What is your prayer life like? Do you shout out "help me" now and then? Do you have your list in hand, read out the names and tell God to take care of these? Do you ask Him for more blessings, good health, a better relationship with someone, or fire from heaven to devour your enemy? So, what is your prayer life like? Do you lay your heart and mind on the table, bowed down, burdened with your own sin and gut-wrenchingly place your everything in His hands and communicate with Him as though He were your Daddy?
Prayers don't have to be long, King James-sounding, theologically impressive verbiage. There is no formula you must use, just like there is no formula for talking to your dad. You love your dad and you need his insight and direction. You love your heavenly Father and you need His insight, direction, leading and power.
If you need guidelines, Jesus has given them in Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke 11:1-13. (My next post will share some gleanings from one of Isaiah's prayers who almost goes exactly by Jesus answer to His disciples on prayer. And that about 800 years before it was said!) Jesus never intended for us to quote this as a prayer, but use it as an outline to teach you how to pray. However, after you learn and relax in your relationship with the Father through prayer, like any outline or guide rules, they aren't needed and the communication will come naturally. (I'm not saying Jesus guidelines aren't needed, as all scripture is always useful for correction and training. I'm just saying prayer comes as a natural desire of making it the priority of your heart.)
Scripture gives us great prayers of the many people who were just like us: sinful, struggling humans that want to please a holy God. Their prayers are as different as personalities are different and also as their place on the Christian growth scale is different. But the fact is, if they are in the Bible, the inspired word of God, then we can definitely learn much from these prayers. I share this post as an introduction to one of Isaiah's prayers. I was encouraged, convicted and excited as I read Isaiah's passion for His God, His Father, the Creator of all things. It ignited in me the desire to continue digging and "seeking first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added..." And prayer is the only way to see this "addition" whether it's growth in your spiritual life or your evangelistic efforts for the growth of the kingdom. All addition, all growth in the spiritual realm is in and of the power of God through Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Perception
"I perceived..." Nehemiah, in talking to a priest, one to whom Nehemiah should have been able to trust, had to draw off his own thinking in regard to what the priest had counseled. (Nehemiah 6:12 KJV) "And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he had pronounced this prophecy against me." Again, Nehemiah had to draw off his own thinking! What drives your thinking: Feelings, Fear, Fortune? With what kind of counsel do you expect from others your are suppose to trust? Do you want them to be driven by the same thinking that drives you?
Nehemiah is in charge of rebuilding the physical realm of the city's security: the wall. He and his workers, according to Matthew Poole's commentary, have shown "a prudent distribution of work and admirable zeal". Nehemiah has been summoned five times by Sanballat, who is trying to discourage the work. Nehemiah has refused to leave his job. He answered Sanballat, "I am doing a great work so that I cannot come...".
Now the priest has summoned Nehemiah and he goes. Nehemiah should be able to trust the priest, as the priest should have been an encourager to this great work and Nehemiah's part in it. However, the priest gives Nehemiah more discouraging news. This brings us to "I perceived..." or as another translation says, "I understood". How does Nehemiah understand that this so called man of God, a priest, is giving bad counsel? Matthew Poole offered a three-fold answer to this question. "Nehemiah perceived partly the sinful nature and pernicious consequence of this counsel; partly, by the suggestion of God's Spirit, 'whose counsel and help I sought in this matter'; and partly by the event, which discovered that there was no such danger from the approach of the enemy as was pretended". In other words, Nehemiah knew God's word in regard to the temple and knew this counsel was out of line. Also, Nehemiah had sought God in prayer. And the Holy Spirit pressed upon him the untruth of the counsel. And lastly, Nehemiah found out later of the reality of the truthless priest.
Know, seek, wait. How does that flesh out for us? Know God's word in order to perceive error. Pray for direction. He will bless you with an answer. And many times, God enables you to see the results of His direction. Our perception, as believers, must always be based on the word of God. Then we can rest in the direction He leads and our work will not be in vain.
Nehemiah is in charge of rebuilding the physical realm of the city's security: the wall. He and his workers, according to Matthew Poole's commentary, have shown "a prudent distribution of work and admirable zeal". Nehemiah has been summoned five times by Sanballat, who is trying to discourage the work. Nehemiah has refused to leave his job. He answered Sanballat, "I am doing a great work so that I cannot come...".
Now the priest has summoned Nehemiah and he goes. Nehemiah should be able to trust the priest, as the priest should have been an encourager to this great work and Nehemiah's part in it. However, the priest gives Nehemiah more discouraging news. This brings us to "I perceived..." or as another translation says, "I understood". How does Nehemiah understand that this so called man of God, a priest, is giving bad counsel? Matthew Poole offered a three-fold answer to this question. "Nehemiah perceived partly the sinful nature and pernicious consequence of this counsel; partly, by the suggestion of God's Spirit, 'whose counsel and help I sought in this matter'; and partly by the event, which discovered that there was no such danger from the approach of the enemy as was pretended". In other words, Nehemiah knew God's word in regard to the temple and knew this counsel was out of line. Also, Nehemiah had sought God in prayer. And the Holy Spirit pressed upon him the untruth of the counsel. And lastly, Nehemiah found out later of the reality of the truthless priest.
Know, seek, wait. How does that flesh out for us? Know God's word in order to perceive error. Pray for direction. He will bless you with an answer. And many times, God enables you to see the results of His direction. Our perception, as believers, must always be based on the word of God. Then we can rest in the direction He leads and our work will not be in vain.
Friday, January 12, 2018
Why?
A common question for man is the question "why?". Why did you...? If we kept track of every time we ask "why", we'd probably be surprised at how often we, ourselves, ask it. It's our nature to question and I'm not saying questions are wrong, nor is the question "why" always wrong. But we must think through our own reasoning as to the why of the question "why"? And in regard to the root of that reason, if the underlying answer for our "why" is a lashing out at the Almighty God, then the ground we tread is treacherous.
If you have never read the passage of scripture in Jeremiah about the potter and the clay, I encourage you to do so. (Jeremiah 18: 1-12) However, the passage for my post today is Isaiah, and that passage begins with a "woe"! "Woe to him who strives with Him Who formed him." I would like to share a commentary quote from Matthew Poole, theologian and thinker of the seventeenth century, in regard to this passage. Isaiah is warning the people of Israel not to fight against Cyrus, whom God has place in his ruling position. Mr. Poole writes: "...so He pronounces a curse upon them who should endeavor to hinder it...that they did not only fight against Cyrus, a man like themselves, but against God, the Maker and Governor of the world." Poole goes on to write, "...contend, if you please, with your fellow creatures, but not with your Creator."
Poole further elaborates on this thought about contending with your Maker in verse ten. The verse reads: "Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' or to a woman, 'With what are you in labor?'" Poole writes, "As it were an absurd and impudent thing for a child to quarrel with his parents, either simply for begetting him, or for begetting him of this or that sex, contrary to his desire; no better is it for any persons to quarrel with God the Maker and Father of all things, as God is called, for disposing of them and their affairs by His providence as he sees fit, and otherwise than they desire or expect."
I praise God for His grace in salvation and the amazing transformation that takes place as a result. One of those elements of transformation is the ability to fight against our natural tendency to rebel. When God's word says, "Woe", I want to listen. He gives us every opportunity to repent of our rebellion, our "whys". We must heed the warnings. He has made Himself plain through His word.
"I'll trust in God's unchanging word till soul and body sever; the words of men will pass away; God's word abides forever." (last stanza of poem by Martin Luther)
If you have never read the passage of scripture in Jeremiah about the potter and the clay, I encourage you to do so. (Jeremiah 18: 1-12) However, the passage for my post today is Isaiah, and that passage begins with a "woe"! "Woe to him who strives with Him Who formed him." I would like to share a commentary quote from Matthew Poole, theologian and thinker of the seventeenth century, in regard to this passage. Isaiah is warning the people of Israel not to fight against Cyrus, whom God has place in his ruling position. Mr. Poole writes: "...so He pronounces a curse upon them who should endeavor to hinder it...that they did not only fight against Cyrus, a man like themselves, but against God, the Maker and Governor of the world." Poole goes on to write, "...contend, if you please, with your fellow creatures, but not with your Creator."
Poole further elaborates on this thought about contending with your Maker in verse ten. The verse reads: "Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' or to a woman, 'With what are you in labor?'" Poole writes, "As it were an absurd and impudent thing for a child to quarrel with his parents, either simply for begetting him, or for begetting him of this or that sex, contrary to his desire; no better is it for any persons to quarrel with God the Maker and Father of all things, as God is called, for disposing of them and their affairs by His providence as he sees fit, and otherwise than they desire or expect."
I praise God for His grace in salvation and the amazing transformation that takes place as a result. One of those elements of transformation is the ability to fight against our natural tendency to rebel. When God's word says, "Woe", I want to listen. He gives us every opportunity to repent of our rebellion, our "whys". We must heed the warnings. He has made Himself plain through His word.
"I'll trust in God's unchanging word till soul and body sever; the words of men will pass away; God's word abides forever." (last stanza of poem by Martin Luther)
Monday, September 11, 2017
"Confused Noise"
"For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise... and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor." (Isaiah 9:6 & 5,KJV) As I read and studied Isaiah, chapter nine this morning using Matthew Poole's commentary, I was struck by these two verses. While the passage is referring to coming wars for the Israelites and the coming promised Messiah, I saw also the plight of man in his depravity and his crying out for relief from the plight.
Battles had become for the people of God a continual fear, and God in His mercy continued to warn them and call for them to return to Him. This is still true of man today with "wars and rumors of wars". Yet for this post, I refer to the war within us; the battle that daily afflicts us with "confused noises". The battle with sin is not being fought by those who do not believe. But for the believer, the battle rages. Romans seven clearly depicts the battle as we "do not do the good we want to do but do the very sin we do not want".
In writing about the verse in Isaiah, Matthew Poole says this about "confused noise": "with the triumphant exclamations of the conqueror, and the battle lamentations of the conquered and the differing cries of the same persons, sometimes conquering, and sometimes conquered", I could not help but think that this is the battle with sin, Paul writes about in Romans seven. However, with a great victorious exclamation, inspired Isaiah goes on to say in verse six: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given...shall be called Wonderful, Counselor..." Ah, what a relief to have a counselor for this "confused noise" of the mind and heart. Poole writes, "Christ, truly wonderful, in His person, and natures, and words, and works, being made up of wonders, in whom there was nothing which was not wonderful..." And about "Counselor", he goes on to say, "may well be called "counselor", because He knew the whole counsel of God... and is the great Counselor of His church and people in all their doubts and difficulties."
We must as believers, continue daily to throw our doubts and difficulties on Him Who is our best Counselor and always available. He has kept His church through the ages and He will not let us down now, no matter how hard the battle may be. Poole says Christ "has gathered, and enlarged, and preserved His church by admirable counsels and methods of His providence, and in a word, hath in Him all the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge". (Col. 2:3) We do well to always run to Him first in prayer; not to man, whether friend, professional analyst, or self-absorption. Only Christ, our ultimate Intercessor and Counselor, has the solution and power to solve life's hardest battles and all the confused noises that come with them.
Battles had become for the people of God a continual fear, and God in His mercy continued to warn them and call for them to return to Him. This is still true of man today with "wars and rumors of wars". Yet for this post, I refer to the war within us; the battle that daily afflicts us with "confused noises". The battle with sin is not being fought by those who do not believe. But for the believer, the battle rages. Romans seven clearly depicts the battle as we "do not do the good we want to do but do the very sin we do not want".
In writing about the verse in Isaiah, Matthew Poole says this about "confused noise": "with the triumphant exclamations of the conqueror, and the battle lamentations of the conquered and the differing cries of the same persons, sometimes conquering, and sometimes conquered", I could not help but think that this is the battle with sin, Paul writes about in Romans seven. However, with a great victorious exclamation, inspired Isaiah goes on to say in verse six: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given...shall be called Wonderful, Counselor..." Ah, what a relief to have a counselor for this "confused noise" of the mind and heart. Poole writes, "Christ, truly wonderful, in His person, and natures, and words, and works, being made up of wonders, in whom there was nothing which was not wonderful..." And about "Counselor", he goes on to say, "may well be called "counselor", because He knew the whole counsel of God... and is the great Counselor of His church and people in all their doubts and difficulties."
We must as believers, continue daily to throw our doubts and difficulties on Him Who is our best Counselor and always available. He has kept His church through the ages and He will not let us down now, no matter how hard the battle may be. Poole says Christ "has gathered, and enlarged, and preserved His church by admirable counsels and methods of His providence, and in a word, hath in Him all the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge". (Col. 2:3) We do well to always run to Him first in prayer; not to man, whether friend, professional analyst, or self-absorption. Only Christ, our ultimate Intercessor and Counselor, has the solution and power to solve life's hardest battles and all the confused noises that come with them.
Monday, August 7, 2017
Deicidium
Sin is a living parasite that ultimately produces eternal death for all who ignore its presence in their lives. Jesus Christ came to earth to "seek and save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Paul wrote in Romans that the good news is the "power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." For over two thousand years, the message that Jesus died to save us from sin (a living parasite that will destroy us), has been preached, taught, and spoken time and time again. Many have found "new life" and died safely in the "rest" of Christ. However, many have ignored the message and gone out into a hopeless eternity, the final result of sin's destruction. God's commands, like needed medication for our souls, point us to our need for a Savior and the instruction necessary for a walk of righteousness and throwing off the sickness of sin.
Jesus said the greatest command was "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind." And..."You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Those commands go together. You cannot have one without the other. Therefore, when we speak against our neighbor, we violate the command of God. We reveal that we do not truly love God but are stuck in the mire of the sin of loving ourselves first and showing forth the characteristics of that selfish love through pride, arrogance, and slander. Slander, says John MacArthur, is a serious sin and Christians should take drastic measures to avoid such an offense. Love, on the other hand, wishes only the best for others and is expressed by unselfish contentment.
Sin destroys and every sin must be destroyed by the believer, leaving no stone unturned. Slander, speaking wrongfully against anyone, is a sin that many believers overlook. "The sin of slander, James warns, is no trivial matter. It is brazen, reckless treason against the Sovereign Lawgiver and Judge of the universe." [John MacArthur, New Testament Commentary on James, Chapter 4:12] As also stated in this commentary, by English Puritan Ralph Venning: "The sinfulness of sin not only appears from, but consists in this, that it is contrary to God...It goes about to ungod God, and is by some of the ancients called Deicidium, God-murder or God-killing."
John MacArthur goes on to say in his commentary: "Those who slander others betray an exaggerated view of their own importance. James demands, 'who are you who judge your neighbor?' In our contemporary speech James would be saying, 'Who in the world do you think you are, sitting in condemnation on someone else?" "Those who habitually engage in such behavior cast doubt on the genuineness of their faith." This is truly a stinging, but vitally necessary rebuke to us as believers to "examine ourselves" and repent of this little discussed sin of slander. May we throw off this hindrance to our walk and "run with perseverance" toward the mark of righteousness leaving behind us a trail of dead sin that our Savior destroyed at Calvary.
Satan, in his deceit in the garden, could only torment man and cast doubt on God. However, he could never "ungod God". That has been his intent from the beginning, bringing all that would join with him to everlasting destruction. Yet, God in His mercy, does "not have pleasure the death of the wicked...rather that he should turn from his ways and live". "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come form the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19
Jesus said the greatest command was "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind." And..."You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Those commands go together. You cannot have one without the other. Therefore, when we speak against our neighbor, we violate the command of God. We reveal that we do not truly love God but are stuck in the mire of the sin of loving ourselves first and showing forth the characteristics of that selfish love through pride, arrogance, and slander. Slander, says John MacArthur, is a serious sin and Christians should take drastic measures to avoid such an offense. Love, on the other hand, wishes only the best for others and is expressed by unselfish contentment.
Sin destroys and every sin must be destroyed by the believer, leaving no stone unturned. Slander, speaking wrongfully against anyone, is a sin that many believers overlook. "The sin of slander, James warns, is no trivial matter. It is brazen, reckless treason against the Sovereign Lawgiver and Judge of the universe." [John MacArthur, New Testament Commentary on James, Chapter 4:12] As also stated in this commentary, by English Puritan Ralph Venning: "The sinfulness of sin not only appears from, but consists in this, that it is contrary to God...It goes about to ungod God, and is by some of the ancients called Deicidium, God-murder or God-killing."
John MacArthur goes on to say in his commentary: "Those who slander others betray an exaggerated view of their own importance. James demands, 'who are you who judge your neighbor?' In our contemporary speech James would be saying, 'Who in the world do you think you are, sitting in condemnation on someone else?" "Those who habitually engage in such behavior cast doubt on the genuineness of their faith." This is truly a stinging, but vitally necessary rebuke to us as believers to "examine ourselves" and repent of this little discussed sin of slander. May we throw off this hindrance to our walk and "run with perseverance" toward the mark of righteousness leaving behind us a trail of dead sin that our Savior destroyed at Calvary.
Satan, in his deceit in the garden, could only torment man and cast doubt on God. However, he could never "ungod God". That has been his intent from the beginning, bringing all that would join with him to everlasting destruction. Yet, God in His mercy, does "not have pleasure the death of the wicked...rather that he should turn from his ways and live". "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come form the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Divine Resources
"Trials can make us better or bitter." I've heard that many times. I've seen people who represent both results. So, how does one avoid the one and embrace the other. God's answer is in James. Actually, it's an answer that is throughout scripture but I'll use James today. And I'm using John MacArthur's commentary on James as instruction on how a Christian avoids the "bitter" character as they walk through the bitter circumstance.
The short and very complete answer to this issue is "ask". James 1:5 says, "Let him ask". "Let him ask translates an imperative verb in the Greek." John Mac says it's not advice but a command, not an option but mandatory. And he says, if you are "not driven to the Lord and develop a deeper prayer life, the Lord is likely to keep the test active and even intensify it until His child comes to the throne of grace." God is infinitely more willing to impart His wisdom than we are to ask and He expects us to ask.
He gives generously, James goes on to tell us. The only condition is that we ask! And He gives without reproach. John Mac says "the Lord will never cast even the mildest reproach on a child of His seeking wisdom in time of trouble and testing. He will not remind us of how undeserving and unworthy we are, obvious as that might be." [I loved that part because in some of us, it is oh, so very obvious!!!] "Nor will He chide us for not asking sooner, fully understanding that 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak'."
James goes on to say, "in faith without any doubting". This is a faith "backed by genuine trust in God's character, purpose and promises." John Mac goes on to say that Christians may rationalize their doubt in countless ways: undeserving, which is true but irrelevant. Their needs are not worthy, also true. But in God's sovereignty, He chooses to take a great interest in things that, in the grand scheme of things, seem utterly insignificant. So, while we are utterly insignificant, God doesn't see us, His children that way. We must get this! John Mac goes on to say that when God is not trusted, the only course is to go from bad to worse still and as stated above, take the test over.
The solution: "singularly trust the Lord for answers and help." We must "avail ourselves of the divine resources." God's Word, God's love, God's grace, God's providence. Endless resources are ours in abundance. They are ours for the asking. We must not be darkened in understanding this wonderful truth of our Heavenly Father who gives freely to those who will but ask!
The short and very complete answer to this issue is "ask". James 1:5 says, "Let him ask". "Let him ask translates an imperative verb in the Greek." John Mac says it's not advice but a command, not an option but mandatory. And he says, if you are "not driven to the Lord and develop a deeper prayer life, the Lord is likely to keep the test active and even intensify it until His child comes to the throne of grace." God is infinitely more willing to impart His wisdom than we are to ask and He expects us to ask.
He gives generously, James goes on to tell us. The only condition is that we ask! And He gives without reproach. John Mac says "the Lord will never cast even the mildest reproach on a child of His seeking wisdom in time of trouble and testing. He will not remind us of how undeserving and unworthy we are, obvious as that might be." [I loved that part because in some of us, it is oh, so very obvious!!!] "Nor will He chide us for not asking sooner, fully understanding that 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak'."
James goes on to say, "in faith without any doubting". This is a faith "backed by genuine trust in God's character, purpose and promises." John Mac goes on to say that Christians may rationalize their doubt in countless ways: undeserving, which is true but irrelevant. Their needs are not worthy, also true. But in God's sovereignty, He chooses to take a great interest in things that, in the grand scheme of things, seem utterly insignificant. So, while we are utterly insignificant, God doesn't see us, His children that way. We must get this! John Mac goes on to say that when God is not trusted, the only course is to go from bad to worse still and as stated above, take the test over.
The solution: "singularly trust the Lord for answers and help." We must "avail ourselves of the divine resources." God's Word, God's love, God's grace, God's providence. Endless resources are ours in abundance. They are ours for the asking. We must not be darkened in understanding this wonderful truth of our Heavenly Father who gives freely to those who will but ask!
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Five Minutes in Hell
Heard a preacher delivering a message about the great duty and privilege of sharing the gospel. He used the following illustration. He said we don't need to send our children to college, just let them spend five minutes in hell and they will know what they need to be doing in life. He gave the statistics of how many people the average Christian leads to Christ or at least even shares the gospel. The results were shameful and I was definitely shamed.
In my study of 1 Peter this morning, John MacArthur writes about Jesus' "proclamation to the spirits now in prison". He wasn't preaching to them about salvation but was "heralding His triumph over sin on the cross. He purposely went to an actual place to make a triumphant announcement to captive beings before He arose the third day."
He goes on to say using Ephesians 6:12, that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." So, while our "duty and privilege to share the gospel" is indeed hindered at every turn, that does not mean we lay down in defeat. Not as long as we have breath! We
pray daily for the opportunity and boldness.
As believers living on this earth, we are never to be ok with people going to hell. We have no excuse to neglect this great work that God has blessed us to be a part! It is His work, but we are in His hand to be used in it. WOW!
John MacArthur ends the chapter of this study with the following: "It was lost human beings for whom Christ died--the lost angels could only listen in dismay...and the elect angels can only marvel at what they cannot fully understand. Believers should be grateful that 'while they were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.'" Let us be all about our privilege to participate in the beautiful work of salvation. If one could spend even thirty seconds in hell, that may well be a motivator of compassion. However, we have the word of God that tells us that even the demons shudder at the "abyss". The Word is plain and says what we need to move us. Meditate on it!
In my study of 1 Peter this morning, John MacArthur writes about Jesus' "proclamation to the spirits now in prison". He wasn't preaching to them about salvation but was "heralding His triumph over sin on the cross. He purposely went to an actual place to make a triumphant announcement to captive beings before He arose the third day."
He goes on to say using Ephesians 6:12, that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." So, while our "duty and privilege to share the gospel" is indeed hindered at every turn, that does not mean we lay down in defeat. Not as long as we have breath! We
pray daily for the opportunity and boldness.
As believers living on this earth, we are never to be ok with people going to hell. We have no excuse to neglect this great work that God has blessed us to be a part! It is His work, but we are in His hand to be used in it. WOW!
John MacArthur ends the chapter of this study with the following: "It was lost human beings for whom Christ died--the lost angels could only listen in dismay...and the elect angels can only marvel at what they cannot fully understand. Believers should be grateful that 'while they were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.'" Let us be all about our privilege to participate in the beautiful work of salvation. If one could spend even thirty seconds in hell, that may well be a motivator of compassion. However, we have the word of God that tells us that even the demons shudder at the "abyss". The Word is plain and says what we need to move us. Meditate on it!
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