Sufficient…

Sufficient…

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:7-8

One of the more difficult concepts for a believer to grasp is the suffering we are allowed to endure in life. James wrote: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) Likewise, Peter affirmed there is an inheritance reserved in heaven for us “who through faith are shielded by God’s power.” And he encouraged: “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:5-7)

Testing. Suffering. Affliction. These come to us to refine and strengthen our faith. When we reach the end of ourselves … when we are emptied of our own strength … then we have the opportunity to see God begin His work within us. And that is precious lesson to be experienced! Jesus foretold His followers that in the world we would have troubles and tribulation; but He also encouraged, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Indeed, as Paul sought through prayer to be relieved of demonic harassment and torment, Jesus reminded him, “My grace is sufficient….”

How blessed it is to know that the resources of the Lord for us are sufficient!

His Word is eternal and it stands firm in the heavens. ~ Psalm 119:89

His Truth is immutable and extends to all generations. ~ Psalm 100:5

His Mercy is abundant and endures forever. ~ Psalm 118

His Blood is fully propitiatory and atones our sins. ~ Romans 3:5

His Resurrection is the boundless power of our living hope. ~ 1 Peter 1:3

His Peace is more than enough to calm our hearts. ~ John 14:27

His Grace is ample to meet every spiritual need. ~ Ephesians 2:7

His Love is inseparable and everlasting. ~ Romans 8:35-39

His Presence is fullness of joy. ~ Psalm 16:11

Oh, my friends, I pray that you will know the complete sufficiency of our Lord Jesus Christ! For out of His fullness, we have all received grace in place of grace already given. (John 1:16) There is nothing you will ever lack in Him. “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.” (Colossians 2:9-10) Yes, Jesus is sufficient, and I encourage you to simply rest in His strength!

Have a Blessed Day!

Deliver…

Deliver…

Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise. ~ Psalm 119:153-154

King David penned some wonderful words for those who are suffering in affliction and hardship; and I feel led to share them this morning:

Psalm 34:15-20 (NIV)

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

We can look back through the OT Scriptures and see the hand of God Almighty deliver His people … His treasured possession … from those who would oppress them with hardship and afflict them with injustice. Yes, the righteous cry out for the tender mercies of God to deliver them from their troubles, and His ear is attentive to their sighs and prayers. Have you ever prayed like David did?

Psalm 31:2-5 (NIV)

Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge. Into Your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

Psalm 18:1-2 (NIV)

I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my sovereign shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Oh, my friend, do you not know today that the Lord is the Mighty God who delivers you? It is He who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. (Psalm 103:3) The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3) And Jesus is calling you today to come to Him. For He will deliver you! He will heal you! He will set you free! Jesus asks you to trust Him and to believe. For He is full of compassion and ready to deliver you from all your affliction. Yes, He says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Seek the Lord this morning … while He may be found. He is your refuge and strength; an ever-present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) He declares to you: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4) Indeed, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2) Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Abundant…

Abundant…

How abundant are the good things that You have stored up for those who fear You, that You bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in You. (Psalm 31:19)

Abundant is a pleasant word…. It conveys thoughts of plentiful; great quantity; more than adequate; over-sufficient; lavish; well supplied. Indeed, God provides us with inexhaustible mercy … exceeding grace … infinite peace … lavish love … great hope … overwhelming joy! Yes, He abundantly supplies for every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus! (Philippians 4:19) And we have this assurance from our Lord Jesus who declared: “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Abundant is an encouraging word…. It resonates the gracious fullness with which our God delights to bless us in His Son. His plan … His purpose … His pleasure for us was predestined before the creation of the world:

Ephesians 1:3-8 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.

Abundant is a responsive word…. There is no end to what we should do in response to the incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7) We shall thank God continually. We shall pray without ceasing. Yes, through Jesus, let us offer to God an endless sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess His Name. (Hebrews 13:15) Our God and Father is worthy of the highest and unending worship! Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him! (Psalm 147:1) Now unto the King Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

Have a Blessed Day!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure. ~ 1 John 3:1-3

God Is Our Refuge…

Psalm 46:1 (NIV)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

We all face a myriad of challenges in this life. Our world continues to be plagued with viruses, famines, military upheavals, violence, political conflicts, and general unrest. But our Verse of the Day is a great reminder of the refuge we have in God! When our world seems upside down and our hardships feel overwhelming, God calls us to Himself. Like David we cry: “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Cf. Psalm 57:1) We are not able to carry the burdens we face in this life alone; and so, Jesus encourages us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Cf. Matthew 11:28-30)

I just want to encourage you to know that God is ever present in your life … in your soul … in your inner being. He will help you when you are troubled at any time. Just get still before Him and ask Him to speak to you. He already knows your situation and your circumstances, so really all you need to do is listen and believe. Trust Him! The Father loves you more than you can comprehend! And if you ever doubt His love for you, then pray for faith. Ask Jesus to help you overcome your unbelief. (Cf. Mark 9:24) He is willing and able to meet you where you are. Just run into His arms and let His embrace give you assurance. He is ever present!

My friends, I pray for any of you who have become weary or discouraged. I urge you to let Jesus be your refuge and your strength … for He is! You and I will not make it through this life on our own … ever! So, just rest in Jesus, and let Him fight the battles for you. Oh, how we need a refuge in these times … a place of comfort … the presence of God to surround us … when nothing makes sense anymore. Yes, I ask You, Lord Jesus, to give us rest in our souls! Indeed, “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your Word.” (Psalm 119:28) How desperately we need you, Lord Jesus – You who are our Comforter in sorrow, when our hearts are faint within us. (Cf. Jeremiah 8:18)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Great and Unsearchable Things

Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NIV)

This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is His name: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

In our Verse of the Day, the Prophet Jeremiah declares an incredible word from our Sovereign Creator. Yes, the Lord (YAH) is His Name! It is this Being … God the Father … who says to us: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” I thought, “How wonderful is that word to us?” But then I continued to read the rest of Chapter 33 for context; and its message of restoration … its confirmation of hope and salvation for wayward Israel … became the focus of what God was declaring through Jeremiah. I encourage you to click on the link provided and read its prophetic, messianic word.

Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NIV)

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; He will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.”

It was then I realized that Father God has already fulfilled that great and unsearchable thing. His name is Jesus! Who among us can truly comprehend what God has done? “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. The 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. (Cf. John 1:1-3; 14) Do we truly understand what this means? Is this not the greatest mystery ever foretold … revealed … fulfilled? Indeed, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. (Cf. Psalm 145:3) And so, I feel like Paul who concluded:

Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)

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

Ephesians 3:8-11 (NKJV)

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the Church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Mysteries … hidden in God since the beginning of creation! Yet, His glory and wisdom has been revealed to us in Christ Jesus our Lord! God has made known His passionate love for us! Yes, I believe the unsurpassed love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord IS the great and unsearchable thing He has foretold. God has shown and demonstrated to us both His will and purpose! God said, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Well, God wants you and I to know Him! He wants us to know His great love! So, the Father sent us His Son … the Word made flesh:

Hebrews 1:1-3 (NIV)

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. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

My friends, if we truly want to know our Creator … then we need only to know His Son. Jesus declared, “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.” (Cf. John 14:6-7) Indeed, to know Jesus and to have an intimate relationship with Him is how we have fellowship with the Father as well. He is the promise of the Father … fulfilled as declared through the Prophet Jeremiah! Yes, anyone CAN know this great and unsearchable thing … the unsearchable riches of wisdom and understanding found only in Jesus! He is the Lord Our Righteous Savior! He is the restoration of all things! He is the New Covenant! He is worthy of our reverence and adoration! Be forever praised, Lord Jesus!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord. “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord. “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior. ~ Jeremiah 23:1-6

You Have Preserved My Life…

Psalm 119:93 (NIV)

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.

There is a battle that we fight most the time … the struggle with doubt and the sin of unbelief. We are vulnerable and question if there is absolute truth … truth that we can fully trust. And it is possible to succumb to the influence and demonic lies of the enemy at times … especially when we observe a world in great turmoil and where the suffering of people abounds. We might ask, “Where are you, God?” “Where are you when people need your help?” And if we neglect to consult the Word of God for answers to these types of questions, we are susceptible to reaching wrong conclusions and allowing our thoughts to wander in the direction of anxiety and fear….

Our Verse of the Day affirms that the Word of God IS the source of all truth … truth that is able to sustain and preserve our lives when we feel vulnerable or lost. We are encouraged to read it often … to memorize it and to implant it in our minds and hearts. For when we know and embrace its certainty, we will not be swayed or distracted by the uncertainty that we experience in this world. As Jesus taught and affirmed, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Cf. Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4; Citing Deuteronomy 8:3) So, where is God now in our time of trouble? David declared this truth: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Cf. Psalm 46:1) Yes, God is ever-present! He has said, “Never, will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Cf. Hebrews 13:5; Joshua 1:5) I am reminded of what Paul wrote concerning the love of Christ as the anchor for our faith:

Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

Who (or what) shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Think about what Paul is saying here. We are to expect challenges and hardships to occur in our lives. They are inevitable as long as we live in this fallen world. But none of the things that God allows under His sovereign will diminishes His love for us; rather, He uses them to develop, strengthen, and mature our faith in Him. So, I believe above all things that we need to trust the love of God! If we ever doubt His love, we make ourselves vulnerable to the lies and seduction of the enemy. We may not always understand how God works in our lives or why He allows the circumstances that we face and navigate, but I believe we can be assured that whatever happens is in accordance with His perfect and faithful love. Yes, that is why we need to know the Word of God … to know His will for us … to know His love for us … to be transformed by the renewing of our minds … to receive the salvation He has provided through His Son who is the living Word of God. Through faith in Jesus, our lives are preserved for eternity! We simply need to cry out to Him. As David wrote: “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.” (Cf. Psalm 34:17)

My friends, how God delivers us from our troubles may not always be how we think He should do it. It is not up to us to make God’s decisions for Him nor should we even desire to do so. We do not have His foreknowledge … the ability to know the eventual outcomes. Only He knows the end from the beginning. (Cf. Isaiah 46:10) And so, we are well advised to trust that whatever happens is in accordance with His loving will and for the good those who love Him. (Cf. Romans 8:28) That is what faith is all about! That is why we are encouraged to persevere in faith! That is why it is important to know the Word of God … for by its wisdom and guidance our lives are preserved….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant so that you may be feared. ~ Psalm 119:36-38

His Way Is Perfect…

Psalm 18:30 (NIV)

As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him.

Our Verse of the Day can also be found at 2 Samuel 22:31. In fact, 2 Samuel 22 captures Psalm 18 in its entirety … for those of you interested in bible trivia. This Psalm is prefaced with these words:

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

¹I love you, Lord, my strength. ²The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. ³I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies….

Psalm 18 – Excerpts

¹⁶He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. ¹⁷He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. ¹⁸They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. ¹⁹He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.

²⁵To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, ²⁶to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. ²⁷You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

³⁰As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him. ³¹For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? ³²It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. ³³He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights.

Oh, may each of us remember that our Heavenly Father is perfect in all of His ways! May we embrace the truth of His Word: “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” (Cf. Psalm 12:6) “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” (Cf. Proverbs 30:5) Yes, God is our refuge and places a hedge of protection around those who love Him … a spiritual barrier around those who trust in Him! I fervently pray that we all embrace the truths His Word has proclaimed….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread. ~ Job 23:10-12

God … My Protector

Psalm 91:1 (NIV)

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most-High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Our Verse of the Day is the launching verse of Psalm 91. This Psalm is filled with gracious words and affirmations of the deep care and protection of God for those who love Him. I want to reprint it here for us today. Let this be a prayer over your life! Let it bring encouragement, hope, and comfort to you.

Psalm 91 (NIV)

¹Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most-High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty (El Shaddai)
²I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

³Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
⁸You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most-High your dwelling,
¹⁰no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
¹²they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

As I read this Psalm, these thoughts came to mind:

Isaiah 54:16-17 (NIV)

“See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; but no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.

Romans 8:31-39 (NIV)

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Quoting Psalm 44:22) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The message here is that God desires to be a refuge for His people. He wants us to position ourselves underneath His protection and safety. The imagery provided to us is like that of a mother hen or eagle spreading its wings over her chicks to protect them from harm. Indeed, our Father is Protector! He is mighty and able; and He has promised to watch over those who love Him! As David prayed, let us follow his example in our petitions: “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Cf. Psalm 57:1) And, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” (Cf. Psalm 62:8) And, “But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.” (Cf. Psalm 94:22)

Oh, my friends, may we all submit our lives into the hands of our mighty, powerful, compassionate, gracious, merciful, loving Father and Savior. This is my prayer, in Jesus Name.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. ~ Psalm 121

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

Be Still and Know…

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Our Verse of the Day focuses our thoughts on the sovereignty and majesty of God. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Sometimes we just need to stop and get quiet … and allow God to reveal Himself to us in a quiet place; far from the noise of life … away from everyone and everything that can distract us from experiencing and knowing the presence of God and hearing His still small voice. (Cf. 1 Kings 19:12) Sometimes we need to both isolate ourselves and insulate ourselves within a “prayer closet” and spend intimate time with God. The Father wants us to be still because He desires us to know Him in a personal way….

Sometimes we just need a reminder in these unsettled days that God is still on the throne…. He is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords! (Cf. 1 Timothy 6:15) He is the Alpha and the Omega … the beginning and the end! (Cf. Revelation 21:6; 22:13) Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Cf. Hebrews 13:8) And there is nothing in this world … not in all creation … that will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! (Cf. Romans 8:38-39) And so God says to us: “BE STILL!” Yes, know that HE is God and that HE will be exalted!

Isaiah 45:22-24 (NIV)

“Turn to me and be saved, all you people of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength.’” All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.

Indeed, all the people … all the nations … and all who have ever dwelled upon the earth WILL bow to their knees before God and exalt Him! We can do so now out of love and obedience … but we will certainly do so on the Day of Judgement! No one will escape that day…. As the Apostle John prophesied: “Behold, He is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of Him.” So shall it be! Amen.” (Cf. Revelation 1:7) Yes, on that great day of the Lord, EVERYONE will acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! And so, if we know Him, if we know Him intimately … He bids us to be still. “The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” (Cf. Habakkuk 2:20)

I believe the Lord Jesus wants us to know it is wise to be silent before Him … to rest in Him … to wait for Him. It is good to stop and sit at the feet of Jesus and just listen to Him. It is good to stop and sit at the foot of the cross and to ponder all that took place upon it. It is good to stop and kneel at the entrance of the empty tomb and just meditate on the power that raised Jesus from the dead. Yes, it is good to stop and worship the Alpha and the Omega and to exalt Him!

My friends, we do not need to walk in fear because of the circumstances we face or the hardships we might encounter in this life. God is sovereign over every aspect of our lives! He delights for us to know and trust Him. Our Lord Jesus encourages us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all the things we need shall be provided to us.” (Cf. Matthew 6:33) Jesus invites us to approach Him: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Cf. Matthew 11:28) Yes, Jesus invites us to trust Him when He affirms: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Cf. John 11:25-26)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~ Philippians 2:9-11