Power…

Power…

For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God. (2 Timothy 1:6-8)

There is a power that we have been given by God … the power of His Holy Spirit! What Paul shared with Timothy, is the same power that Jesus promised His earliest disciples. He told them: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. (Acts 1:8-9)

From the context of both passages, we can readily discern the power we receive is given for a purpose … to be witnesses … to testify about the Lord Jesus Christ! Moreover, Paul indicates that we are empowered to “suffer for the Gospel.” As Paul asserted to believers in Corinth: “The Kingdom of God is not in word but in power!” (1 Corinthians 4:20) Indeed, the Holy Spirit is given to activate us … to energize us for service and ministry … to advance the Kingdom of God! For these reasons, He gives us power, love, and self-discipline!

Notice the power we receive is not for our own use. When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases; and He sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2) On another occasion, Jesus sent seventy-two others to evangelize. The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And Jesus said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:1-3; 17-20)

My friends, the power we have been given through the Holy Spirit is solely to glorify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! And God has deemed us worthy of this calling! For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10) Indeed, God works in us to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. (Philippians 2:13) Thus, it is through His power that we are able to serve Him….

Have a Blessed Day!

The Lord Delights in His People

Psalm 149:4 (NIV)

For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.

Our Verse of the Day comes from a Psalm focused on praise … as Verse 1 suggests. As usual, I thought to read the entire Psalm to review Verse 4 in context. As I read through Verse 5, I was identifying with the Psalmist and the ideas of how to praise the Lord. But as I read Verse 6 and the remainder of the Psalm, I was somewhat startled with the overtone of violence and how it had been connected with praise. I’ll let you read it, and contemplate it yourself for a moment.

Psalm 149

¹Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His faithful people.

²Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
³Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with timbrel and harp.
⁴For the Lord takes delight in His people;He crowns the humble with victory.
⁵Let His faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

⁶May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands,
⁷to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
⁸to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron,

⁹to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all His faithful people. Praise the Lord.

I sought out some commentaries to provide some historical or cultural context to afford a better understanding of the meaning or even symbolism for the language that the Psalmist used. I have reprinted below what I believe is a thoughtful reflection on the passage for us, and I hope sharing it will present some light on otherwise seemingly dark imagery:

Commentary From Enduring Word on Verses 6-9

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand:

God’s people are pictured as ready for battle, equipped with two mighty weapons:

They bear the high praises of God; their worship indicates the allegiance and surrender to the God of every victory experienced in life. In 2 Chronicles 20:20-21 a great victory was won for the people of God as they entered the battle with praise.

They bear a two-edged sword in their hand, demonstrating both the use of practical weapons and means, and in a spiritual sense, their reliance upon the Word of God, which is described as a two-edged sword (Cf. Revelation 19:15); considered sharper than a one-edged sword (Cf. Hebrews 4:12); and metaphorically referenced as the sword of the Spirit (Cf. Ephesians 6:17).

i. In their mouth: “‘In their throat,’ per the Hebrew, for God’s saints sing deep down in their throats. There is a deeply rooted music when we praise God, which is altogether unlike the mere syllables of the lips that come from a hypocrite’s tongue.” (Spurgeon)

ii. “Their praise is not merely to be that of the chanting of words. It is also to be in the doing of His will. While the high praises of God are in their mouth, a two-edged sword is to be in their hand, with which they carry out His purposes among the peoples, the kings, and the nobles.” (Morgan)

iii. “In this state of mind, the Lord will grant victory to his people, as He did to Nehemiah and his men who worked with ‘sword and trowel’ while praying to the Lord (Cf. Nehemiah 4:9, 16–23), believing that ‘Our God will fight for us!’ (Cf. Nehemiah 4:20).” (Van Gemeren)

iv. A saying among Americans came from the Second World War: Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition. Psalm 149:6 has something of that idea.

v. The combination of these two – the high praises of God and the two-edged sword spiritually speaks to every leader among God’s people. The gatherings of God’s people should excel in both praise and the preaching of God’s Word. We should always press to have excellent praises of God and a right, sharp handling of the sword of the Spirit.

vi. “The Word of God is all edge; whichever way we turn it, it strikes deadly blows at falsehood and wickedness. If we do not praise, we shall grow sad in our conflict; and if we do not fight, we shall become presumptuous in our song. The verse indicates a happy blending of the chorister and the crusader.” (Spurgeon)

vii. “If you had a sword of steel, you would fight with men; but that is no part of your business. You are not called to that cruel work; but, as you have the sword of the Spirit, which is two-edged, which is indeed all edge, for it cuts whichever way you turn it, go forth and praise God by the use of that two-edged sword which is the Word of God.” (Spurgeon)

To execute vengeance on the nations:

The power of praise and the Word of God will ultimately see God’s work accomplished among the nations. For those who persist in disobedience, it will be vengeance and punishments at the end of the age. Not even kings or nobles can escape this judgment to come.

i. “The stern close of the Psalm strikes a note which many ears feel to be discordant… [Yet] it is entirely free from any sentiment of personal vengeance.” (Maclaren)

ii. Execute vengeance: “For all their cruelties and injuries towards God’s people. This was literally accomplished by David upon the Philistines, Ammonites, Syrians, and other neighboring nations and princes, which were bitter enemies to God’s people.” (Poole)

iii. “Now, in terms of a holy war, such as those of Israel against the Canaanites, we sing of the retribution which will overtake the enemies of God. As a nation, Israel had been charged with executing this in literal fact at her entry into the promised land; and at the last day the angels, the armies of heaven, will accompany our Lord to judgment.” (Kidner)

iv. We see that in the immediate context of the Psalmist, in some way Israel was to be the agent to execute vengeance. This means that their joyful praise had to connect itself to radical obedience, even to God’s difficult and costly commands. As believers under a new covenant, we don’t battle flesh and blood enemies (Cf. Ephesians 6:12-18), yet we have the responsibility to be not only worshippers, but warriors in a spiritual warfare that at times will be difficult and costly. In a spiritual sense, we are to execute vengeance on everything that would oppose Jesus Christ and the work of His Kingdom in our life.

v. “Our equivalent of binding kings with chains (Verse 8) is to ‘take every thought captive to obey Christ’ (Cf. 2 Corinthians 10:5).” (Kidner)

vi. To execute on them the judgment written: “It would be a sad thing for anyone to misuse this text: lest any warlike believer should be led to do so, we would remind him that the execution must not go beyond the sentence and warrant; and we have received no warrant of execution against our fellow men.” (Spurgeon)

vii. For the believer under the New Covenant, there is a judgment written against every spiritual enemy, and Jesus wrote it by His work on the cross (Cf. John 16:11; Colossians 2:14).

viii. To execute vengeance: “The history of this song is one of great sadness, due to grave misinterpretation, and grievous misapplication. Delitzsch has said: ‘By means of this Psalm, Kaspar Scioppius, in his Classicum Belli Sacri, inflamed the Roman Catholic princes to the Thirty Years’ Religious War. And, within the Protestant Church, Thomas Münzer, by means of this Psalm, stirred up the War of the Peasants.’” (Morgan)

ix. Especially in light of how this verse has been abused, it is important to remember what Morgan noted: “There is no reference in this Psalm to the Church of God. As it specifically indicates, it has to do with ‘Israel,’ and with ‘the children of Zion.’”

This honor have all His saints:

In some way beyond our present comprehension, God will use His people in the setting right the wrongs of this present age. Even if our participation is only as an audience to the righteous judgments of God, it will be an honor to all His saints. “They are redeemed from bondage that they may be God’s warriors. The honor and obligation are universal.” (Maclaren)

Praise the LORD! This sentence – one word in the Hebrew, hallelujah – is understood as either a declaration or an exhortation. Here especially it can be taken as an exhortation, and encouragement for all those who reject and resist God to praise Him instead, to be among His saints and not among the nations who will receive God’s vengeance.

My friends, I know this discussion has been rather lengthy, but I anticipated that many of you would have read the entire Psalm as I did; and I felt like the transition in Verse 6 going into the remainder of the Psalm was fairly intense. To be honest, it bothered me greatly until I read some of the commentaries which gave me a better perspective and reminded me that the Word of God is a metaphoric double-edged sword. Its work within our inner being, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, is to wage war against the rebellion and evil so prevalent within the world because it lies within the human heart. I believe this presents a more balanced application for born-again believers under the New Covenant.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. ~ Psalm 147:10-11

Unashamed of the Gospel…

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Our Verse of the Day is a familiar passage, and so many thoughts come to mind about the importance of sharing the Gospel … the Good News about Jesus Christ! Why is this so important? Well, Paul answers that question: “Because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” There are two key points here regarding the Gospel: Power of God and Salvation! The power of God is His Word. He spoke creation into existence! (Cf. Genesis 1) And so, in order for a person to come to faith and receive salvation, the Word of God (the message about Jesus) must be heard and understood. For Jesus IS the incarnate Word of God! (Cf. John 1:1-5; 14)

Paul wrote: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Cf. Romans 10:17) And what is the word about Christ? What is the core message about Christ?

John 3:16-18 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

1 John 4:9-10 (NIV)

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

John 3:31-36 (NIV)

The One who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, but no one accepts His testimony. Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Romans 3:21-25 (NIV)

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith.

There are a multitude of Scriptures that emphasize the salvific power of the Word of God; but we can see with just these few I have shared that our atonement can only be received through Christ Jesus – the Son of God! Life, eternal life, is given to us as we hear His words, listen to them, and apply them to our hearts. And I love this pronouncement from God through the Prophet Isaiah: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Cf. Isaiah 55:11) Indeed, God has ordained that His Word … His Son … shall bring forth salvation. As Jesus affirmed: “I know that His command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the Father has told me say.” (Cf. John 12:50) This is why sharing the Gospel is so important … so that unbelievers can come to a knowledge of the truth and place their faith in Jesus Christ.

Proclaiming the message of Christ (a message that permeates both Old and New Testaments) is imperative if people are to know the truth and respond to it! Against great opposition, trial, and persecution, Paul was determined to persevere in the preaching of the Gospel. And it is quite evident from the record of his life that Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel, its message, or its power to transform the human heart. God does not want His people in rebellion against Him; rather, He desires peace, reverence, and oneness in His relationship with us. Sharing the Gospel is the telling of God’s message of forgiveness and reconciliation through His Son, Jesus the Christ! The Gospel is not a human invention or imagination because the compassion and unfailing love of God has been revealed from Genesis through Revelation through His Word. As Paul asserted in Romans 1:17, “For in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last (from faith to faith), just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Citing Habakkuk 2:4)

As Paul and the other apostles and disciples experienced, sharing the Gospel can become quite wearisome. Although we have been called in Christ Jesus to believe in Him and His atoning sacrifice for our sins, putting our faith in action will not be without cost or hardship. Jesus taught: “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Cf. Luke 14:27) Even now, we see that our faith in Jesus has become the impetus of ridicule, scorn, persecution, and ever-increasing hatred in this world. But we should not be surprised…. When Jesus sent out His disciples to minister to “the lost sheep of Israel,” He forewarned, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” (Read Matthew 10) And Jesus counseled: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (Cf. John 15:18-19)

Despite whatever vitriol or persecution that might come to believers, the Gospel must be shared! This is the call and commission of very born-again, Spirit-filled believer. Our faith should be bold, courageous, unashamed, undeniable, and unwavering! Indeed, we have been filled and equipped by His indwelling Holy Spirit! “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We are to implore others on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled with God.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:20) And as we see the end of the age approaching, we can enter it with full confidence; for Jesus has already told His disciples what to expect: “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other; and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Cf. Matthew 24:9-14) Even so, come Lord Jesus.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7-10

Brought To Fullness…

Colossians 2:9-10 (NIV)

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Our Verse of the Day looks into a doctrine of faith that should create deep conviction and reverence within us for our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul, in essence, asserts that Jesus is God in human form! All the fullness of the Deity … the Godhead abided in Him who lived among us! That is incredible to contemplate, so I want us to go back and read the verse in the surrounding context:

Colossians 2:1-10 (NLT)

¹ I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. ²I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself. ³In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. ⁵For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. ⁶And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. ⁷Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. ⁸Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. ⁹For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. ¹⁰So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

I like the phrasing of the NLT better than the NIV. It just seemed to resonate a little stronger with me as I pondered the theological instruction of Paul. In succinct fashion, Paul strongly affirms that any questions we might have about God or our understanding of God are answered in Christ Jesus. Indeed, God is Spirit and mysterious, but Christ Jesus has revealed Him to us in a personal and unique way. All we can know of God’s personhood has been fully manifested in Jesus. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. To me, what Paul is saying is that we do not have to wonder any longer about God or His Existence … His Being … His Will … His Power … His Purpose … His Plan … His Nature … His Character … or His LOVE! Jesus is the full and complete expression of God … sent by God … in human form … to reveal Himself to His creatures (humans) made in His image … in order to have full and intimate relationship with them.

John 1:1-5; 14-18 (NIV)

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

¹⁴The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵(John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is the One I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”) ¹⁶Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known.

Hebrews 1:1-3 (NIV)

¹ In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. ³The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

In his Gospel account, the Apostle John states that “out of His fullnesswe have all received grace in place of grace already given.” Paul goes further to declare “We have been brought to fullness IN Christ.” Paul states that “Jesus is the head over every power and authority.” Matthew 28:18 records the resurrected Jesus declaring, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” All this is consistent with what John states: “All things were made through Him (Jesus), and without Him nothing was made that was made. By His Being, Jesus is inherently ruler over all things created. Thus, His title is King of Kings and Lord of Lords….

But I also think another point Paul is trying to make here is that as followers of Christ … those who abide in Christ … we receive that same fullness of the Deity that indwells our Lord. Through His grace, we have been given access to His divine power – a capacity that gives us all things that pertain to life and godliness. (Cf. 2 Peter 1:3) The question is not whether His power is available to us; rather, the question is whether we believe His power is available to us. I’m pretty sure we will not access His power until we actually believe it is available to us and begin to exercise it. Think about it a moment. If we believe that Jesus is God the Son and in perfect unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit (the Godhead or Deity), why do we fail to recognize our capacity to walk in the spiritual power and authority He has given us? Jesus assures us: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Cf. Luke 10:19) Do we even realize that we have His authority abiding in us when we abide in Him?

I think there are other scriptures for us to consider in this regard. “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He (the Father) not also, along with Him (Jesus), graciously give us all things? (Cf. Romans 8:32) Yes, I believe in some sense that our Verse of the Day is trying to stir up in us the awareness of the power and authority … the “fullness” we have actually received in Jesus Christ. And it makes sense because Jesus told us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (Cf. John 15:5) So, I hope we will focus on this deeper call of faith … to abide in Christ and to be filled to the fullness of God in Him. He designed us and ordained us to participate in the divine nature. (Cf. 2 Peter 1:4)

My friends, we need to understand that spiritual fullness is to be exercised through the Church (His Body) and not just as individual members. Paul addresses this point in Ephesians 4:11-13 and Colossians 1:18-20. Please click on the links provided. It is my prayer is that we will find the boldness and courage to believe God at His Word and to walk in the fullness we have been given in Christ as His Body. (Cf. Ephesians 1:23) May His fullness be manifested in grace and compassion extended to those who are lost and broken in spirit; displayed in power over the chains of addiction, relentless temptation, and the dominion of darkness; and fulfilled in the accomplishment of the good works we were created in Christ Jesus to do. Yes, may His fullness be reflected in the fruit of the Spirit we bear through our lives as we abide in Him and in the sincere love we have for one another.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Ah, Sovereign Lord…

Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Our Verse of the Day affirms God as the creator of everything and sovereign over all His works. But if we look at the surrounding context, we will see that Jeremiah prayed this prayer in the midst of an impending national crisis. The remnant people of Israel were being invaded and taken over by the Babylonian Empire because of their unfaithfulness to God; and yet, he is buying land (while in prison) as a display of his trust in the ultimate mercy and goodness and faithfulness of God to redeem and restore His people:

Jeremiah 32:8-23 (NIV)

I knew that this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver. I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales. I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy— and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard. In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’ After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve. You performed signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours. You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. You gave them this land that you had sworn to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey. They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do. So, you brought all this disaster on them.

The disaster that Jeremiah speaks of is the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem and the land of Judah. Indeed, God brought judgment upon His people for their disobedience to His covenant; but there is still hope for a future. If you go back to the famous passage (most of us can quote it) from Chapter 29, we can see the confidence Jeremiah had in the promises of God to restore His people once again.

Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NIV)

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

We are not told, but perhaps the cousin was selling his land to Jeremiah out of fear; or maybe, just survival. I would think there was all kinds of distress at the time because of King Nebuchadnezzar and his ensuing armies. But I believe Jeremiah saw the situation as an opportunity to demonstrate his confidence in the prophetic words of God to restore a remnant of believers after His justice has been meted out. Buying the land with the intent to possess it after the exile offered hope and encouragement to those around him; and perhaps, to those who otherwise distrusted Jeremiah’s prophecies and the instructions from God concerning the exile.

My friends, I believe there is an application for us in this generation as we see and experience economic distress and the travails of upheaval coming upon our land … even the world. Could the unrest and tribulation be judgment for the unbelief, rebellion, and hostility toward God in our culture? Perhaps. God has been more than patient with the sin and unrighteousness of this nation! He has not treated us as our iniquities deserve. (Cf. Psalm 103) Yes, there will be a day of wrath … a day of judgment. And so, we are admonished to persevere so that when we have done the will of God, we will receive what He has promised. For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.” (Cf. Hebrews 10:36-37) As Peter advised: The Lord is patient and not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (Cf. 2 Peter 3:9)

For me, Jeremiah has presented a prophetic metaphor that speaks to our faith in the power and promises of God for those who love Him. Indeed, we should be investing in the Kingdom of God “now” to be received in the Kingdom of God “not yet”. Our devotion and service to God now … as we engage with a rebellious culture … serves to demonstrate our faith in God’s word and His promise of redemption and resurrection! In other words, we should not be fearful or distressed by what we can already see is coming upon this nation (and the world) in these latter days; rather, we should be prepared and at work for the harvest … being confident in the gracious love of God for those who have placed their faith in Jesus.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” (Citing Isaiah 64:4) – the things God has prepared for those who love Him— these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

I am hopeful the application is discernable to us. In the midst of tribulation, we need to stay positive and active – confident in the future God has planned for us. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (Cf. 2 Timothy 1:7) Yes, I think we need to respond to our current circumstances like Jeremiah did in his generation … forward-looking and trusting in the Almighty God who is for us and not against us … believing in the loving, compassionate Father who has planned an inconceivable future for us!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. ~ John 14:1-4

Prayer – His Power at Work…

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Our Verse of the Day continues on the theme of prayer … the power of God manifested through prayer … the praise and glory due His Name because He answers our prayers!

I believe we need to study Ephesians 3 because it is filled with incredible insight into the inner workings of prayer – how God acts on behalf of His people through His Son, our Lord Jesus, and how He empowers us through the indwelling of His Spirit. I will underline what I find as the most powerful thoughts that Paul shares in this passage of scripture:

Ephesians 3 (NIV)

¹For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— ²Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. ⁴In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. ⁶This mystery is that through the Gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. ⁷I became a servant of this Gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power. ⁸Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, ⁹and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. ¹⁰His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, ¹¹according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹²In Him (Jesus) and through faith in Him (Jesus) we may approach God with freedom and confidence. ¹³I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. ¹⁴For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ²⁰Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, ²¹to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Points of Reflection:

Like Paul, God’s grace is given to us in order to serve others.

Because Paul was afforded wisdom to understand the revelations he was shown, we now have that knowledge as imparted in this Epistle to the Ephesians.

This insight has been revealed by the Holy Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets for our own edification and understanding.

The mystery is that in Christ Jesus, believers (Jewish and non-Jewish) have become members of ONE Body in Christ Jesus.

Note that the work of grace in our lives is given to us by God through the working of His power!

The grace that we receive is to share the Gospel … the Good News of the peace and unity we receive through abiding in Christ Jesus.

Paul explains that the intent … the purpose of God in revealing this mystery … is that through the Church (the united body of Christ in the world – both Jewish and non-Jewish) the sovereign will of God should be made known; that is, put on display and brought into full reality before the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms in accordance with His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Note that the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms referred to here are those who are opposed to God and His Sovereignty. (Cf. Ephesians 6:12) His work in us is to effectuate a oneness with the Body of Christ that is evidence to world and to spiritual beings in the heavenly realms.

In Jesus and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Let His grace and truth empower you!

Paul’s prayer is for the people of God to be strengthened with the power of His Spirit in our inner beings (souls). This strength comes from His glorious riches which are found in Christ – His inner dwelling (abiding) in us through faith! (Cf. John 15)

The reason Paul gives for his prayer is that through the power of God we might KNOW the depth of Jesus’ love … because it is a love that essentially exceeds human understanding. It is made known spiritually within our inner beings….

Included in the reason for his prayer, Paul desires that we (believers) may be filled with “all the fullness of God.” Again, this is received through our intimacy with Christ Jesus as His Body. (Cf. John 1:16; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-13; Colossians 2:9-10)

Paul concludes this portion of his letter with a “doxology” – a praise to God for His attributes, His power, and for His loving purposes for His people through Christ Jesus our Lord.

I have found this chapter in Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians to be so powerful in its presentation of the spiritual experience God has ordained for every believer in Christ Jesus. It affirms His purpose that those who put their faith in Jesus should experience “fullness” in their life of faith. It affirms we can personally and intimately know the love of Christ in a way that we may approach the Father with freedom and confidence. Only through abiding faith Christ Jesus can we have true life … real life … abundant life … external life! Indeed, this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (Cf. John 17:3)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” ~ John 14:6-7

When I Called … You Answered

Psalm 138:2-3 (NIV)

I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.

Our Verse of the Day is a timely affirmation of the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness to those who love Him. As I think about our time of corporate intercessory prayer on Wednesday nights, we strive to be focused on being bold in our petitions and requests; to believe we receive what we ask; and to praise God in advance for the answers He ordains … the outcomes according to His will. I think this Psalm captures what our hearts can experience when we take time to enter the presence of the Lord as the local body. I will reprint Psalm and its reflective words for our reference:

Psalm 138 (NIV)

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is exalted, He looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, He sees them from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.

More than ever, it is important for God’s people to “pray without ceasing” and to seek greater intimacy with the Lord. Though we have always been admonished to pray continually (Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), there seems to be a heightened sense of urgency in these last days. It has been revealed to His Church for us to emphasize the power of intercessory prayer. As we contemplate the times in which we live, we need to embrace that prayer changes things … mostly because it inwardly changes our hearts to align with the heart of the Father. It softens and molds our hearts to see the brokenness, oppression, injustice, and darkness that has over taken the lives of so many people around us. It instills a greater awareness of sickness and disease people are enduring. God deeply wants to bring healing and hope; forgiveness and salvation; liberty and life to the world … and most often His work is done through people. This simply means the people God uses to address the evils in our world must have willing hearts to do the work needed. And a great deal of that work begins with prayer. Believers need to press into the presence of God until we, like David, can proclaim: “When I cried out, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul!” (NKJV) Indeed, it is prayer that prepares us to be bold; to be courageous; to be servants to those God is calling to Himself! I recall the words of Jesus who shared this perspective with us:

Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”

Luke 10:1-3 (NIV)

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

When we pray, we are “asking” the Lord. And here Jesus tells us to “ask” the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field. Why? There is a vast multitude of people to be brought into the Kingdom of God, but there are few who are willing to do the work to make it happen. When Jesus said ask, it was not about asking the Lord to send someone else; rather, it was about asking Him to become one of His workers. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Cf. Isaiah 6:8) Indeed, that is my personal prayer … to be bold and courageous and to say: “Here I am, Lord. Send me!”

What is your prayer? When we pray and ask the Lord Jesus to change hearts, to change lives, and to change the world, just what are we expecting Him to do? Exert His divine, supernatural authority and power? Indeed, He will! But I believe He will do so through His people … through His Church. Are we not His Body in the world? Are we not the ones supposed to do the work in His harvest field? Are we not the ones to whom He has given His authority and power?

James 2:14-17 (NIV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

My friends, I encourage and challenge us to think more deeply about the role of prayer in our lives and in our walk of faith. It is one thing to ask God to do something about the suffering in this world; it is quite another to ask Him for boldness and courage to be a worker in His harvest field. Indeed, as His Body, we have been appointed to go into the harvest field. As Paul admonished, we have been asked to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – as this is our true and proper (spiritual) worship. (Cf. Romans 12:1) We have been anointed with spiritual gifts to serve. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11) We have been empowered with boldness! “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (Cf. 2 Timothy 1:7) Yes, it is prayer that will get each of us to that place of alignment with the heart of God in order to accomplish His work….

A Final Thought:

How often have we heard people ask, “Why does God allow suffering in this world?” Perhaps, you have asked this or a similar question. I know that I have. But the answer I have received was quite unsettling. God asked me, “Why do you allow suffering?” I had to pause and deeply consider the question. Do I allow suffering? How have I done so? Well, in a word: “Inaction!” Yes, inaction is the opposite of what James and John admonished us to do. Indeed, there are many actions we can take to address the problems of this world … if we will but take time and look for the opportunities. So, let’s get bold and busy! There is a great harvest for us to gather in these last days….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. ~ Galatians 6:7-10

A Good Gift…

Luke 11:13 (NIV)

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!

In our Verse of the Day, the topic of prayer (communication with God) is being examined … and more specifically … the aspect of “asking” God for the needs in our lives. I think it very important to examine this verse in the surrounding context because it follows Jesus’ teaching of a “model prayer” … followed by a parable that leads to a teachable moment and then culminates with the application. It should prompt us to seek and ask God for His highest gift … His indwelling Spirit! Follow along with me:

Luke 11:1-13 (ESV)

The Lord’s Prayer

¹Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ²And He said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. ³Give us each day our daily bread, ⁴and forgive us our sins (debts), for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Parable of the Inopportune Friend

⁵And Jesus said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves,⁶for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? ⁸I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence* (or persistence) he will rise and give him whatever he needs. (*The NIV Translation renders the expression “shameless audacity”.)

Teachable Moment

⁹And so I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹What fathers among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; ¹²or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

Application

¹³If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Now, given the background and foundation laid here, it is evident to me that the focal point of this passage is Verse 13. Jesus begins with teaching that prayer is about connecting with God as a Father. Prayer is relational and intimate in this context. Prayer acknowledges that God exists … He exerts sovereign dominion and divine power. We are to show Him reverence – “hallowed be your name”. “Your Kingdom come,” means God has authority and sovereignty over all HIS creation … including us. Jesus encourages us through prayer to ask for our physical needs … to request forgiveness … and to avoid the temptation of evil. But then, Jesus shares a parable to emphasize our need to be “persistent” in prayer. It is as though we are urged to be bold and tenacious in the expression of our hearts before God. But why the need for perseverance? Perhaps our resolve and steadfastness in prayer reflects the sincerity of our hearts … that we have not come before God with just some vague hope laced with doubt or a general wish for something without deep expectancy to receive it.

Jesus then moves into an imperative concerning prayer at this point: “And so I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” If prayer was futile or pointless, why would Jesus instruct us to ask, seek, and knock during prayer AND assure us the Father will hear and respond? Jesus goes on to compare the responses of human fathers to their children when they “ask” for various physical needs. He observes: “If sinful human fathers know how to respond to requests based upon their innate capacities to give, then how much more will our perfect Heavenly Father know how to respond to His children when they ask for even greater needs … something so “audacious” or “outrageous” as the indwelling of His Holy Spirit? Yet, Jesus indicates that the baptism or infilling of His Holy Spirit is exactly what we should be asking to receive! I dare say, He is indeed our greatest need!

I know that I have quoted this passage quite often, but I believe it shares great insight into this issue:

2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

His divine power (Holy Spirit) is a gift. (Cf. Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:45)

His divine power (Holy Spirit) is promised. See Joel 2:28-29. (Cf. Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:33, 39; Ephesians 1:13)

His divine nature (Holy Spirit) is activated. (Cf. Romans 15:13, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 2:4; Ephesians 3:16)

You might observe that most of the cited cross-references point to the power of the Holy Spirit to empower the ability to proclaim the Gospel … the Word of God … with boldness or with tongues (other languages) so that the message of Jesus Christ is spread to anyone and everyone who will hear or listen. I believe the reason for this “power” is so prominent because the Word of God induces genuine faith (Cf. Romans 10:17); and it is faith in Jesus Christ that effectuates the divine power we need for a transformed and Spirit-filled life. His divine power is essential for the Kingdom of God to be realized in our lives; and I believe that is our greatest need to be sought through prayer. I believe Jesus inferred that we should ask the Father for the Holy Spirit (His divine power) with shameless audacity and persistence! And although I think such brash language was used in the parable to urge us to be fearless or courageous as we approach the Father, I cannot help but believe we should always be humble and reverent before Him … even when zealous for His precious promise. And this is His promise: God, who is perfect in all His ways, will give His Spirit to those who ask Him.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. ~ James 1:5-8

The Mysteries of God…

Ecclesiastes 11:5 (NIV)

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Our Verse of the Day continues to examine human contemplation of the mysteries of God. King Solomon expresses a couple of examples here to give us a broader perspective of what we do not have the ability to comprehend with our finite minds. Who can see the wind or know the course that it takes through the air? It is invisible … undiscernible; and yet, we can feel its force and know when it is moving. Likewise, we do not know HOW the body is formed in the womb. Oh, we can see ultrasound images of the human life as it grows from a fertilized egg; but we do not know how or why it develops into a human being. Indeed, who can understand HOW a seed when placed in the ground can germinate and become a tree bearing its own fruit? Yes, such are the things of creation God allows us to experience, examine, and study; and yet, we can only marvel at the intelligent design He spoke into existence….

The inspired writer of the Book of Job shared ancient wisdom about the origins and mysteries of God and His creative power in Chapters 36-39. How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of His years is past finding out. (Cf. Job 36:26) Solomon observed: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Cf. Ecclesiastes 3:11) The Prophet Zechariah described God as: “The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person.” (Cf. Zechariah 12:1) And the Prophet Jeremiah affirmed: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can understand it?” (Cf. Jeremiah 17:9) These are just a few of the OT Scriptures that address our inability to fully comprehend what we cannot see; and yet, through faith we know these truths to be evident. Yes, such are the things of faith … the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Cf. Hebrews 11:1)

Still, I like to read the inspired writings of the Apostle Paul to gain his perspective on theological matters. And in the matter of mysteries, Paul had quite the insight to challenge us. I like to ponder the thoughts he shared in this passage:

1 Corinthians 2:9-14 (NIV)

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” (Citing Isaiah 64:4) — the things God has prepared for those who love Him— these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

Through the indwelling Spirit of God, we have the mind of Christ. Believers ARE able to discern and to know the truth of those things revealed and declared in the Word of God. The truth about what is incomprehensible for our finite minds does not discourage us at all; rather, it increases our faith in a holy, sovereign, almighty Creator. His love is revealed to us in His creation. His desire for intimate relationship with each of us is revealed in His creation. Indeed, in the past God spoke to our ancestors through the Prophets at many times and in various ways; but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Cf. Hebrews 1:1-3) To me, all the mysteries only serve to make our Heavenly Father all the more knowable. For we can discern through our Lord Jesus that the Father is worthy of all reverence! He is to be praised and adored! As Paul would conclude:

Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom andknowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” (Citing Isaiah 40:13) “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” (Citing Job 41:11) For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:2

The Power of Prayer…

James 5:16 (NIV)

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Our Verse of the Day offers an interesting perspective on prayer. Let’s read the surrounding context:

James 5:13-20 – Prayer Offered In Faith

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again, he prayed, and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced its crops. (Cf. 1 Kings 17; 18) My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

With the broader context in view, I think we can see the great potential of prayer to impact the circumstances we experience in our lives. We live in a fallen world of sin in all of its myriad manifestations. We will experience trouble and tribulation. (Cf. John 16:33) We will experience sickness and illness in our bodies. We will be tempted with sin and challenged with the decision to flee its allure. And in these latter days there will be great tribulation ahead; “such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Cf. Matthew 24:21) Indeed, spiritual forces of darkness and evil envelop the earth (Cf. Ephesians 6:12); and the only light available to prevail against the darkness is the light of Christ Jesus our Lord….

John 1:1-5 (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:19-20 (NIV)

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

John 8:12 (NIV)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 12:44-46 (NIV)

Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

If you think about the light of the sun, it is produced by an internal source of power. If you think about a light bulb, it can only emanate light when electric power is supplied to it. Even a simple candle must have a source of fuel and a flame to ignite it in order to provide continual light. And so, I want to focus our attention on the power of prayer to awaken our faith. We are urged … even commanded … to pray in order to navigate our human existence within the framework of faith. Why? Because our faith expresses genuine belief in the Lord Jesus; and it follows that our faith embraces the light He has brought into the world.

My friends, I submit that prayer is the source of energy to power that light! It is His light within us that overcomes the darkness, but it must shine in order to accomplish its work. Prayer is the power that activates faith and prompts us to engage the culture (world) around us. As Jesus taught: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Cf. Matthew 5:14-16)

So, I want to encourage us to let the Light of Life ignite our faith. Let it penetrate the present darkness of our world. If we want to address the difficulties in the lives of people … if we want to see illnesses healed … if we want to see deliverance from bondage to sin … if we want to help prodigals and unbelievers be reconciled with God … if we want to engage in spiritual warfare and cast down demonic influences; then our faith to move these mountains must be spiritually empowered to accomplish it. And that power is prayer! Yes, it is my conviction that we will not be productive or effective without abiding in Christ … living in an intimate relationship with Him that can only be established and nurtured through prayer. Indeed, prayer is essential for the supernatural ministries of the Church to bring forth light in the midst of darkness. Prayer is imperative for believers to function as the Body of Christ in this world. So let us be people of prayer! Let us pray without ceasing! For the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. ~ Acts 28:7-9