Will…

Will…

This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.~ Matthew 6:9-10

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray this manner, the focus of prayer was totally on the Father. To hallow the name of God means to greatly respect it; to give reverence to it; to consider it holy. The third commandment affirms: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His Name.” (Exodus 20:7) Indeed, King David instructed: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His Name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.” (Psalm 29:2)

As we pray to our Father and approach Him with holy reverence, Jesus outlines certain prayer points that I believe guide us into effectual prayer … prayer that brings us into agreement with the sovereignty and authority of the Father (His Kingdom) … prayer that brings our wills into alignment with His Will. Jesus affirms that the will of the Father IS done in heaven, and He instructs us to pray that the will of God is done on earth as well. So, one might ask, “What is the will of God?”

The Holy Scriptures reveal God and His existence to us. The Word of God expounds upon His Nature … His Character … His Thoughts … His Will. We see all these facets of His Being unfold through His interactions with creation; His commandments and ordinances; and the truths He reveals through His prophets. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21) Thus, we need to study the Scriptures which are filled with direct expressions of God’s will.

When they asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.” (John 6:28-29) First and foremost, the will of God is for us to believe in Jesus … the Son of God … who is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His Being. (Hebrews 1:3) And God has ordained that those who put their faith in Jesus will be conformed to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:29) Yes, we are to be holy because He is holy! (Leviticus 11:44, 11:45, 19:2, 20:7, 20:26, 1 Peter 1:16)

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NIV)

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you His Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV)

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

My friends, it is clear that God wants His people to be set apart … to be sanctified and consecrated to serve Him and His purposes. Our Lord Jesus prayed to the Father these words: “Sanctify them by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.” (John 17:17) Even more, I find great comfort knowing this truth: “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. (Philippians 2:13) Indeed, God works to align His will within us so that we will act according to His will. And so, God fulfills our prayer: Your Kingdom come … Your will be done … on earth as it is in heaven! Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Doubt…

Doubt…

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)

Doubt is not a new phenomenon. It is the principal tactic of Satan to dissuade our trust in God … our faith in who He is and His nature. Doubt was planted in the Garden of Eden when Eve questioned the motivations of God. “Why would God withhold knowledge?” she wondered. And so, reverence gave way to doubt, and the consequence has impacted all creation. (Cf. Genesis 3) Yes, the history of man has been riddled with doubt toward God … the sin of unbelief. But God has been faithful through His plan of salvation to destroy the work of doubt and to redeem the glory of His grace.

Doubt…. It exposes our lack of confidence. It arouses our inclination not to believe or accept the truth even when it is right in front of us. It produces hesitation and distrust within our inner beings. We see its effect when Peter attempted to walk on the water. Jesus bid him to come, but Peter began to sink when he doubted. (Cf. Matthew 14:22-33) Yes, doubt crept in when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and began to look at the circumstances surrounding him.

Doubt suppresses our faith – our confidence in what we hope; the evidence of what we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1) And yet, even when the disciples saw Jesus after His resurrection, some of them still doubted. (Cf. Luke 24:36-43) We can recall what Jesus said to Thomas: “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:27-29)

My friends, God is still telling us today: “Stop doubting and believe!” He assures us: “Do not be afraid.” Yes, the Lord promises each of us: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Cf. Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5) So, I pray we will believe Him at His Word without any doubt – because doubt is the enemy of faith! And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Indeed, Jesus encourages us to pray with complete and unwavering faith:

Mark 11:22-24 (NKJV)

So, Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Have a Blessed Day!

A Man on a Mission

Luke 19:10 (NIV)

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

In our Verse of the Day, Luke records for us a concise, one sentence mission statement. Jesus understood and made the purpose of His mission clear: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” And we, as born-again believers, are the evidence of His successful mission … a mission that was completed through His life, death, and resurrection! Indeed, the great news is that He found us and we are secure in Him! As we studied before: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (Cf. John 10:27-29)

But the message of the mission Jesus began did not end with His ascension into heaven. No, Jesus ordained that His disciples … His followers … His sheep should continue the mission:

Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Acts 1:6-9 (NIV)

Then they gathered around Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But 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 Jesus said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

My friends, as believers we too have been commissioned to witness not only with spoken words but with actions that demonstrate our sincere love for others. In this matter, Paul urges us “to live a life worthy of the calling you have received; to be completely humble and gentle; to be patient, and to bearing with one another in love. We are to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Cf. Ephesians 4:1-3) Paul further instructs us to speak the truth in love so that we will grow together to form a mature Body of Christ on earth. (Cf. Ephesians 4:15-16) These are powerful thoughts for our consideration; and I hope they stir each of us to be intentional today in our desire to fulfill and accomplish the mission statement of our Lord Jesus. He has sent us to seek and to direct the lost to Him for salvation; and I pray we will follow His lead each day. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Citing Isaiah 52:7) But not all the Israelites accepted the Good News. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” (Citing Isaiah 53:1) Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. ~ Romans 10:14-17

My Sheep Hear My Voice…

John 10:28-30 (NIV)

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Our Verse of the Day has a powerful message for us. I have reprinted the larger passage for context; and I hope we will see the connection between Jesus and His followers….

John 10:22-33 (NIV)

Then came the Festival of Dedication (i.e., Hanukkah) at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around Him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Again, His Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

Within the context of this passage, we see and understand that Jesus did in fact claim to be the Messiah … the Son of God. For this very thing, the Jewish religious leaders wanted to kill Him. To be sure, Jesus distinguishes the person of the Father – but He claims equality of nature with Father God. This scripture is supportive of the theological concept of the trinity – the triune God of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – as ONE supreme and uncreated Being. To me, the implication is the power and authority Jesus has received from the Father. It is equal to the sovereignty of the Most-High God! And Jesus claimed that based upon this authority, He would give eternal life to those who believe in Him. They shall never perish, and no one can take them out of His hand. The people who believe and follow Jesus are His possession. That is an astonishing promise to us … to all who have been given by the Father to our Lord Jesus Christ!

Yes, in John Chapter 10, we see the intensity of debate among the Jewish leaders over the identity and claims of Jesus continue to heat up. You cannot miss the exclusivity of Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah and the only entrance into heaven. Jesus said, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” Jesus rebuked the religious leaders because of their unbelief … pointing to His supernatural works as evidence of His authority to make such a bold statement. And notice the personal, intimate language Jesus uses: “The Shepherd calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.” Yet, contrast His response to those who did not believe Him: “The Jews who were there gathered around Him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.”

A prominent theological point is the connection between belief (faith) and sheep that are “known” by Jesus. Consider that Jesus calls to His own sheep by name. He said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” And Jesus added, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish….” It is important to note that HIS sheep know Him. They will NOT follow another. HIS sheep follow Him because they know His voice. Those who do not believe will not follow Jesus and enter into a personal relationship with Him. They are not HIS sheep. And here, Jesus promises that those who believe in Him will be the ones who receive eternal life! Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down His life … submitted to the crucifixion … as an atoning sacrifice (once for all) for His sheep. And this is the ONLY way that we are saved from the wages of sin! Indeed, Jesus brings His sheep out of darkness … delivers them from the power of sin in their lives … and leads them out of the world. We are set free in a new pasture of life! And through His resurrection, Jesus has gone ahead of His sheep into heaven to prepare a place for them; and He will return to take them to be with Him so that His sheep may be where He is. (Cf. John 14:2-3) So we can be certain that we will follow Jesus to our heavenly destination.

My friends, I encourage you to offer up your praise and thanksgiving to the One who has promised you eternal life … who has secured your future … who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the Kingdom of Light! For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Cf. Colossians 1:12-14) Yes, believe and trust in the words of Jesus who said, “I and the Father are one!” He is the Faithful and True witness who reigns forevermore! (Cf. Revelation 3:14; 19:11)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

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. ~ John 3:16-18

Jesus Is Lord!

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Our Verse of the Day comes from Romans Chapter 10. As I reviewed this chapter, I was impressed by the Holy Spirit to reprint it for your reading and contemplation. I believe its theology and doctrinal statements should cause us to pause and reflect on Gospel … its message of salvation through Christ … its acknowledgment of the grace extended to those who hear and come to faith in Jesus … and its lament for those who stubbornly refuse to hear and accept the Good News.

Roman 10 (NIV)

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the Law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” (Citing Leviticus 18:5)But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (Citing Deuteronomy 30:12) (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (Citing Deuteronomy 30:13) (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” (Citing Deuteronomy 30:14) that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” (Citing Isaiah 28:16) For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Citing Joel 2:32)

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Citing Isaiah 52:7) But not all the Israelites accepted the Good News. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” (Citing Isaiah 53:1) Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course, they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Citing Psalm 19:4) Again, I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” (Citing Deuteronomy 32:21) And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” (Citing Isaiah 65:1) But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” (Citing Isaiah 65:2)

My friends, it is my hope we will deeply consider the truths that Paul is affirming here. Let us pray for those who have been resistant to the message about Christ! Let us lift up those who are disobedient and obstinate to the testimony of God concerning His Son, Jesus! Yes, let us continue to share the Gospel … the Good News to those who seek their own righteousness by their “good works” and not the righteousness that comes through faith. For Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. HE is the message we preach in all hope and love to the unbeliever! Indeed, let us pray that the veil of darkness will be lifted so that unbelievers will see the light of the Gospel for their lives…. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:3-6