Spiritual

POSSESS THE LAND… (Continued)


Spiritual Blog - Possess

Revelation 12:10-12 – “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”  NKJV

 

Picking up where we left off last time let me begin with an illustration.  In the American Federal Government there are three branches.  The Legislative passes the laws.  The Judicial interprets the laws.  The Executive enforces the laws.  This is applicable with regard to the devil’s legal defeat at the Cross.  In actual fact Calvary destroyed all of the devil’s legal claims.  Calvary was and is complete!  The enforcement is placed in the hands of the Church and if the Body of Christ fails to respond, the will of the head becomes a dead letter and illegal activity continues.

We have a Biblical  basis for exercising our authority over the devil.  That authority was delegated to the Church by the LORD Himself.  (Matthew 16:18-19, Matthew 18:18 and Luke 10:17-19).  In Matthew 28:18-19 Jesus pressed this even further saying, “ALL authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore…”  ALL POWER (Authority) was given to Jesus by virtue of His triumph which was consummated at Calvary.  In turn, He delegated that authority to His disciples and to all who would follow in successive generations.  Therefore, it is imperative to understand that WE CAN LEGALLY ENFORCE THE VICTORY OF CALVARY!   The question is are we and if not why not?  Biblically, as a result of the LORD’s work on the Cross the devil has No rights and No authority!

We have been given some weapons through which we can enforce the victory He won at the Cross. 

  • PRAYER

I have been cautioned about praying too much and not being active enough and although I understand that hesitation can be negative I view prayer as “warfare training” as well as petition.  God clearly has the power to do His work without our prayers but He is preparing us for rulership in His Kingdom and we need training.

God does not answer prayer upon the basis of worthiness or deemed worthiness.  None of us who pray are perfect.  The crucial factor in getting answers to prayers is not spiritual superiority but boldness, courage and faith to pray regardless of any sense or lack thereof worthiness.  If we are walking in the light God has given us, we should never permit a sense of unworthiness to enter our minds and hearts.  He deems us worthy of the Blood of Jesus.  How much more worthy can you be?

Prayer is not answered for a select few or the spiritually superior.  He does not answer prayer because of what we have done but because of WHAT HE HAS DONE.  It would be well for us to consider 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV) – “It is because of Him that you are in Christ, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.  THE FINISHED WORK!”

  • AUTHORITY OF THE SPOKEN WORD.

Remember the overcoming mentioned in Revelation was “The Blood of the Lamb AND the Word of their Testimony.”  This is not a praise service in which people stand to recount something but is a testimony or word spoken directly to the devil and his hordes in the Name of Jesus and on the basis of His work on the Cross.  Jesus Himself spoke directly to the devil (Matthew 15:23) saying, “Get behind Me Satan.”  James 4:7 implores us to “Resist the devil, and he will flee from us.”

Satan does not have a physical body and cannot be attacked with conventional weapons of warfare.  Therefore, one of the ways we can resist him is verbally.  When we come against him in THE NAME OF JESUS citing the WORD OF GOD we exercise power.  That is unless we are like those in Acts 19 (seven sons of Sceva) and try to use a formula without experience or faith.

I believe in being specific with the devil when I resist in prayer and in word.  We have been given authority over all his power.  I Corinthians 10:4-5 (Phillips) – “The very weapons we use are not those of human warfare but are powerful in God’s warfare for the destruction of the enemy’s strongholds.  Our battle is to bring down every deceptive fantasy and every imposing defense that men erect against the knowledge of God. We even fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ.”

             Remember the devil does not care how you talk about him.  What defeats him is speaking directly to him in the Name of Jesus and on the basis of the authority of Calvary.  It is THE BLOOD!  There is a real devil, doing real damage and we have a real victory we need to enforce.  Three things are vital if we are to be successful:  Relationship with Jesus, Understanding of the Victory He won and Action.  The result will be spiritual victory!

            God bless you as you go through this day in the Victory of Christ.  Blessings!

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POSSESS THE LAND…


Spiritual Blog - Occupy

Revelation 12:10-12 – “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”  NKJV

 

In John 8:32 we read that if we know the truth (of Christ) that truth will make us free.  Hosea 4:6 declares that God’s people perish due to lack of knowledge.  In the Gospel record of the encounter between Jesus and the devil repeatedly our LORD declared, “IT IS WRITTEN” and silenced the devil with truth.  The Christian Life is Warfare and sometimes I feel Christians have forgotten this or failed to understand this reality.

If we could somehow communicate and convince believers that we face a colossal problem in the spiritual realm which spills over into the physical or natural we would have accomplished much.  We are beset by a host of self-conscious evil personalities called demons who are responsible for much, if not most, of the personality difficulties, complexities, spiritual pressures, strains and aggravated forms of evil in modern times.  Satan is alive and well on planet earth.  Yes, in the end he loses but he will fight to the finish and it would behoove each believer to understand that.  I am convinced that ignoring the devil’s activities is to empower him and place ourselves in a dire position.

In Revelation 12:11, after describing the war in heaven and the expulsion of the devil and his angels, John explains that there is a warfare launched against believers.  This is a war that can only be won by “The Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our Testimony.”  That brings me to a question I have asked Christians many times, “Was Calvary a Defeat or a Victory.”  Normally the response is victory but am often left to wonder if our response is “head knowledge” more than “experiential conviction.”

Here the reference to “The Blood of the Lamb” identifies the most powerful weapon the believer has in our spiritual conflict and is a direct reference to The Cross of Calvary.  It is a direct reference to the Victory won by our Lord through the shedding of His Blood for mankind.  I miss hearing and teaching about the Blood and believe that if we are going to effectively utilize this Spiritual Weapon we must first understand what took place at the Cross.  I also believe that to understand this truth we have to go back to the Garden of Eden and examine what took place in the Fall of Man.

Man, as originally created, was given authority.  Man was made to have dominion and immediately upon his coming forth from the creation experience he was given rule of the earth. (Genesis 1:26).  God gave man a bona fide grant of dominion over the earth and all that was in it.  In the Fall man, through disobedience, transferred his allegiance from God to the devil and allowed the devil to become the legal and actual ruler on earth.  He is the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air.  Some have suggested that God could and should have ignored man’s act and stripped the devil of his legal claim through Adams’ disobedience.  Had God done that it would have violated his nature, character and divine justice which demands “due process of law”.  It would have violated “divine jurisprudence” and thereby been a violation of principles to which God binds Himself.

Man legally transferred his right to dominion to the devil and since man did this the only way it could legally be reclaimed was through man.  It was lost by man’s wrong choice.  Adam’s allegiance created a situation in which man was no longer free but a slave.  He is now a slave to sin.  The devil had legal claim to man as a result of Adam’s disobedience and rebellion.

The only way this could be broken was to find a “Qualified Representative” to satisfy Divine Jurisprudence and literally “buy back” man from the devil and strip Satan of his legal claim.  Jesus was that representative and thus the tireless effort of Satan to find even “one tiny flaw” in Jesus ensued.  Satan tried but Jesus defeated him with THE WORD and OBEDIENCE.  I am convinced that one of the reasons the devil wanted Jesus on the Cross was a hope He would resist the Father’s will and reject the Cross.  He did not and Satan’s dominion was broken.   When Jesus went to the Cross He not only defeated the devil in that conflict but He CANCELLED ALL OF SATAN’S CLAIMS on mankind!

Therefore, Satan is defeated, not annihilated but defeated.  All the legal claims he held through Adam have been cancelled through Jesus.  As a result of the Cross he has no rights or legal claims and all the power he exercises today is solely by deception and bluff.  He is operating ILLEGALLY and that is the basis of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 28:18 – “All power [authority] is given to me in heaven and in earth.”  Then in Luke 10:19 He says, “Behold I give you power [authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions [demons], and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall be any means hurt you.”

Satan still roams and goes about as a roaring lion but if we, believers, ENFORCE THE VICTORY OF CALVARY we find that “legally” the Cross was the complete undoing of the devil.   “Legally” the Cross completely destroyed the devil, not annihilated but destroyed.  “Legally” all of the devil’s claims were cancelled when Jesus went to the Cross.  However, like any other LEGAL transaction for the Victory to be enjoyed it must be enforced.

I have gone long and want to say a bit more on this so until next time may the LORD of Host go with you and may the Power of the Spirit of God flow through you.  Blessings!

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NEVERTHELESS…


Spiritual Blog - Nevertheless

Luke 5:1-11 – “So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”  11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”   NKJV

 

I purposefully used a lengthy passage to convey a simple truth.  Jesus was drawing crowds everywhere He went with His message of hope and life which was in stark contrast to that of the Scribes and Pharisees.  On this occasion, He came to the Lake of Gennesaret and Simon (Peter) and Andrew were washing their nets after a long night of fishing.  Jesus asked Simon to launch the boat out a little from the shore and the location of the boat created the effect of an amphitheater where He could easily speak to the multitude.  It would have been impossible for Simon and his brother to miss the message being taught to the crowd.

After Jesus finished teaching He instructed Simon to “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  This was more than a reward for the kindness demonstrated in accommodating His earlier request, it was an object lesson that would stick with the disciples throughout their lifetime.  Simon offered a reasonable objection.  They had fished all night, the normal time for fishing, and had taken nothing.  Yet, as a result of hearing the words of Jesus, I believe faith was instilled in their hearts (Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God).  Peter’s response should be our response to the directives of the Holy Spirit even when the directive seems illogical.  Simon said, “…nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

The result is too great a miracle to overlook.  The number of fish they caught were beyond their capacity and ability to handle.  They signaled the other boat and enlisted the help of James and John to handle the harvest.  The catch was so great both boats were in danger of sinking.  Imagine in today’s modern church world if we would be obedient to the voice of the Spirit of God and when we find so great a harvest and revival we enlist the help of other believers rather than trying to defend our domain.

There is always a time, in spiritual things, when we simply need to step out in faith and say, “NEVERTHELESS at Thy word…”  No wonder the Bible declares that obedience is better than sacrifice.  If we will allow our faith to rise to the level of His directives we will see more than we can imagine.

            God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him!

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IF IT DOESN’T FIT THE NARRATIVE …


Spiritual Blog - Narrative

Habakkuk 1:5 – “…For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.”  NKJV

 

In my years of following Christ and being in Christian ministry I have encountered and experienced some amazing things and people.   I would venture to say that regardless of the denomination, sect, faction or group in Christendom there is a certain amount of closed-mindedness to be found.  I can hear the protests as those words were read but I stand by my assertion based on experience and the ideological wars fought by varying groups in the Body of Christ.

I know some who believe declare they are “full gospel” and that term implies to others not of them fall short in doctrinal correctness.  I have known some that declare they are the “word of faith” and by implication that suggests that those not of them are short in faith.  I know some that declare they are “the church of…” fill in the blank and the implication is that anyone not of them are, at best, second class Christians if Christians at all.  There are probably as many variations of doctrine as there are churches and within those churches the varying beliefs is nothing short of amazing.

I have had discussions with some who believe that miracles cannot happen today because we have the Bible and no longer need miracles to build the church as the early church did.  First, without getting into a hair-splitting contest, I must ask one simple question.  “Is God God?”  The Bible says he is the same yesterday, today and forever does it not?   Most Christians will acknowledge that God “could” work miracles but many believe He no longer does.  Again, not wanting to get into a debate over miracles but to focus on something larger I press on.

In Habakkuk the Lord, through the prophet, declared that He would work a work in their day that even if someone told them about it they would not believe it.  Why?  Because they had a preconceived notion of how things were, should be and would be.  In Acts 13, Paul was in Antioch and went to Synagogue.  After the customary reading of Scripture the leaders of the Synagogue gave opportunity for anyone to speak.  Paul seized the opportunity and presented Jesus to them.  In his presentation he brought them face to face with their rigidity of doctrine and quoted Habakkuk.  This caused some of the Jews to hate him and the Gentiles to beg for more teaching and explanation.

God does not always work according to our preconceived notion of how we think He should or what we think should transpire.  He does not seem to have any particular interest in our private or sectarian narrative but desires TRUTH.   Just because I have not seen it or it does not fit my neat arrangement of doctrinal presentations does not mean it is IMPOSSIBLE.   After all, does not the Bible declare, “Nothing is Impossible with God?”  Before you relegate something to yesteryear remember we are serving a God who can, does and will.

Bring your wind of revival to us Oh Lord!  Bring your refreshing today!   God bless you as you go through this day in Him care and keeping!

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THE IMAGE OF GOD…


Spiritual Blog - Image of God

Genesis 1:26-27 – “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”  NKJV

 

I have heard enough preaching and teaching on what constitutes the “Image of God” to become so thoroughly confused it is almost depressing.  Is possessing intellect, having the possibility of spiritual knowledge, love and wisdom enough to explain that description of created man?  Did man completely lose God’s image in the Fall of man in the Garden of Eden?  Is man a dichotomy or trichotomy?

Genesis 2:7 reveals, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground [BODY], and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [SPIRIT]; and man became a living being. [SOUL].”  [Emphasis mine.]  If I take that, and I do, as a basis for understanding man I see him as a trichotomy having body, soul, and spirit.

In our composition our bodies are aligned with the earth.  Our human bodies are closely aligned with the inorganic creation on planet earth.  In discussing man’s soul, we realize that man is aligned with the other members of intelligent creation, at first it was Eve and then other men that Adam was aligned with.  In viewing his spirit man is aligned with God.  It was through his spirit that he knew and knows God.  Someone suggested that THE BODY is the seat and instrument of the senses, THE SOUL is the seat and instrument of the emotions and THE SPIRIT is the seat of the knowledge of God.  (1 Corinthians 2:11).  When Jesus died on the Cross they laid his BODY in a tomb, His SOUL descended into Hades and His SPIRIT was commended to God.  (Luke 23:46).

The Tabernacle and Temple have a clear similarity to man’s makeup.  There was the Outer Court and the only of the three compartments visible to all.  Then there was the Holy Place where the priests fellowshipped with each other.  Then the Holy of Holies.  Behind the veil dwelt the presence of God.  I believe you can see that the Outer Court represents the human body and Romans 12:1 admonishes us to present our bodies to God, a living sacrifice.  It was in the body that Jesus bore our sin on the Cross.  The Holy Place is representative of the soul.  That place of worship and fellowship interacting with others.  Then the Holy of Holies represents the spirit for God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.  God’s spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

Man was created in the Image and Likeness of God and through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the garden man lost his connection to God.  In today’s world of modernism I hear sermons more akin to motivational speaking and self-help gurus than biblical truth.  No amount of personal discipline, moral reform, ethical teaching, education, or religion can transform man that only comes through the NEW BIRTH.  When we come to Christ and are born-again we are restored to the Image of God and are able to commune spirit to spirit with the LORD.  You and I are fearfully and wonderfully made but this physical house is just the outer shell and not the complete representation of THE IMAGE OF GOD.  If you want to see God you have to see beyond the physical for man is Body, Soul and Spirit.

Someone said, “We are the only Bibles some people will ever read.”  Therefore it is imperative that we allow the Holy Spirit, through the new-birth, to restore us to the Image and Likeness of God so when people read us they see God.

            God bless you as you go through this day!

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TEARS and THE BIBLE…


Spiritual Blog - Tears

Revelation 21:4 – “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”  NKJV

 

Most everyone I know has experienced tears in their lifetime.  There are tears of joy, tears of pain, tears of gratitude and tears of sorrow to name a few classifications.  The first time I find tears mentioned in Scripture is 2 Kings 20:5 where Hezekiah is sick and on his deathbed.  Isaiah had just come to him with a word from God that he was to set his house in order for he would die.  Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, as could be expected praying and weeping before the LORD.  Before Isaiah had completely left the King’s abode God sent him back to Hezekiah saying, “…I have heard your prayers, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you…”  The Psalmist in Psalm 56 informs us that God has put our tears in His bottle.  In our text verse we read that one day God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

Tears are expressions of the soul and reveal the condition of the heart.  I have asked people in science and medicine to explain to me what a TEAR is.  Chemists will tell you that a tear is a solution of sodium chloride and calcium along with a few other chemicals in an aqueous solution.  Physiologist will define tears as a lubricating fluid of the eyeball, secreted by the lachrymal glands and poured over the eyes to keep them from drying out.  Some declare that tears are a sign of human weakness and cowardice and that real men or women do not cry.  Epicureans say that tears are worthless and useless.  They declare that we should live in the now, eating, drinking and being merry for tomorrow all die.  Some declare that tears are only imaginary and originate in the head not being real but a figment of the mind.

I believe that tears are an expression and revelation of the soul.  I believe they express deep longing of the human heart in a chemical form.  Tears are the painting on the canvass of life and quite revealing.  In a very real sense they are portraits painted in chemical form of the heart.  More important that what tears are is what causes them.  Another question could be, “What are tears for?”  There are many kinds of tears and all have some importance in life.

  • Tears of Physical Pain.

Before most of us are truly conscious of sorrow and the psychological response to trials which produce tears we experience the sensation of physical pain.  Pain, especially in children, produce tears.

  • Tears of Sorrow.

Probably the most excruciating pain experienced in life is that of sorrow.  Sorrow is associated with loss and it could be loss of possessions, health, relationships, or loved one in death.

Of course there are tears of joy as well and those tears are precious!  But what is the purpose of tears?  Tears will not restore a broken toy for a child or return life to a lifeless loved one.  Tears will not take back words spoken in anger.  I have talked to many believers who, because of trials and troubles in this life that produced a flood of tears, declare “I’m ready to leave this world behind.”  They long for that time and place where tears are wiped away and pain forever removed.  Tears cause us to realize our dependence on God.  When we realize that we cannot and the pain that causes tears becomes real we look upward to God for help.  Tears help us to become empathetic toward others knowing our own pain.  I have found that my words offer little comfort in time of sorrow but God’s Spirit brings a calm to the heart that none of my words or tears can provide.

Psalm 126:5-6 gives us a beautiful truth that should bring comfort to our hearts, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”   Tears are a true expression of the soul.  We rejoice with those who rejoice and we weep with those who weep knowing that God is the hope of man.

            God bless you as you go through this day!

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ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEW YEAR???


Spiritual Blog - New Year

Ephesians 4:20-24 – “But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”  NKJV

 

Forget the political condition of our nation and world.  Forget the economic predictions for the coming year or years.  Forget the threat of terrorism and the evil that is rampant in the world.  Forget?  Of course you cannot forget them or ignore them but what I desire to challenge you to do is CONSIDER something more powerful than any of those.

Consider “Christ in us…”  That’s right, consider the working of the Holy Spirit in and through us as born-again believers and members in particular of the Body of Christ.  The devil would have us scurry around in FEAR but God would have us CONSIDER who and whose we are.  The challenge of the apostle Paul in our text is recognition and action on the part of every child of God.

As 2016 unfolds before us we can either move forward in God taking an offensive mindset or run for cover and adopt a defensive position.  Let’s consider some things of significant value for each of us as we embark on the journey of life through the year 2016.

  • PUT OFF.

Not as in procrastinate but as in reject, eliminate or remove.  What are we to “put off?”   Our former conduct, the “old man” or “carnal man” that was laden with corruption, filled with lust and ensnared by sin.   We must make a definitive conscious decision to reject the works of the flesh and the lusts thereof.

The Lord Jesus has brought us Grace and Forgiveness of Sin and that is a work of God and Grace.  We can never earn our salvation but there are some things we are expected to do once we have entered into the Family and Kingdom.  There is discipline required on our part and that is what the apostle addresses in his call to PUT OFF.

  • PUT ON.

Not as in pretend but as in adorn ourselves.  In putting on the NEW MAN we will find there is a renewing of the “spirit of our minds” and we move deeper and deeper into the righteousness and holiness of God.  Having accepted Jesus as our Savior, repented of our sin and turned 180 degrees from the old path we now need to CONTINUE.  We need to cooperate with the Spirit of God in addressing our thoughts, words and deeds.  We need to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest Jesus through our lives and in PUTTING ON the New Man we experience continual renewal.

Are you ready for the New Year?  You can make all the resolutions you desire but UNLESS you PUT OFF and PUT ON as described in this passage you will find disappointment and failure in 2016.  God wants to use each of us more powerfully and consistently than our history reflects.  The problem is not in His willingness to use us but our availability that results from PUTTING OFF the former conduct and PUTTING ON the new man.

            God bless you as you embark on the exciting journey that is ahead in 2016.  

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TEACH US TO PRAY – What Did Jesus Teach???


Spiritual Blog - Pray

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.” NKJV

  

I have found, as I study prayer, there as some key elements in this endeavor and activity worthy of consideration.  Jesus said, “After this manner pray…”  (Matthew 6).  He did not say, “When you pray repeat this prayer or these phrases but AFTER THIS MANNER pray…”  What we call the Lord’s Prayer is a model not a recitation or incantation.  One of the things you should notice about this prayer is its brevity.  It is also incredibly specific focusing on the needs of body, soul and spirit.  There is no vain repetition.  It is definitive and to the point.  My cry is, “LORD, teach me to pray like this.”

I want to suggest three elements of prayer that I believe are vital.  Someone said, the Lord’s, prayer as taught by Jesus, divides itself into three looks.  The upward look, the inward look and the outward look.  I would offer that we can identify them as:  Communion, Petition and Intercession.

  • COMMUNION.That portion of the prayer in which we turn our attention to God or the upward look.  If there is no communion established in prayer little will be accomplished other than the exercise of our vocal cords.  Communion removes every hindrance between us and God.  Communion involves and includes worship and adoration of the object of our communion, God!  Communion establishes contact so that our petitions can enter the Throne Room.

    In the first five books of the Bible we find a line of progression, something that should be incorporated in prayer.  In Genesis we see man’s sin and ruin.  In Exodus we see God’s redemption by the blood.  In Leviticus we see the ritual of worship.   In Numbers we find Israel’s walk from Egypt to Canaan.  In Deuteronomy we find the Book of the Law or the Book of Works.

    After man is redeemed he must learn to worship before he is able to walk as he should and no amount of work will amount to anything until he has learned to worship and walk before God.  Communion does something to us whereas in petition something is done for us.

     

  • PETITION.Communion looks to God, petition focuses on the needs of self.  If we have established communion we can rightly move to petition for we will make our requests more rightly in harmony with the heart and will of God.  Petition should be a very simple matter.  There are some things that we need to remember before we make petition to God.  “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”  (Psalm 66:18).  In Matthew 18 and Luke 17, Jesus tells us that an unforgiving spirit against a brother will hinder our prayers being answered.  Therefore for petition to be effective communion must be established.
  • INTERCESSION and POWER.

    In Luke 11:9-10 we find an incredible promise regarding prayer from our Lord.  There is unlimited power in prayer and we should allow our confidence in God to release that power in our lives and in the matter for which we pray.  Remember the Bible says, “He that comes to God must believe that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”  (Hebrews 11:6).

    I personally believe that God always answers believing prayer.  I did not say, He always gives you what you ask but always answers.  As a parent I found that there were times when the request of my children was not in their best interest and counterproductive to health and life benefit.  In those cases I answered their request with “No.”  There were times I could see the benefit and acceptability of the request but the timing was bad so the answer was, “Not right now.”  There were times when what they asked was reasonable, right and good and the answer was, “Yes.” 

    Prayer brings the Omnipotence of God into our human realm and can touch hearts anywhere in the world and is released in an instant.  There are no geographical restrictions or limitations to prayer.  Therefore, I believe that the greatest need of a believer is for the Lord to “teach us to pray.” 

    God bless you as you go through this day!

     

     

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THE BIG REQUEST OF JESUS’ DISCIPLES WAS…


Spiritual Blog - Pray

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.”  NKJV

 

I have made it somewhat a study to consider what the followers of Jesus asked of Him.  This particular request is interesting, especially in contrast to much of today’s mentality even in the Church.  They did not ask, “LORD, teach us to preach”.  They did not ask, “LORD, teach us to sing.”  They did not ask, “LORD, teach us to gain wealth.”   They did not ask, “LORD, teach us marketing strategy so we can grow the local church.”  They asked, “LORD, teach us to PRAY.” 

I am fully persuaded that it would be far more beneficial to the Kingdom of God and the Body of Christ to be great prayers than great preachers or singers.  I love both but if we have the power of prayer to move the powers of heaven we will see the hearts of men moved.  Men can train other men to preach, sing, market and strategize but to become a truly great prayer is only learned at the feet of Jesus though the Holy Spirit.  I am not talking about learning some man-made method of eloquence but that activity that wages spiritual warfare and breaks through the barriers bringing heaven to earth.

Prayer is the privilege and responsibility of all believers.  We often need preparation and training to become efficient and effective preachers and personal workers but prayer is a gift that God offers to everyone.  Not everyone is called to be a pastor, preacher, teacher, evangelist, exhorter or many other things but there are no such restrictions on prayer.  EVERYONE can pray!  In fact, our LORD said, “…men always ought to pray and not lose heart…”  (Luke 18:1).  I know people who lament they are unable to do great exploits for God and when challenged to pray, they are somewhat put off because that garners no public notice or acclaim.  Powerful prayer is often done in secret and behind the closed door of the prayer closet.  It is not an exercise designed to gain notice but results.

Jesus gave the disciples a pattern of prayer not a formula.  In Matthew 6:5-8 we find some specific instructions from our Lord regarding pattern.  In this passage Jesus gives us the DO NOT’s of prayer and in the Lord’s Prayer He gives us the DO’s.  I am convinced that prayer is a science and by that I mean it is a study.  How often have you just listened to the prayers of others and examined your own prayer life?  How do our public prayers compare to our private prayers?  How much vain repetition is in our prayers?  How often do we pray for things which God’s wisdom forbids Him to answer?

Let me give you some things to consider through the LORD’s instructions.

  • Don’t Pray Like a Hypocrite.

          How does a hypocrite pray?  The prayer of the hypocrite is “public” designed to gain notice, sympathy or status.  Remember the Pharisee who stood in the Temple and lauded his own virtue comparing himself to the Publican nearby.  The Publican simply prayed, “LORD, be merciful to me a sinner.”  Which do you supposed moved the heart of God?  Someone once said, “It is a pretty safe rule, the longer a person prays in public, the shorter they pray in private.”

Jesus was known as a man of prayer.  He spent entire nights praying while others slept.  How many long prayers do you find him praying in public?  He said, “When you pray, enter your closet and when you have shut the door, PRAY…”  (Matthew 6).

  • Don’t Use Vain Repetition.

The specific command of Matthew 6:7.  I have heard and offered public prayers that were so laced with “vain repetitions” I am ashamed.  We used hackneyed phrases over and over again.  Repetition rather than substance will not move the heart or hand of God.  I wonder if one of the reasons so much prayer is filled with repetition is because we have failed to study scriptural prayer.

If God knows the need before we pray He does not need us to be overly repetitive.  He desires us to be specific, focused and determined.  I hope I have challenged you a little and want to say more on the matter in the next devotional.

God bless you as you commune with Him in prayer and go through this day in His strength.  Blessings!

 

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THE ANSWER IS NOT COMPLICATED…


spiritual blog - complicated

Acts 16:25-34 – “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 

29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.”  NKJV

 

I have heard so many presentations on what is required for salvation and I often come away frustrated for what I hear, at times, is “Jesus Plus…”  In this particular account we find Paul and Silas in prison and these two stalwarts for God were leading a Praise Service and ministering to others who were incarcerated.  As they were singing and praying an earthquake shook the place so hard the doors of the prison fell open and their chains fell off.  Obviously, this was no normal earthquake but the work of God.  The guards had been napping and under Roman law if the prisoners escaped they would pay a serve penalty so rather than face the horrific possibilities the keeper of the prison prepared to commit suicide.  He would have carried out the act had it not been for Paul.

The man was so moved by what had happened he ran to them asking one of if not life’s greatest question, “What must I do to be saved?”  Their response was simple, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…”  The promise was not only would the jailer be saved but his house would come under the umbrella of God’s protection and salvation.  THEN… So many times we miss the “then” of Scripture.  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and all who were in his house.  Simply they presented the Gospel which is the Good News.  The Bible teaches that we are to repent, believe, confess, turn from sin and be baptized.  I heard an evangelist one time tell people that because they were not crying as he deemed they should they were not saved and had not repented.  Some incredible soldiers in the kingdom of God have testified that they had little emotion when they encountered the Lord, realized their guilt, confessed and repented.  Most of them have declared that emotions came later but the guilt lifted at that time.

In my own experience had I followed the directive of this evangelist I would have concluded that I did not receive the Lord that faithful night.  I felt as if I were walking on air.  I had a sense that a heavy load was lifted from my shoulders and a peace that I could not describe or explain settled over me.  I was not in tears but was truly sorry for my sin and desirous to be free from the clutches of sin.  My focus was not heaven or hell but the fact that my sinful condition was breaking God’s heart and it broke mine.  I was guilty and wanted to go in the opposite direction in life.  I confessed my sin, repented and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and GOD SAVED ME.  I was baptized later!  The plan is simple and the work on the Cross finished.  It is Jesus not Jesus plus.  Salvation is a gift not an earned reward.  You will never be good enough but you can be free through His grace!

            God bless you as you go through this day!

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