOR YOU.

God, bless you as your Persist and Persevere in Prayer. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give up or quit!

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