Although Christ has set the believer free from legalistic bondage, he is now under a still higher law—the law of Christ. It is also called “the law of the Spirit of life” that has made us “free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
The law of Christ does not consist of many detailed ordinances that we are duty bound to obey. It is a law that we want to obey out of love for Christ. “Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10). Paul says that “the end of the commandment is charity [that is, Christian love] out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (1 Timothy 1:5). James calls it “the royal law,” defining it simply as “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (James 2:8).
Instead of a law bringing us into bondage, it is “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25), setting us free from slavery to sin. It not only gives us the desire to please the Lord but also the will and the ability to do so.
It is not as though we are now without law and thereby free to indulge our carnal appetites. Paul explains his own new nature thus: “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more . . . (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ)” (1 Corinthians 9:19, 21).
In Christ, “the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,” and He is “the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 3:21; 10:4). But though we “have been called unto liberty,” Paul commands us to “use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). Thus, to believe in Christ is also to obey Him. HMM
How God Views the Self-Directed Man
We've all heard jokes about men who refuse to stop and ask for directions. But in reality, there's probably a good bit of truth to the stereotype, and it isn't limited to males. Plenty of men and women in this world zoom along without slowing down to ask for guidance.
If you were to look at the situation from a spiritual perspective, you'd see a world of lost souls desperately trying to save themselves. They think they can earn their way into heaven through hard work and the accumulation of good deeds. But they're wrong.
Today's passage from Luke describes a wealthy person who makes a lot of plans based only on his own thoughts, desires, and experience. Take the time to look at the passage again, and notice how many times he used the words "I" and "my." What you'll see is that his focus was squarely on himself. This parable is a sad picture of the self-directed man trying to make his own way and secure his own future with no help from anyone--including God.
The Lord didn't mince words: He called the man "fool" (v. 20). Worldly wisdom amounts to nothing in the eyes of our omniscient, all-wise Father (1 Cor. 1:20), and He expects His children to request and follow His guidance.
The message for us today is clear: When we figure out our own plans and take action with no thought about what God would advise, we are behaving like fools. The Lord has a plan for your life. He knows where you'll succeed and where you'll fail. Be wise and ask Him for directions.
U.S.E. Your Faith
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
Today’s verse contains a portion of Habakkuk 2:4, emphasizing that those who have been twice-born can live using the same faith that God granted us so that we could believe (Ephesians 2:8). An acronym for USE can help focus our thoughts.
U—Use what you have. Moses had only a rod when God called him to deliver the nation of Israel (Exodus 4:2-6). We should use the talent and equipment already in our possession, just like the widow of Zarephath, who gave her meager grain (1 Kings 17:10-16). Daniel used his secular position (Daniel 6:14-23), and Esther used her beauty and bravery (Esther 4:13-17) to accomplish His will.
S—Start doing it. Nothing happens unless we become involved. The priests of Israel participated in the miracle at Jordan when they obeyed and stepped in the river (Joshua 3:5-17). The widow did not reap the bounty until she followed Elisha’s instructions and borrowed pots from her neighbors (2 Kings 4:1-7). After the miracle of the oil, she surely wished that she had not limited God’s supply. The man who was born blind had to wash as instructed before he could see (John 9:1-7). And those at Lazarus’ tomb had to open it before they could see him resurrected (John 11:39). God instructs, we obey, and He performs.
E—Expect it to happen. The centurion understood our Lord’s authority when he asked Him to heal his servant (Matthew 8:5-13). The Syrophonecian woman insisted on being healed (Matthew 15:21-26), and the nobleman went home confident that his son had been saved (John 4:46-53).
Circumstances will vary, but God’s “formula” does not. HMM III
Sanctification: God's Grand Plan
The heavenly Father has a grand plan for the life of every person, and it can be summed up in the word sanctification. If you have never been certain of the term's meaning, you are not alone--many people are unclear about its definition. However, believers should understand it because the word defines them.
In its verb form--sanctify--the term means "to make holy" or "to separate." So when something is sanctified, it is separated from its former common usage and is dedicated for sacred purposes. The Old Testament mentions a number of things that the Lord sanctified: He made the seventh day holy, set aside the Levite tribe as priests, and even consecrated places like the Holy of Holies inside the tabernacle (Gen. 2:3; Num. 3).
The heavenly Father still sanctifies people today. Before a person places his faith in the Savior, he is spiritually dead and, in fact, an enemy of God (Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 5:10). But the moment someone chooses to trust in Jesus Christ, his sins are wiped away, and he is adopted into God's family. That individual is set apart as a child of God, with a sacred purpose. This means believers are not here to chase after personal gain but to serve the Lord and bring Him honor and glory.
As members of God's family who are called upon to reflect His glory, believers are referred to as "saints." We are given this moniker--which shares its root with sanctification--not because we live sinless lives, but because we live a life consistent with the One we represent.
The Fourfold Witness to Christ
“One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” (Deuteronomy 19:15)
“One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” (Deuteronomy 19:15)
In the Mosaic law, at least two reliable witnesses were required to convict a man of a crime. Jesus Christ was charged with blasphemy, claiming to be the unique Son of God. Not only was there the required double witness, but actually a fourfold witness to the “crime.” The witnesses not only agreed that the claim was made but also that the claim was true!
The first was John the Baptist, who said, “I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34). To so testify was John’s very reason for being, for he “was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light” (John 1:8-9).
There was also a second, more potent witness. “I have greater witness than that of John,” Jesus said, “for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me” (John 5:36). The great teacher Nicodemus had to acknowledge, “No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2).
Furthermore, there was the direct testimony of God from heaven. “The Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me” (John 5:37). “There came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (2 Peter 1:17).
Most importantly, there is the testimony of the Bible. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).
We no longer have such direct testimony, but we will always have the Holy Scriptures, eternally proclaiming the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. HMM
Helping People Have the Assurance of SalvationJohn Piper
Full assurance is God's will for us. "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end" Hebrews 6:11.
Assurance is partially sustained by objective evidences for Christian truth. "To [his apostles] He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days" Acts 1:3.
Assurance cannot neglect the painful work of self-examination. "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:5.
Assurance will diminish in the presence of concealed sin. "When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long" Psalms 32:3.
Assurance comes from hearing the Word of Christ. "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" Romans 10:17.
"These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" John 20:31.
Repeated focusing on the sufficiency of the cross of Christ is crucial for assurance. "Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" Hebrews 10:21-22.
We must pray for eyes to see the truths that sustain assurance. "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe" Ephesians 1:18-19.
Assurance is not easily maintained in personal isolation. "And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'" 1 Corinthians 12:21.
Assurance is not destroyed by God's displeasure and discipline. "Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, and I will see His righteousness" Micah 7:8-9.
We must often wait patiently for the return of assurance. "I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD" Psalms 40:1-3.
Assurance is a fight to the day we die. "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life" 1 Timothy 6:12.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" 2 Timothy 4:7.
Assurance is finally a gift of the Spirit. "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God" Romans 8:16.
"The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself... And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" 1 John 5:10-11.
Longing for your assurance,
Pastor John
Building Muscles of Faith
1 Kings 18:22-36
"I wish I had great faith." These are words that almost every Christian has said at one time or another. But faith is like a muscle, which must be exercised in order to become strong; just wishing cannot make it happen.
Christians are to believe God, not only for salvation but for everything. Rather than a spiritual "plateau," faith is actually a process that involves increasing degrees of trust throughout life. Little faith hopes that God will do what He says; strong faith knows that He will; and great faith believes that He has already done it.
Elijah was a man of great faith. He saw increased challenges as opportunities for God to do His work--and the prophet believed Him for the supernatural. So can you. The Lord may not do every miraculous thing you ask of Him, but He does some extraordinary work in and through each person who is obedient and willing to trust in Him.
You may be thinking, I am not good enough for the Father to use me. The Scriptures are filled with examples of weak and flawed people whom the Lord used to achieve His purposes. He is looking, not for perfection, but for individuals willing to believe Him. He not only works through people of faith; He transforms them.
Start by reading God's Word to learn what He wants you to do. Each day's situations and needs are opportunities to trust Him. Ask the Lord to bring to mind verses that apply to your circumstances. Trust Him and do what He says--your faith "muscles" will grow, and He will be glorified.
Can a Christian Not Sin?
�My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.� (1 John 2:1)
If the question is asked �Does a Christian not sin?� then the answer is no. �If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. . . . If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us� (1 John 1:8, 10). Even the most godly Christian does sin occasionally�in thought if not in deed, in omission if not in commission. The God-given antidote is 1 John 1:9: �If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.�
But there is a danger if we use such verses as an excuse for sinning or for taking sin too lightly. If the question is asked �Can a Christian not sin?� then the answer is yes! God indeed, in Christ, has made every provision necessary for a believer never to commit sin, and we are without any legitimate excuse whenever we do.
This must be so for at least two reasons. In the first place, Jesus Christ in His humanity is our example, and He �was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin� (Hebrews 4:15). He accomplished this, not because of His deity, but solely in His humanity.
Secondly, God has commanded us not to sin, and He would never command us to do the impossible. For every temptation, there is a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13), and we have no excuse if we fail to take it. Our only recourse is to repent and confess the sin.
Our text commands us to sin not! But then, it also reminds us that Christ is our great advocate before the Father. He is righteous and has already taken our sins away as our propitiatory sacrifice, so �the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin� (1 John 1:7). HMM
A Colony of Heaven
�For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.� (Philippians 3:20)
The term �conversation� in this verse is from a Greek word (politeuma) used only this once in the New Testament. It is related to the word for �city� (polis) and has to do with the proper behavior of a good citizen. Consequently, some translations render the word as �citizenship,� stressing the fact that our true home is not in any earthly city but in heaven.
Since we are now stationed here in a foreign land, as it were, one particularly picturesque rendering calls us �a colony of heaven.� We are pioneering settlers, attempting to establish a beachhead for our homeland in a distant, dangerous country. The Lord Jesus prayed to His Father, �As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world� (John 17:18). �Go ye into all the world� was His commission, �and preach the gospel to every creature� (Mark 16:15).
A similar figure is used in 2 Corinthians 5:20: �We are ambassadors for Christ.� As such, it is vitally important that our �conversation� (i.e., �lifestyle�) be one that honors the heavenly kingdom and our great King.
Then, when our colonizing efforts succeed and new citizens are added to the heavenly kingdom, they can testify with us: �[The Father] hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son� (Colossians 1:12-13).
As citizens, and colonists, and ambassadors from heaven, we are here only temporarily, of course. Our real home is with our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and we are looking for Him to establish His eternal kingdom here on Earth as it is in heaven. HMM
�And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.� (Psalm 9:8)
Judgment is coming for every person, �as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment� (Hebrews 9:27). Many people don�t believe it, and still more don�t seem to care, but judgment is coming! Be certain of this. We must all meet God our Maker someday.
Furthermore, �he shall judge the world in righteousness,� for He is �of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity� (Habakkuk 1:13). �He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth� (Psalm 96:13; also note Psalm 96:10; 98:9).
All is lost if God judges righteously, however, for �there is none righteous, no, not one� (Romans 3:10), and �cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them� (Galatians 3:10).
But �God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, . . . hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him� (2 Corinthians 5:19, 21). The Lord Jesus, the Son of God, our Creator/Redeemer, has taken our judgment on Himself, and �there is therefore now no [judgment] to them which are in Christ Jesus� (Romans 8:1).
Consequently, �the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son� (John 5:22). God can both judge righteously and yet graciously save all who receive Christ by faith: �Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead� (Acts 17:31). Jesus Christ is not only our Creator and righteous Judge, but also our Redeemer, Mediator, Advocate, and Savior! HMM
Perseverance in Prayer
Romans 12:11-13
As a pastor, I speak with many people about their spiritual journey. From these interactions, I know that most individuals are not satisfied with their prayer life. They lack anticipation and faith, and time with God feels empty. Most likely, this is why many Christians pray so little and so passionlessly.
Yesterday, we began looking at obstacles to a healthy prayer life. Let�s explore one more hindrance that blocks vibrant communication between God and us: impatience.
Most of us have at some point brought our supplication to Jesus vigorously but did not see the desired results. Unfortunately, humans are, by nature, fainthearted. We get weary of asking and listening when all we perceive is silence. Remember, though, that God is not some �cosmic bellhop�; He does not act on our cue. In fact, if we could see the big picture as He can, we would gladly wait for His way and time.
Actually, I believe that we benefit by not receiving all that we request. Understanding this concept is a sign of spiritual maturity. When we are thoroughly satisfied with the Lord�s presence, our relationship with Him will flourish, even when we don�t get all we ask. When that is the case, we grasp what prayer is--not a long want list, but a relationship.
Barriers can develop if we persistently cry out to God but nothing changes. Continue to pray. Beyond this �wall,� you�ll sense God�s presence, where you will find peace, joy, and awesome glimpses of His glory. This will be completely satisfying, even if He never gives you exactly what you requested.
Assurance cannot neglect the painful work of self-examination. "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:5.
Assurance will diminish in the presence of concealed sin. "When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long" Psalms 32:3.
Assurance comes from hearing the Word of Christ. "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" Romans 10:17.
"These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" John 20:31.
Repeated focusing on the sufficiency of the cross of Christ is crucial for assurance. "Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" Hebrews 10:21-22.
We must pray for eyes to see the truths that sustain assurance. "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe" Ephesians 1:18-19.
Assurance is not easily maintained in personal isolation. "And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'" 1 Corinthians 12:21.
Assurance is not destroyed by God's displeasure and discipline. "Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, and I will see His righteousness" Micah 7:8-9.
We must often wait patiently for the return of assurance. "I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD" Psalms 40:1-3.
Assurance is a fight to the day we die. "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life" 1 Timothy 6:12.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" 2 Timothy 4:7.
Assurance is finally a gift of the Spirit. "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God" Romans 8:16.
"The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself... And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" 1 John 5:10-11.
Longing for your assurance,
Pastor John
Building Muscles of Faith
1 Kings 18:22-36
"I wish I had great faith." These are words that almost every Christian has said at one time or another. But faith is like a muscle, which must be exercised in order to become strong; just wishing cannot make it happen.
Christians are to believe God, not only for salvation but for everything. Rather than a spiritual "plateau," faith is actually a process that involves increasing degrees of trust throughout life. Little faith hopes that God will do what He says; strong faith knows that He will; and great faith believes that He has already done it.
Elijah was a man of great faith. He saw increased challenges as opportunities for God to do His work--and the prophet believed Him for the supernatural. So can you. The Lord may not do every miraculous thing you ask of Him, but He does some extraordinary work in and through each person who is obedient and willing to trust in Him.
You may be thinking, I am not good enough for the Father to use me. The Scriptures are filled with examples of weak and flawed people whom the Lord used to achieve His purposes. He is looking, not for perfection, but for individuals willing to believe Him. He not only works through people of faith; He transforms them.
Start by reading God's Word to learn what He wants you to do. Each day's situations and needs are opportunities to trust Him. Ask the Lord to bring to mind verses that apply to your circumstances. Trust Him and do what He says--your faith "muscles" will grow, and He will be glorified.
Can a Christian Not Sin?
�My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.� (1 John 2:1)
A Colony of Heaven
�For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.� (Philippians 3:20)
Another Divine Helper John 14:16-18
Have you ever wished you had a 911 number that rang in heaven whenever you had a need? Well, I have good news for believers. We all have divine assistance that�s even closer than a phone call: our Helper dwells within us. But if we are unaware of Him, we�ll miss many opportunities to benefit from the greatest asset in our Christian life--the Holy Spirit�s presence.
Christ knew that when He left the earth, His disciples would be totally inadequate for the task He was giving them--to evangelize the world. Though they�d spent three years with Jesus, all they had seen and learned would still not sufficiently equip them for what lay ahead. They needed supernatural help, and so do we--someone who will come to our aid, empower our service, and transform us from the inside out.
The Holy Spirit is the only one who can achieve all this. Consider His qualifications:
1. He is a personal Helper, not some inanimate force. God�s Spirit is a member of the Trinity and coequal with both the Father and Jesus Christ.
2. He is a practical Helper who involves Himself in every aspect of our lives.
3. He is an adequate Helper because He�s omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
4. He is an available Helper who permanently lives within us.
Do you have any need that requires more power than omnipotence? Are you facing a decision that requires more knowledge than omniscience? Nothing we encounter is bigger than the omnipresent One who lives within us. Be calm and confident. No matter what challenges you face, He can help.
Justification
�And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.� (Genesis 7:1)
This is the first mention of the great doctrine of justification in the Bible�that is, being seen as �righteous� by God. The same Hebrew word is translated �just� in Genesis 6:9: �Noah was a just man.� The reason Noah was seen as righteous and therefore as just, or justified before God, was that �Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD� (Genesis 6:8). This is the first mention of �grace� in the Bible. The first mention of �faith� or �belief� is also associated with justification: �[Abraham] believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness� (Genesis 15:6).
Thus, in the Old Testament and certainly in the New, justification is by grace through faith. �Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus� and also �being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ� (Romans 3:24; 5:1).
Justification�that is, being seen and proclaimed as perfectly righteous, even in spite of past sins�must of course be authorized by God the Creator. �It is God that justifieth� (Romans 8:33). That God can indeed be both �just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus� (Romans 3:26) is based entirely on the substitutionary death and bodily resurrection of Christ, who conquered death. �Being now justified by his blood,� the Lord Jesus Christ �was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification� (Romans 5:9; 4:25).
Now, although we are freely justified by grace through faith, such justification inevitably generates good works also, for �by works a man is justified, and not by faith only� (James 2:24). HMM
Righteous Judgment to ComeHave you ever wished you had a 911 number that rang in heaven whenever you had a need? Well, I have good news for believers. We all have divine assistance that�s even closer than a phone call: our Helper dwells within us. But if we are unaware of Him, we�ll miss many opportunities to benefit from the greatest asset in our Christian life--the Holy Spirit�s presence.
Christ knew that when He left the earth, His disciples would be totally inadequate for the task He was giving them--to evangelize the world. Though they�d spent three years with Jesus, all they had seen and learned would still not sufficiently equip them for what lay ahead. They needed supernatural help, and so do we--someone who will come to our aid, empower our service, and transform us from the inside out.
The Holy Spirit is the only one who can achieve all this. Consider His qualifications:
1. He is a personal Helper, not some inanimate force. God�s Spirit is a member of the Trinity and coequal with both the Father and Jesus Christ.
2. He is a practical Helper who involves Himself in every aspect of our lives.
3. He is an adequate Helper because He�s omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
4. He is an available Helper who permanently lives within us.
Do you have any need that requires more power than omnipotence? Are you facing a decision that requires more knowledge than omniscience? Nothing we encounter is bigger than the omnipresent One who lives within us. Be calm and confident. No matter what challenges you face, He can help.
Justification
�And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.� (Genesis 7:1)
�And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.� (Psalm 9:8)
Perseverance in Prayer
Romans 12:11-13
As a pastor, I speak with many people about their spiritual journey. From these interactions, I know that most individuals are not satisfied with their prayer life. They lack anticipation and faith, and time with God feels empty. Most likely, this is why many Christians pray so little and so passionlessly.
Yesterday, we began looking at obstacles to a healthy prayer life. Let�s explore one more hindrance that blocks vibrant communication between God and us: impatience.
Most of us have at some point brought our supplication to Jesus vigorously but did not see the desired results. Unfortunately, humans are, by nature, fainthearted. We get weary of asking and listening when all we perceive is silence. Remember, though, that God is not some �cosmic bellhop�; He does not act on our cue. In fact, if we could see the big picture as He can, we would gladly wait for His way and time.
Actually, I believe that we benefit by not receiving all that we request. Understanding this concept is a sign of spiritual maturity. When we are thoroughly satisfied with the Lord�s presence, our relationship with Him will flourish, even when we don�t get all we ask. When that is the case, we grasp what prayer is--not a long want list, but a relationship.
Barriers can develop if we persistently cry out to God but nothing changes. Continue to pray. Beyond this �wall,� you�ll sense God�s presence, where you will find peace, joy, and awesome glimpses of His glory. This will be completely satisfying, even if He never gives you exactly what you requested.
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