A lovely, 19-year-old nurse stopped me after a crusade service. Tearfully, she sobbed out a pitiful confession: "Mr. Wilkerson, I'm a lesbian. I feel so dirty and unclean. The church where I used to attend asked me to never return. The minister said he couldn't take a chance of my seducing others in his congregation. I feel like suicide is my only way out. I live in total fear and condemnation. Must I kill myself to find peace?"
She kept backing away from me as if she felt too unclean to be in my presence. I asked her if she still loved Jesus. "Oh, yes," she replied. "Every waking hour, my heart cries out to Him. I love Christ with everything in me but I'm bound by this terrible habit."
How beautiful it was to see her face light up when I told her how much God loved her, even in her struggles. I told her, "Don't ever give yourself over to your sin. God draws a line right where you are. Any momentum toward Him is accounted as righteousness. Any move back across that line, away from Him, is sin. If we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. Keep your spiritual momentum! Keep loving Jesus even though you still do not have total victory. Accept His daily forgiveness. Live one day at a time! Be convinced Jesus loves sinners so He must love you, too!"
She smiled a smile of relief and said, "Mr. Wilkerson, you are the first minister who ever offered me a ray of hope. Deep in my heart I know He still loves me and I know He will give me deliverance from this bondage. But I have been so condemned by everybody. Thanks for your message of hope and love."
Reader of this message, are you living under condemnation? Have you sinned against the Lord? Have you grieved the Holy Spirit in your life? Are you waging a losing battle with an overpowering temptation?
All you need to do is search God's Word and you will discover a God of mercy, love and endless compassion. David said, "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared" (Psalm 130:3-4).
Friday, May 17, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
HIS LOVINGKINDNESS
We are to preach about the Lord's lovingkindness to all mankind. David said: "I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation" (Psalm 40:10).
David not only appropriated this wonderful message for himself, he knew it was sorely needed by the whole congregation and by a hurting world. David was grateful to God for such great love, because he was surrounded by his own failings: "Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me" (Psalm 40:12). It does not matter how badly people have sinned, God still loves. That is why He sent His Son. And that is what we should be preaching to the world!
Can you say with David, "I have not concealed thy lovingkindness from the great congregation"?
Perhaps one of the most quoted and sung verses in all of God's Word is this: "Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee" (Psalm 63:3). You may ask, "What do you mean, His lovingkindness is better than life?" Life is short! It fades like the grass, which is here one season and gone the next. Yet His lovingkindness will endure forever. A billion years from now, Jesus will be as tender and loving to us as He is now. Others can take your life from you but they cannot take away His lovingkindness.
The greatest proclamation of His lovingkindness is joyful praise. Stop and think for a moment: God is not mad at you anymore. If you're ready to forsake your sins, you can be forgiven and restored this very moment.
The Word says nothing can come between our Lord and us: no sin, no guilt, no condemning thoughts. You can say, "My life is a blessing to the Lord, and I can rejoice and praise Him. I am clean, free, forgiven, justified, sanctified, redeemed!"
If you really understood how tender He is toward you—how patient, how caring, how ready to forgive and bless—you would not be able to contain yourself. You would shout and praise Him until you had no voice left!
Beloved, Jesus is coming—and we are ready to go. You have a loving, tender Father who cares about you. He has bottled every tear you have ever shed. He has seen your every need and known your every thought—and He loves you!
David not only appropriated this wonderful message for himself, he knew it was sorely needed by the whole congregation and by a hurting world. David was grateful to God for such great love, because he was surrounded by his own failings: "Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me" (Psalm 40:12). It does not matter how badly people have sinned, God still loves. That is why He sent His Son. And that is what we should be preaching to the world!
Can you say with David, "I have not concealed thy lovingkindness from the great congregation"?
Perhaps one of the most quoted and sung verses in all of God's Word is this: "Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee" (Psalm 63:3). You may ask, "What do you mean, His lovingkindness is better than life?" Life is short! It fades like the grass, which is here one season and gone the next. Yet His lovingkindness will endure forever. A billion years from now, Jesus will be as tender and loving to us as He is now. Others can take your life from you but they cannot take away His lovingkindness.
The greatest proclamation of His lovingkindness is joyful praise. Stop and think for a moment: God is not mad at you anymore. If you're ready to forsake your sins, you can be forgiven and restored this very moment.
The Word says nothing can come between our Lord and us: no sin, no guilt, no condemning thoughts. You can say, "My life is a blessing to the Lord, and I can rejoice and praise Him. I am clean, free, forgiven, justified, sanctified, redeemed!"
If you really understood how tender He is toward you—how patient, how caring, how ready to forgive and bless—you would not be able to contain yourself. You would shout and praise Him until you had no voice left!
Beloved, Jesus is coming—and we are ready to go. You have a loving, tender Father who cares about you. He has bottled every tear you have ever shed. He has seen your every need and known your every thought—and He loves you!
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
THE SONG OF VICTORY
The children of Israel were in a hopeless predicament!
The Red Sea was before them; the mountains were to the left and right; and Pharaoh and his iron chariots were closing in from the rear. God's people seemed helplessly trapped—like sitting ducks just waiting to be cut down. Yet, believe it or not, God purposely had led them into this precarious spot!
It was panic time in the camp of Israel. Men shook with fear, and women and children wept as they huddled around grandparents and other kin. Suddenly Moses was mobbed by irate family leaders who cried, "Surely this is the end! Weren't there enough graves in Egypt to bury us there? You had to drag us out here to die? We told you in Egypt to let us alone. It was better to be slaves there than to die in this miserable wilderness!" (see Exodus 14:10-12)
I wonder if even Moses had a moment of trepidation about their circumstances. Yet when this man of God wept, the Lord seems to have chided him: "Wherefore criest thou unto me?" (Exodus 14:15).
No one in Israel could have known what a great deliverance God was about to bring! Suddenly the winds parted the sea, and the people walked through the parted waves on dry ground. When Pharaoh and his powerful army tried to follow, the waters began to rage again, closing in and drowning them all!
What a sight it must have been! The people of God looked back from the other side and saw their mighty enemy destroyed like tin soldiers. Then a song went up in the camp as, once again, they realized God had delivered them from impossible circumstances! Scripture records their reaction—and the song they sang:
"Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him" (Exodus 15:1-2).
The Red Sea was before them; the mountains were to the left and right; and Pharaoh and his iron chariots were closing in from the rear. God's people seemed helplessly trapped—like sitting ducks just waiting to be cut down. Yet, believe it or not, God purposely had led them into this precarious spot!
It was panic time in the camp of Israel. Men shook with fear, and women and children wept as they huddled around grandparents and other kin. Suddenly Moses was mobbed by irate family leaders who cried, "Surely this is the end! Weren't there enough graves in Egypt to bury us there? You had to drag us out here to die? We told you in Egypt to let us alone. It was better to be slaves there than to die in this miserable wilderness!" (see Exodus 14:10-12)
I wonder if even Moses had a moment of trepidation about their circumstances. Yet when this man of God wept, the Lord seems to have chided him: "Wherefore criest thou unto me?" (Exodus 14:15).
No one in Israel could have known what a great deliverance God was about to bring! Suddenly the winds parted the sea, and the people walked through the parted waves on dry ground. When Pharaoh and his powerful army tried to follow, the waters began to rage again, closing in and drowning them all!
What a sight it must have been! The people of God looked back from the other side and saw their mighty enemy destroyed like tin soldiers. Then a song went up in the camp as, once again, they realized God had delivered them from impossible circumstances! Scripture records their reaction—and the song they sang:
"Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him" (Exodus 15:1-2).
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
PRAYING PAYSON
Dr. Edward Payson, known as "Praying Payson," was a pastor in Portland, Maine, nearly 200 years ago. In 1806, just a few years after the Declaration of Independence, America was devastated by a severe depression. It was a dark period and Dr. Payson vividly recorded the tragedy in his area. He wrote:
"Business has stagnated, many are failing. Hundreds . . . have been thrown out of employment, and they are destitute. I tremble for my poor country. I fear our sins have helped call down judgment upon us. Some of our wonderful young converts have lost their all, and had their homes stripped away; but it does my heart good to see them cheerful and quiet under it all. Others, who have no God, have lost their reason, they worry incessantly, and are apparently dying of a broken heart."
Dr. Payson and his congregation suffered the spoiling of all their goods. Dr. Payson himself lived on pennies during those hard times. On December 28, 1807, in a letter to his mother, he wrote:
"Conditions worsen. A large number of the wealthy merchants live in poverty now. Businesses are failing daily. The poorhouse is already full, and hundreds are yet to be provided for. Many who have been brought up in affluence are now dependent on others for daily food.
"Perhaps, Mother, you will grieve for me and say, ‘Poor Edward!’ But you never had more reason to rejoice on my behalf, and cry, ‘Rich Edward!’ than now. Blessed be God, my faith does not stand on such tottering foundations as to be shaken by these commotions. God keeps me quiet, resigned, and even happy in all these troubles. I do not mean I don't feel pain—I do. All my worldly hopes are destroyed. In these circumstances it is impossible not to feel pain. I thought I knew before that this world is treacherous, and its enjoyments but for a moment; but these hard times have taught me to wean myself from creature things and pursue the things of God. It is my prayer, that if God has any worldly blessings in store for me, He would be pleased to give me His grace instead."
Edward Payson had quit trying to run the race of life on his own (see Hebrews 12:1). He could take joyfully the stripping away of all he possessed, because he was in this world but not of it.
”My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
"Business has stagnated, many are failing. Hundreds . . . have been thrown out of employment, and they are destitute. I tremble for my poor country. I fear our sins have helped call down judgment upon us. Some of our wonderful young converts have lost their all, and had their homes stripped away; but it does my heart good to see them cheerful and quiet under it all. Others, who have no God, have lost their reason, they worry incessantly, and are apparently dying of a broken heart."
Dr. Payson and his congregation suffered the spoiling of all their goods. Dr. Payson himself lived on pennies during those hard times. On December 28, 1807, in a letter to his mother, he wrote:
"Conditions worsen. A large number of the wealthy merchants live in poverty now. Businesses are failing daily. The poorhouse is already full, and hundreds are yet to be provided for. Many who have been brought up in affluence are now dependent on others for daily food.
"Perhaps, Mother, you will grieve for me and say, ‘Poor Edward!’ But you never had more reason to rejoice on my behalf, and cry, ‘Rich Edward!’ than now. Blessed be God, my faith does not stand on such tottering foundations as to be shaken by these commotions. God keeps me quiet, resigned, and even happy in all these troubles. I do not mean I don't feel pain—I do. All my worldly hopes are destroyed. In these circumstances it is impossible not to feel pain. I thought I knew before that this world is treacherous, and its enjoyments but for a moment; but these hard times have taught me to wean myself from creature things and pursue the things of God. It is my prayer, that if God has any worldly blessings in store for me, He would be pleased to give me His grace instead."
Edward Payson had quit trying to run the race of life on his own (see Hebrews 12:1). He could take joyfully the stripping away of all he possessed, because he was in this world but not of it.
”My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Monday, May 13, 2013
GREATER THINGS ARE YET TO COME by Gary Wilkerson
God wants to do mighty things through us. He wants to express His love to the world through us. So if we are clinging to one thing that gets in the way of His accomplishing that—some willfulness, some refusal to trust Him for everything—He points it out to us.
Sometimes God wants us to add something to our lives before He brings His best. This may involve something we have not done, so He wants us to ask, “Have I been slow to respond to something God has asked me to do?”
We find an example of this in Acts, when the disciples added a new member to replace Judas. While in the Upper Room, they drew lots and chose Matthias. It seemed like such a small thing. These same men had seen Jesus work wonders, open blind eyes, cast out demons, even raise a man from the dead. They had seen God’s kingdom advanced on earth as never before in history. And when Christ ascended to heaven, He gave them this incredible word: “You will do even greater works, once I send you My Spirit. He will empower you. Greater things are yet to come!” (see Acts 1:1-8).
Indeed, these same disciples would go beyond Israel and the Middle East, into Europe and India and Africa, preaching the good news of Christ to the nations, all within their generation. What made it so important to add another disciple? They did it for one simple reason: Peter sensed it was something God wanted them to do.
“In those days Peter stood up among the brothers . . . and said, ‘Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas . . . For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry’” (Acts 1:15-17). Peter was referring to Psalm 109:8: “May another take his place of leadership.”
There is a great lesson here for Christ’s church today. That is, never overlook a nagging issue of the heart, no matter how small. God puts His finger on these matters for a reason: to reveal our heart’s response to Him. Greater things are yet to come!
Sometimes God wants us to add something to our lives before He brings His best. This may involve something we have not done, so He wants us to ask, “Have I been slow to respond to something God has asked me to do?”
We find an example of this in Acts, when the disciples added a new member to replace Judas. While in the Upper Room, they drew lots and chose Matthias. It seemed like such a small thing. These same men had seen Jesus work wonders, open blind eyes, cast out demons, even raise a man from the dead. They had seen God’s kingdom advanced on earth as never before in history. And when Christ ascended to heaven, He gave them this incredible word: “You will do even greater works, once I send you My Spirit. He will empower you. Greater things are yet to come!” (see Acts 1:1-8).
Indeed, these same disciples would go beyond Israel and the Middle East, into Europe and India and Africa, preaching the good news of Christ to the nations, all within their generation. What made it so important to add another disciple? They did it for one simple reason: Peter sensed it was something God wanted them to do.
“In those days Peter stood up among the brothers . . . and said, ‘Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas . . . For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry’” (Acts 1:15-17). Peter was referring to Psalm 109:8: “May another take his place of leadership.”
There is a great lesson here for Christ’s church today. That is, never overlook a nagging issue of the heart, no matter how small. God puts His finger on these matters for a reason: to reveal our heart’s response to Him. Greater things are yet to come!
Friday, May 10, 2013
DEALING WITH DOUBT
If you do not deal with your doubts, you will be given over to a spirit of murmuring and complaining. You will live that way and die that way. Your doubts cannot simply be suppressed, they must be pulled out by the roots.
Look at Israel just three days after their deliverance from Egypt. They had been singing, shaking their tambourines and testifying to the power and strength of a mighty God, boasting that He was leading and protecting them. Then they arrived at Marah, which means "waters of bitterness." This was to be testing place for them.
God just keeps allowing crisis after crisis until we finally get the lesson. If we keep refusing to learn it, a time comes when He gives us over to our own bitterness and murmuring. "And they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. . . . And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?" (Exodus 15:22, 24).
On Sunday, the Israelites were having a great time—singing, dancing and praising. Then Wednesday came and they were in trouble. Another crisis—and they were falling apart!
How could a people lose their confidence so quickly? Because they never had any. They never had that foundation built under them. So again they failed the test. They had learned absolutely nothing from their previous crisis and again they missed an opportunity to shine forth the greatness of their God.
From that day on, Israel was beyond learning anything from God. They even began to take His goodness for granted. They had no food, so He sent them manna from heaven. He dropped quails out of the sky, piling them three feet high outside the camp. But not a word of thanksgiving was heard! Instead, the people turned to greed, hoarding all that God gave them. Israel became stiff-necked!
Oh, what a shame it is to go from crisis to crisis and learn nothing in the process. It carries with it a curse that you will be given over to a spirit of murmuring.
Look at Israel just three days after their deliverance from Egypt. They had been singing, shaking their tambourines and testifying to the power and strength of a mighty God, boasting that He was leading and protecting them. Then they arrived at Marah, which means "waters of bitterness." This was to be testing place for them.
God just keeps allowing crisis after crisis until we finally get the lesson. If we keep refusing to learn it, a time comes when He gives us over to our own bitterness and murmuring. "And they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. . . . And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?" (Exodus 15:22, 24).
On Sunday, the Israelites were having a great time—singing, dancing and praising. Then Wednesday came and they were in trouble. Another crisis—and they were falling apart!
How could a people lose their confidence so quickly? Because they never had any. They never had that foundation built under them. So again they failed the test. They had learned absolutely nothing from their previous crisis and again they missed an opportunity to shine forth the greatness of their God.
From that day on, Israel was beyond learning anything from God. They even began to take His goodness for granted. They had no food, so He sent them manna from heaven. He dropped quails out of the sky, piling them three feet high outside the camp. But not a word of thanksgiving was heard! Instead, the people turned to greed, hoarding all that God gave them. Israel became stiff-necked!
Oh, what a shame it is to go from crisis to crisis and learn nothing in the process. It carries with it a curse that you will be given over to a spirit of murmuring.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
HEAL MY UNBELIEF
"Ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord" (James 1:6-7).
The world is full of Christians who will not hold on to God's Word. They think it is an innocent thing to sit at the table in the house of God and murmur and complain, as if God doesn't hear. God does hear our murmurings! They are accusations that He does not care, insinuations that He has let us down.
God has warned me not to give voice to nagging doubts and fears—not to my wife, not to friends, not to loved ones, not to colleagues. God says to take those doubts to the cross and say, "Jesus, heal my unbelief. Take it out."
Israel spent forty years in turmoil—backbiting, complaining, full of bitterness and jealousy. What a miserable existence they led while claiming to be the children of God, claiming to be holy. But that was their testimony, not God's.
You must come to a place where you trust Him. If you learn it now, the next time a crisis comes you will sing and shout with praises to your Deliverer! Oh, the victory will be there but more importantly, you will have dealt a deathblow to all doubt, fear and unbelief.
Where do you start? By looking right into the mirror of God's Word. Consider your words and actions over the last thirty days: Have you been murmuring? Complaining? You may answer, "Yes, but I haven't been murmuring at God!" Oh yes, you have! No matter where or to whom you complain, it is all directed at God.
Every place I turn in my Bible, I see, "Trust Me and I'll see you through. Just commit your ways to Me." What does that require? Simply this: Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. You ask, "But what if nothing happens?" That response reveals doubt and fear.
Beloved, turn to God today and say, "Lord, I've done everything I know how to do in my situation. I know there's nothing I can do to fix the problem anyway. I'm going to trust You and wait for Your victory.”
Let God make you a testimony to the world, a witness of His faithfulness. Love Him with all your heart right now. Give Him all your problems, all your faith and all your trust!
The world is full of Christians who will not hold on to God's Word. They think it is an innocent thing to sit at the table in the house of God and murmur and complain, as if God doesn't hear. God does hear our murmurings! They are accusations that He does not care, insinuations that He has let us down.
God has warned me not to give voice to nagging doubts and fears—not to my wife, not to friends, not to loved ones, not to colleagues. God says to take those doubts to the cross and say, "Jesus, heal my unbelief. Take it out."
Israel spent forty years in turmoil—backbiting, complaining, full of bitterness and jealousy. What a miserable existence they led while claiming to be the children of God, claiming to be holy. But that was their testimony, not God's.
You must come to a place where you trust Him. If you learn it now, the next time a crisis comes you will sing and shout with praises to your Deliverer! Oh, the victory will be there but more importantly, you will have dealt a deathblow to all doubt, fear and unbelief.
Where do you start? By looking right into the mirror of God's Word. Consider your words and actions over the last thirty days: Have you been murmuring? Complaining? You may answer, "Yes, but I haven't been murmuring at God!" Oh yes, you have! No matter where or to whom you complain, it is all directed at God.
Every place I turn in my Bible, I see, "Trust Me and I'll see you through. Just commit your ways to Me." What does that require? Simply this: Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. You ask, "But what if nothing happens?" That response reveals doubt and fear.
Beloved, turn to God today and say, "Lord, I've done everything I know how to do in my situation. I know there's nothing I can do to fix the problem anyway. I'm going to trust You and wait for Your victory.”
Let God make you a testimony to the world, a witness of His faithfulness. Love Him with all your heart right now. Give Him all your problems, all your faith and all your trust!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
A SONG IN THE MIDST OF HARD TIMES
"They that carried us away required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" (Psalm 137:3-4).
The people of God were in the hardest place of their lifetime. And as they were carried away, their captors required of them a song. Yet there was no life in them anymore, nothing but depression, despair, hopelessness.
Multitudes of Christians are in the same position today. You may be trapped by your circumstances or the devil is coming at you with an old temptation. You are on the edge of giving up, thinking, “I can't make it. In spite of all my crying and praying, that old bondage is going to hound me forever!"
When Israel fell into Babylonian bondage, their captors cried to them, "Sing for us! Play for us! We've heard all about you and what your God did for you. Now take out your tambourines and bring out your harps. Play us a song. Show us your joy in your God!"
I do not believe this demand was made only in mockery. I believe it was also a pitiful plea. The Babylonians' gods had left them empty and dry. They had no hope. But they had heard Israel singing to their God, a God who had seen them through impossible circumstances. They said, "These people have a God who can open a sea for them. His fire comes down from heaven and He stands against their enemies. There's got to be something to this God of theirs!"
Like all the world, they wanted to see a people who endured the same problems they endured and faced the same battles they faced, yet could sing and shout and hold their faith in the darkest of hours! The Babylonians demanded a song because there is something in every person's heart that cries out, "Where on the face of the earth is something that can make you sing even when you've lost everything?" They needed a testimony! It is important that the children of God, wherever they are at whatever time, sing the songs of Zion: "God, I believe You, no matter what is happening!"
The world is shouting to us, "You can show us a miracle! It isn't the Red Sea opening up that impresses us. It's not seeing the blind given sight or the lame healed. It's that you can look at the darkest hour of your life, a situation that's hopeless to all human reasoning, and yet smile with joy, singing praises to God. That's the miracle we want to see."
The people of God were in the hardest place of their lifetime. And as they were carried away, their captors required of them a song. Yet there was no life in them anymore, nothing but depression, despair, hopelessness.
Multitudes of Christians are in the same position today. You may be trapped by your circumstances or the devil is coming at you with an old temptation. You are on the edge of giving up, thinking, “I can't make it. In spite of all my crying and praying, that old bondage is going to hound me forever!"
When Israel fell into Babylonian bondage, their captors cried to them, "Sing for us! Play for us! We've heard all about you and what your God did for you. Now take out your tambourines and bring out your harps. Play us a song. Show us your joy in your God!"
I do not believe this demand was made only in mockery. I believe it was also a pitiful plea. The Babylonians' gods had left them empty and dry. They had no hope. But they had heard Israel singing to their God, a God who had seen them through impossible circumstances. They said, "These people have a God who can open a sea for them. His fire comes down from heaven and He stands against their enemies. There's got to be something to this God of theirs!"
Like all the world, they wanted to see a people who endured the same problems they endured and faced the same battles they faced, yet could sing and shout and hold their faith in the darkest of hours! The Babylonians demanded a song because there is something in every person's heart that cries out, "Where on the face of the earth is something that can make you sing even when you've lost everything?" They needed a testimony! It is important that the children of God, wherever they are at whatever time, sing the songs of Zion: "God, I believe You, no matter what is happening!"
The world is shouting to us, "You can show us a miracle! It isn't the Red Sea opening up that impresses us. It's not seeing the blind given sight or the lame healed. It's that you can look at the darkest hour of your life, a situation that's hopeless to all human reasoning, and yet smile with joy, singing praises to God. That's the miracle we want to see."
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
SERVANTHOOD
Pride is repelled by the idea of servanthood. Today everybody wants to be everything but a servant. A popular children's game in America is called "Masters of the Universe." But that is also becoming the theology of many Christians. We quote this Scripture, "Thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Galatians 4:7). What Paul really is saying is that a son who has been taught correctly knows that he is legally the king's son with all rights, but he so loves his father he chooses the role of a servant. Paul also said he was "a servant of Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:1) and James called himself "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus" (James1:1).
A servant has no will of his own; his master's word is his will. The cross represents the death of all my own plans, my own ideas, desires, hopes and dreams. And most of all, it means the absolute death of my own will. This is true humility. "He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). He had told His disciples, "My meat (fulfillment in life) is to do the will of him that sent me (John 4:34). In other words, “I refuse to take matters into My own hands. I wait to hear every direction from My Father!”
John wrote, "As he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). Every true Christian must be willing to say, "I really want to do His will." But here is where we miss it. We set our hearts on something that we want, something that looks good, that sounds logical, but is not God's will. We will fast and pray and intercede. Cry a river of tears. Claim it. Quote the Bible. Get others to agree with us. One of the biggest traps to Christians is a good idea that is not God's mind, a good strategy which is not from Him, a well-conceived plan that is not His. Can your desire survive the cross? Can you walk away from it and die to it? You must be able to say with honesty, "Lord, maybe it's not the devil stopping me, but You. If this is not Your will, it could destroy me. I give it up to the cross. Do it Your way, Lord!"
A servant has no will of his own; his master's word is his will. The cross represents the death of all my own plans, my own ideas, desires, hopes and dreams. And most of all, it means the absolute death of my own will. This is true humility. "He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). He had told His disciples, "My meat (fulfillment in life) is to do the will of him that sent me (John 4:34). In other words, “I refuse to take matters into My own hands. I wait to hear every direction from My Father!”
John wrote, "As he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). Every true Christian must be willing to say, "I really want to do His will." But here is where we miss it. We set our hearts on something that we want, something that looks good, that sounds logical, but is not God's will. We will fast and pray and intercede. Cry a river of tears. Claim it. Quote the Bible. Get others to agree with us. One of the biggest traps to Christians is a good idea that is not God's mind, a good strategy which is not from Him, a well-conceived plan that is not His. Can your desire survive the cross? Can you walk away from it and die to it? You must be able to say with honesty, "Lord, maybe it's not the devil stopping me, but You. If this is not Your will, it could destroy me. I give it up to the cross. Do it Your way, Lord!"
Monday, May 6, 2013
TENACIOUS FAITH by Gary Wilkerson
“Have I neglected to do something He has asked of me? I want nothing in my life to hinder what God wants to do.”
God is forever bringing His people to this point. Why? Because before He can bring about His best, He has to do something deep in us. He wants to give us His victory, but He also wants our complete devotion.
The first six chapters of Joshua describe the glorious work God did among His people over a few years’ time. Israel had just been freed after 400 years in bondage. They had emerged from 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. And after all this, God had blessed them. Now they were at the border of Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey He had promised them years before. So they crossed over—and what happened? Immediately Joshua turned to the younger generation of men and separated them unto God. Scripture uses the word “circumcised” to describe their preparation, but the deeper meaning is, “They were made ready.”
Why did Joshua do this? Now that they had crossed over, they faced the thick, impenetrable walls of Jericho. Taking this enemy would be impossible for the ragtag Israelites. Yet God was telling them, “I have blessed you these recent years. You have experienced My incredible riches. But your work is not yet finished.”
How did the Israelites prepare for this battle? They didn’t sharpen their swords and shine their armor. Instead, the preparation took place inside their hearts. God commanded them to circle the city singing songs, praying, and waiting on Him. Finally, He had them raise up trumpets and issue a single blast. In an instant, those mighty walls came tumbling down!
Joshua and his men then performed mighty exploits, defeating their enemies, inheriting greater lands and seeing victories as never before. In fact, Joshua did something even Moses did not do—he defeated thirty-one kings. That was a tenfold increase over the number of kings Moses had defeated. I believe this is a picture of what the Lord wants to do in all our lives. He wants to bring a tenfold increase, pour out His Spirit in amazing ways, and have us believe He wants to do it all. In short, He wants us to possess a tenacious, unwavering faith.
God is forever bringing His people to this point. Why? Because before He can bring about His best, He has to do something deep in us. He wants to give us His victory, but He also wants our complete devotion.
The first six chapters of Joshua describe the glorious work God did among His people over a few years’ time. Israel had just been freed after 400 years in bondage. They had emerged from 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. And after all this, God had blessed them. Now they were at the border of Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey He had promised them years before. So they crossed over—and what happened? Immediately Joshua turned to the younger generation of men and separated them unto God. Scripture uses the word “circumcised” to describe their preparation, but the deeper meaning is, “They were made ready.”
Why did Joshua do this? Now that they had crossed over, they faced the thick, impenetrable walls of Jericho. Taking this enemy would be impossible for the ragtag Israelites. Yet God was telling them, “I have blessed you these recent years. You have experienced My incredible riches. But your work is not yet finished.”
How did the Israelites prepare for this battle? They didn’t sharpen their swords and shine their armor. Instead, the preparation took place inside their hearts. God commanded them to circle the city singing songs, praying, and waiting on Him. Finally, He had them raise up trumpets and issue a single blast. In an instant, those mighty walls came tumbling down!
Joshua and his men then performed mighty exploits, defeating their enemies, inheriting greater lands and seeing victories as never before. In fact, Joshua did something even Moses did not do—he defeated thirty-one kings. That was a tenfold increase over the number of kings Moses had defeated. I believe this is a picture of what the Lord wants to do in all our lives. He wants to bring a tenfold increase, pour out His Spirit in amazing ways, and have us believe He wants to do it all. In short, He wants us to possess a tenacious, unwavering faith.
Friday, May 3, 2013
HE THREATENED NOT
Here is an amazing truth connected with Christ's suffering: "When he was reviled, [he] reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not" (1 Peter 2:23).
What a tremendous statement: "When He suffered, He threatened not." He never once defended Himself against those who mistreated Him. He punished no one nor retaliated against any.
How unlike us! We threaten when suffering gets unbearable; we defend ourselves; we constantly protect our rights and reputation. Worst of all, we threaten God. It's a very subtle thing, and most of us are not aware of what we are doing. When our prayers go unanswered—when trouble and disaster strike our lives—when it seems as though the Lord has let us down and we end up lonely and in pain—we pull back on God. We slack up on prayer and Bible reading. We still love Him, but we let go of our zeal. We begin to drift and our faith becomes dull, inactive. Those responses are all threats against the Lord.
Every time we back off from seeking the Lord with all our hearts, we are threatening Him. It's a subtle way of saying, "Lord, I did my best and You let me down."
The Lord has infinite patience with those of us who hurt. He waits lovingly until we return to His tender care. But it can become a way of life, a threat to God's faithfulness, if we refuse to wake up and renew our faith and hope in Him. Some become so disillusioned, they give in to their lusts and passions. They indulge their desires because the battle seems so hopeless. It's their way of saying, "What's the use? I call on God to help me, to deliver me, but help never comes. I've still got this thing in me, after all my tears and prayers."
It finally comes to this: "I have a right to do it—because I've been hurt so badly." It's a threat to God, a way of getting even with Him for not answering prayer on schedule.
Beloved, there is hope! The Lord of Hosts is with us! He alone is our keeper. He will not let His children slip or fall. We are held in the palm of His hand.
Let us do as Christ did. He "committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:23). "To commit" is to place your life completely in His hands. Give up your struggle, quit trying to accomplish anything in your own strength, and commit the keeping of your body and soul to the Lord of Hosts!
What a tremendous statement: "When He suffered, He threatened not." He never once defended Himself against those who mistreated Him. He punished no one nor retaliated against any.
How unlike us! We threaten when suffering gets unbearable; we defend ourselves; we constantly protect our rights and reputation. Worst of all, we threaten God. It's a very subtle thing, and most of us are not aware of what we are doing. When our prayers go unanswered—when trouble and disaster strike our lives—when it seems as though the Lord has let us down and we end up lonely and in pain—we pull back on God. We slack up on prayer and Bible reading. We still love Him, but we let go of our zeal. We begin to drift and our faith becomes dull, inactive. Those responses are all threats against the Lord.
Every time we back off from seeking the Lord with all our hearts, we are threatening Him. It's a subtle way of saying, "Lord, I did my best and You let me down."
The Lord has infinite patience with those of us who hurt. He waits lovingly until we return to His tender care. But it can become a way of life, a threat to God's faithfulness, if we refuse to wake up and renew our faith and hope in Him. Some become so disillusioned, they give in to their lusts and passions. They indulge their desires because the battle seems so hopeless. It's their way of saying, "What's the use? I call on God to help me, to deliver me, but help never comes. I've still got this thing in me, after all my tears and prayers."
It finally comes to this: "I have a right to do it—because I've been hurt so badly." It's a threat to God, a way of getting even with Him for not answering prayer on schedule.
Beloved, there is hope! The Lord of Hosts is with us! He alone is our keeper. He will not let His children slip or fall. We are held in the palm of His hand.
Let us do as Christ did. He "committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:23). "To commit" is to place your life completely in His hands. Give up your struggle, quit trying to accomplish anything in your own strength, and commit the keeping of your body and soul to the Lord of Hosts!
Thursday, May 2, 2013
GOD STILL CHOOSES THE WEAK
“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27).
God still chooses the weak to show forth His strength. Have you ever grieved over weakness? Have you felt insignificant, frail and useless to God? Have you looked upon others who seem so strong, so perfect, and thought of yourself in comparison as too sinful, too dull to be used of God? God is not looking for spiritual giants, but rather for ordinary saints with childlike faith who have lost all confidence in the flesh.
God will confound the strong and wise by anointing as His instruments those who are considered weak and foolish. The Lord will bypass those who lean on the arm of flesh, who trust in their talents, their knowledge, their background, their family reputation. Instead, He will raise up the brokenhearted, the weak and the weary. He will pour on them a spirit of praise and a baptism of love. He will show them His greatness, His faithfulness, His covenants, and they will become strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Is there a spirit in you that urges you on to new and higher places in the Lord? Is there a fire for God ignited within? Do you feel a drawing to a renewed faith and trust in God? Be thankful! That is the call of Jesus Christ the Lord!
His promises to us are great and precious. “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou has wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues” (Psalm 31:19-20).
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
God still chooses the weak to show forth His strength. Have you ever grieved over weakness? Have you felt insignificant, frail and useless to God? Have you looked upon others who seem so strong, so perfect, and thought of yourself in comparison as too sinful, too dull to be used of God? God is not looking for spiritual giants, but rather for ordinary saints with childlike faith who have lost all confidence in the flesh.
God will confound the strong and wise by anointing as His instruments those who are considered weak and foolish. The Lord will bypass those who lean on the arm of flesh, who trust in their talents, their knowledge, their background, their family reputation. Instead, He will raise up the brokenhearted, the weak and the weary. He will pour on them a spirit of praise and a baptism of love. He will show them His greatness, His faithfulness, His covenants, and they will become strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Is there a spirit in you that urges you on to new and higher places in the Lord? Is there a fire for God ignited within? Do you feel a drawing to a renewed faith and trust in God? Be thankful! That is the call of Jesus Christ the Lord!
His promises to us are great and precious. “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou has wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues” (Psalm 31:19-20).
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE?
"Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him" (Exodus 32:26).
How would God crush the corruption in Israel? Who would He choose to be His instruments in a time of evil? Would angels come down and execute righteous judgment? Aaron and his sons had already corrupted themselves so who would God raise up to shine forth as His soldiers of holiness?
Of all people, He chose the sons of Levi—sons of that murderer who, with his brother Simeon, had caused Jacob’s family to be shamed before the heathen. Simeon and Levi each took a sword and slew Shechem for raping their sister Dinah. They also killed his father Hamor and then took their sheep, oxen and donkeys, their wealth, and their wives and children.
Oh, the matchless grace of God—to choose the most unworthy, the weakest of them all—to be His instruments. “All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. . . . And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses” (Exodus 32: 26, 28).
Perhaps there was something deep within them that said, “We will not fail God as our father did! We will not bring reproach on the name of our God; we will step out and take our stand with the Lord!”
Moses had promised them, “God will reward you if you consecrate yourself and take a stand among your family, friends and brothers” (see Exodus 32:29). And God did reward them with a semi-priestly order called the Levites, who were given to the service of God’s house.
Being on the Lord’s side is taking His sword and using it to combat the forces of unbelief, putting down all doubts and fears. It means standing true to God and His Word no matter what the crowd does; no matter how faithless our friends become; no matter how worldly our dearest loved ones are. We must step out and declare, “I am on the Lord’s side! I come out against all attacks on the majesty and faithfulness of our God!”
How would God crush the corruption in Israel? Who would He choose to be His instruments in a time of evil? Would angels come down and execute righteous judgment? Aaron and his sons had already corrupted themselves so who would God raise up to shine forth as His soldiers of holiness?
Of all people, He chose the sons of Levi—sons of that murderer who, with his brother Simeon, had caused Jacob’s family to be shamed before the heathen. Simeon and Levi each took a sword and slew Shechem for raping their sister Dinah. They also killed his father Hamor and then took their sheep, oxen and donkeys, their wealth, and their wives and children.
Oh, the matchless grace of God—to choose the most unworthy, the weakest of them all—to be His instruments. “All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. . . . And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses” (Exodus 32: 26, 28).
Perhaps there was something deep within them that said, “We will not fail God as our father did! We will not bring reproach on the name of our God; we will step out and take our stand with the Lord!”
Moses had promised them, “God will reward you if you consecrate yourself and take a stand among your family, friends and brothers” (see Exodus 32:29). And God did reward them with a semi-priestly order called the Levites, who were given to the service of God’s house.
Being on the Lord’s side is taking His sword and using it to combat the forces of unbelief, putting down all doubts and fears. It means standing true to God and His Word no matter what the crowd does; no matter how faithless our friends become; no matter how worldly our dearest loved ones are. We must step out and declare, “I am on the Lord’s side! I come out against all attacks on the majesty and faithfulness of our God!”
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
NAKED CHRISTIANS
“Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies)" (Exodus 32:25). The Hebrew word used here for naked is para, meaning "to loosen up, expose, dismiss all restraint." It also means "a new beginning." The Israelites were saying, "Things are not happening as they should. We're tired of this battle, tired of waiting on God. And now we're going to enjoy ourselves. Out with the old! We want new freedom, a new start—and we want it now!"
Nakedness in the Bible also has to do with not having one's shield for battle. Every man who did not have his shield was considered naked. These Israelites were literally naked—stripped down and dancing before the golden calf, yet they also had laid down their armor.
Can you imagine their enemies, the Amalekites, looking down on this wild scene from the surrounding mountains? The Amalekites once trembled at the very sight of Israel. God had put a dread in their hearts toward His people but now they saw Israel taking off their armor and stripping off their garments. The Amalekites were mocking and laughing at them: "Look—they're just like us! Their God has no power. They don't trust Him. See? They're throwing off all their strict ways. They want to lust and party and play just like the rest of us. Some holiness! What hypocrisy!"
In that one act of nakedness, Israel belittled their God in the eyes of the ungodly. They made the Lord seen heartless, cruel, uncaring, helpless. They besmirched His honor, His majesty, His omnipotence. They were no longer an example to the world.
That is exactly what we do when we strip off our robes of faith and let go of our confidence in God. Without childlike trust in God, a Christian stands naked before the world, exposed to all doubts, fears and unbelief!
Nakedness in the Bible also has to do with not having one's shield for battle. Every man who did not have his shield was considered naked. These Israelites were literally naked—stripped down and dancing before the golden calf, yet they also had laid down their armor.
Can you imagine their enemies, the Amalekites, looking down on this wild scene from the surrounding mountains? The Amalekites once trembled at the very sight of Israel. God had put a dread in their hearts toward His people but now they saw Israel taking off their armor and stripping off their garments. The Amalekites were mocking and laughing at them: "Look—they're just like us! Their God has no power. They don't trust Him. See? They're throwing off all their strict ways. They want to lust and party and play just like the rest of us. Some holiness! What hypocrisy!"
In that one act of nakedness, Israel belittled their God in the eyes of the ungodly. They made the Lord seen heartless, cruel, uncaring, helpless. They besmirched His honor, His majesty, His omnipotence. They were no longer an example to the world.
That is exactly what we do when we strip off our robes of faith and let go of our confidence in God. Without childlike trust in God, a Christian stands naked before the world, exposed to all doubts, fears and unbelief!
Monday, April 29, 2013
CRAZY FAITH by Gary Wilkerson
Do you sense that God is about to unleash something tremendous in your life? Perhaps He has spoken to your heart, “I have prepared something special for you. Soon you will enter a walk with Me you’ve never known before.” Maybe your life has already been greatly blessed by God. Now the Holy Spirit is saying His longstanding promise is about to come to full fruition—and it will amaze you. If this describes your life right now, I can tell you with the authority of Scripture: Get ready to examine your heart.
This next part is what I call experiencing “crazy faith.” Crazy faith is believing that no matter how good things are, the best is yet to come. It’s a faith that says, “As much as we dream and do big things for God’s kingdom, His vision is always greater.” What the Lord has done in the brief existence of the church I pastor has exceeded my wildest expectations. Not a week goes by without someone giving his or her life to Jesus. Whenever we distribute food to the poor, many of the recipients ask, “Why are you doing this?” We answer, “It’s Jesus,” and they give their lives to Him.
It is all happening miraculously. In three years our church has grown from three couples to nearly 1,500 people on Sundays. New believers are quickly maturing into faithful disciples, growing in their knowledge of God.
God is not just exceeding our expectations, He is showing us what His expectations are, and it is amazing to see. There are still a quarter of a million people in our area alone who do not know Christ, and last year the Lord stirred us to plant two new churches.
Here is the craziest part of all: I believe greater things are yet to come. I’m convinced that God will reveal Himself even more powerfully—not just in salvations but in outreach, in help to the poor, in impact on the city.
Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? Of course it does. But now comes the hard part. It is exactly at this point that God asks His people to examine their hearts.
We are aware that our righteousness is as filthy rags, that we need His grace. But the fact is, just when we are poised on the brink of God’s greatest work in our lives, He asks us to reflect on these questions: “Is there anything in my heart that is displeasing to the Lord? Have I neglected to do something He has asked of me?” I want nothing in my life to hinder what God wants to do!
This next part is what I call experiencing “crazy faith.” Crazy faith is believing that no matter how good things are, the best is yet to come. It’s a faith that says, “As much as we dream and do big things for God’s kingdom, His vision is always greater.” What the Lord has done in the brief existence of the church I pastor has exceeded my wildest expectations. Not a week goes by without someone giving his or her life to Jesus. Whenever we distribute food to the poor, many of the recipients ask, “Why are you doing this?” We answer, “It’s Jesus,” and they give their lives to Him.
It is all happening miraculously. In three years our church has grown from three couples to nearly 1,500 people on Sundays. New believers are quickly maturing into faithful disciples, growing in their knowledge of God.
God is not just exceeding our expectations, He is showing us what His expectations are, and it is amazing to see. There are still a quarter of a million people in our area alone who do not know Christ, and last year the Lord stirred us to plant two new churches.
Here is the craziest part of all: I believe greater things are yet to come. I’m convinced that God will reveal Himself even more powerfully—not just in salvations but in outreach, in help to the poor, in impact on the city.
Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? Of course it does. But now comes the hard part. It is exactly at this point that God asks His people to examine their hearts.
We are aware that our righteousness is as filthy rags, that we need His grace. But the fact is, just when we are poised on the brink of God’s greatest work in our lives, He asks us to reflect on these questions: “Is there anything in my heart that is displeasing to the Lord? Have I neglected to do something He has asked of me?” I want nothing in my life to hinder what God wants to do!
Friday, April 26, 2013
STOP AND LISTEN
I wonder if the Lord ever wearies of His children coming into His presence and never once stopping to listen. Nothing is so empty and unfulfilling as one-way communication. Try listening to someone for a few hours without getting in a word. It leaves you with a feeling of loneliness. The person who "got the load off his chest" goes away feeling better, but the poor listener stands there unfulfilled.
How often have we left our Lord alone in the secret closet, lonely and unfulfilled? We rush into His presence with, "Praise You, Jesus! I love you, Lord! Here's my shopping list and my healing card. Amen." How many times has He been so ready and anxious to open His own heart to speak, when lo and behold, no one was there?
If we pray an hour, we talk an hour. If we pray for hours, we talk for hours. If we pray all night, we talk all night—millions of voices talking and praising. All my preaching life has been spent in trying to get people to pray. Now, I see that has not been the problem. The real problem is leaving the Savior in the secret closet, alone, unfulfilled without being able to say a word to us.
We left that closet of prayer having unburdened our hearts. We told Him of our hopes, our dreams, our desires. We left that holy place of prayer with a satisfied mind. Yet, our Lord was still there waiting with keen anticipation, longing to share in that communion. I believe our Lord says, "Yes, yes, thank you for your praise. I accept it. I'm so glad you took the time to be shut in with Me. I have heard your request and the Father will give you the desire of your heart. But please, wait! Don't leave just now. I have some things I want to share with you. My heart is yearning to be unburdened to you. I've bottled your tears, I've soothed your troubled mind. Now, allow Me to talk! Allow Me to tell you what is on My heart"
Our Lord Jesus wants to talk. He wants to tell us what is breaking His heart in our generation. He wants to speak to each child about the beautiful plan He has for all who trust Him, revealing glorious truths. He wants to give guidance for ourselves and help in raising our children; solutions to our problems; new ministries and outreaches that will save the lost; specific words concerning jobs, careers, homes, life partners; truths about heaven, hell and the coming calamities. Most of all, He wants to talk to us about how much He loves and cares for His own
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
How often have we left our Lord alone in the secret closet, lonely and unfulfilled? We rush into His presence with, "Praise You, Jesus! I love you, Lord! Here's my shopping list and my healing card. Amen." How many times has He been so ready and anxious to open His own heart to speak, when lo and behold, no one was there?
If we pray an hour, we talk an hour. If we pray for hours, we talk for hours. If we pray all night, we talk all night—millions of voices talking and praising. All my preaching life has been spent in trying to get people to pray. Now, I see that has not been the problem. The real problem is leaving the Savior in the secret closet, alone, unfulfilled without being able to say a word to us.
We left that closet of prayer having unburdened our hearts. We told Him of our hopes, our dreams, our desires. We left that holy place of prayer with a satisfied mind. Yet, our Lord was still there waiting with keen anticipation, longing to share in that communion. I believe our Lord says, "Yes, yes, thank you for your praise. I accept it. I'm so glad you took the time to be shut in with Me. I have heard your request and the Father will give you the desire of your heart. But please, wait! Don't leave just now. I have some things I want to share with you. My heart is yearning to be unburdened to you. I've bottled your tears, I've soothed your troubled mind. Now, allow Me to talk! Allow Me to tell you what is on My heart"
Our Lord Jesus wants to talk. He wants to tell us what is breaking His heart in our generation. He wants to speak to each child about the beautiful plan He has for all who trust Him, revealing glorious truths. He wants to give guidance for ourselves and help in raising our children; solutions to our problems; new ministries and outreaches that will save the lost; specific words concerning jobs, careers, homes, life partners; truths about heaven, hell and the coming calamities. Most of all, He wants to talk to us about how much He loves and cares for His own
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
Thursday, April 25, 2013
A DOUBLE-MINDED PERSON
A double-minded person—one who believes the power is equally divided between God and Satan—is unstable in all his ways. That explains why "in time of temptation [some] fall away" (Luke 8:13). They fall back into fear and lose sight of God's mighty power.
Jesus taught us that we are to “watch and pray, that [we] enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). The spirit of God in you yearns to teach you confidence in His power but the flesh seeks to give in to fear. I believe it was fear—not weariness—that put the disciples to sleep while Jesus prayed in the garden. They had just received the news that Jesus would be betrayed and delivered into the hands of sinful men, that Peter would become a traitor, and that they would all be offended and scattered. Suddenly, they forgot all His miracles, His mighty power to heal the sick and raise the dead, His power to multiply loaves and fishes. They were terrified of being abandoned by the Lord. They slept the sleep of doomed men. When Jesus asks us to pray that we not be led into temptation, He is actually saying, "Pray that you learn to trust God's power now, instead of having to go back again and again into the arena of temptation until the lesson is learned!"
The Bible says that God "knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2 Peter 2:9). How? By putting us under fire until we come out singing, "Greater is he that is in [me], than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Until we learn that, we overcome by faith alone!
You do not have to yield to temptation, but at times you may! Even the saintliest of God's people occasionally do. That is why God made special provisions for those who fail. "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).
Our Lord is not nearly as grieved by our yielding to temptation as He is by our not learning how to deal with it. He is more hurt by the fact we have not trusted His power to deliver. God is hurt not so much by what we do as He is by what we do not do. The overcoming Christian is one whose life confesses, "God has the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen!"
Jesus taught us that we are to “watch and pray, that [we] enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). The spirit of God in you yearns to teach you confidence in His power but the flesh seeks to give in to fear. I believe it was fear—not weariness—that put the disciples to sleep while Jesus prayed in the garden. They had just received the news that Jesus would be betrayed and delivered into the hands of sinful men, that Peter would become a traitor, and that they would all be offended and scattered. Suddenly, they forgot all His miracles, His mighty power to heal the sick and raise the dead, His power to multiply loaves and fishes. They were terrified of being abandoned by the Lord. They slept the sleep of doomed men. When Jesus asks us to pray that we not be led into temptation, He is actually saying, "Pray that you learn to trust God's power now, instead of having to go back again and again into the arena of temptation until the lesson is learned!"
The Bible says that God "knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2 Peter 2:9). How? By putting us under fire until we come out singing, "Greater is he that is in [me], than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Until we learn that, we overcome by faith alone!
You do not have to yield to temptation, but at times you may! Even the saintliest of God's people occasionally do. That is why God made special provisions for those who fail. "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).
Our Lord is not nearly as grieved by our yielding to temptation as He is by our not learning how to deal with it. He is more hurt by the fact we have not trusted His power to deliver. God is hurt not so much by what we do as He is by what we do not do. The overcoming Christian is one whose life confesses, "God has the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen!"
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
TWO ABSOLUTES
The longer I live for Christ, the more difficult it is for me to accept easy, cure-all solutions. But in my own struggles, I have found great comfort and help in two wonderful absolutes.
The first absolute: GOD REALLY LOVES ME. God is not in the business of condemning His children, failures or not. He is a loving Father, wanting only to lift us out of our weaknesses.
I caught a glimpse of that love recently while walking in the woods around our ranch. Not once did I stop to consider the birds flying about, free and healthy. But suddenly, on the ground just ahead, a crippled little bird flopped around. Struggling so hard to fly, the baby bird could only flip over helplessly in the dust. I stooped to pick it up. It was then a familiar Scripture came flashing through my mind. "Not one [sparrow] shall fall on the ground without your Father" (Matthew 10:29).
I once thought that verse read, "Not a sparrow falls to the ground without the Father knowing about it." But Matthew's version states, "One shall not fall without the Father."
God is with us, even when we fall. The Father does not fall into our sin, but He does come down to our fallen condition. He does not abandon us on our way down. For, you see, we are that sparrow.
Sometimes we recognize His great love only when we hit bottom. You will have won a great victory if you can be convinced God loves you even in your wounded, crippled condition. Our strength is renewed by His everlasting love. Just rest in that wonderful love. Don't panic. Deliverance will come.
The second absolute: IT IS MY FAITH THAT PLEASES HIM THE MOST! "Without faith, it is impossible to please him" (Hebrews 11:6). God counts our trust as righteousness. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).
I may not understand why He sometimes seems to take a long time to intervene, but I know He will keep His word to me.
The first absolute: GOD REALLY LOVES ME. God is not in the business of condemning His children, failures or not. He is a loving Father, wanting only to lift us out of our weaknesses.
I caught a glimpse of that love recently while walking in the woods around our ranch. Not once did I stop to consider the birds flying about, free and healthy. But suddenly, on the ground just ahead, a crippled little bird flopped around. Struggling so hard to fly, the baby bird could only flip over helplessly in the dust. I stooped to pick it up. It was then a familiar Scripture came flashing through my mind. "Not one [sparrow] shall fall on the ground without your Father" (Matthew 10:29).
I once thought that verse read, "Not a sparrow falls to the ground without the Father knowing about it." But Matthew's version states, "One shall not fall without the Father."
God is with us, even when we fall. The Father does not fall into our sin, but He does come down to our fallen condition. He does not abandon us on our way down. For, you see, we are that sparrow.
Sometimes we recognize His great love only when we hit bottom. You will have won a great victory if you can be convinced God loves you even in your wounded, crippled condition. Our strength is renewed by His everlasting love. Just rest in that wonderful love. Don't panic. Deliverance will come.
The second absolute: IT IS MY FAITH THAT PLEASES HIM THE MOST! "Without faith, it is impossible to please him" (Hebrews 11:6). God counts our trust as righteousness. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).
I may not understand why He sometimes seems to take a long time to intervene, but I know He will keep His word to me.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
RECEIVING THE BLESSING OF THE CROSS
God delights in using failures—men and women who think they can do almost nothing right. A woman wrote to me recently saying, "My marriage is failing. I seem to do everything wrong in raising my children. I feel like I'm not worth anything to anybody. I've not been a very good wife, mother or Christian. I've got to be the world's worst failure."
She is just the kind of person the Lord is looking for—people who know that if anything good happens through them, it must be because of God. All the hotshot Christians who go about bowling people over with their great abilities never impress God. God looked down on a scheming, base, weakling of a man called Jacob and said, "Fear not, thou worm Jacob . . . I will help thee . . . behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth . . . thou shalt rejoice in the Lord" (Isaiah 41:14–16).
Men often use God to achieve fortune, fame, honor and respect. Talent, personality and cleverness are used to advance God's kingdom, but He is not impressed. His strength is perfected in our weakness, our inability to obey His commandments in our own strength.
God calls us to a life of holiness and separation. He tells us we can be free from the bondage of sin. His Word comes to us with some impossible challenges: "Resist the devil. Walk in the Spirit. Come out from among them. Love your enemies. Leave behind all your fears. Put down your lustful desires. Let no sin have dominion over you."
When you think honestly about how little you can do on your own to fulfill these challenges, you realize how very weak you are. Your heart begins to cry, "Lord, how can we do such great, holy things?" That is when our Lord takes over! He comes with such a comforting message: "Lay down your weapons. Quit trying to be so self–sufficient and strong. I am your weapon and your strength. Let Me do what you never can do. I will give you My righteousness, My holiness, My rest, My strength. You cannot save yourself or please Me in any way other than by receiving the blessings of the cross by faith. Let Me be in charge of your growth in holiness."
She is just the kind of person the Lord is looking for—people who know that if anything good happens through them, it must be because of God. All the hotshot Christians who go about bowling people over with their great abilities never impress God. God looked down on a scheming, base, weakling of a man called Jacob and said, "Fear not, thou worm Jacob . . . I will help thee . . . behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth . . . thou shalt rejoice in the Lord" (Isaiah 41:14–16).
Men often use God to achieve fortune, fame, honor and respect. Talent, personality and cleverness are used to advance God's kingdom, but He is not impressed. His strength is perfected in our weakness, our inability to obey His commandments in our own strength.
God calls us to a life of holiness and separation. He tells us we can be free from the bondage of sin. His Word comes to us with some impossible challenges: "Resist the devil. Walk in the Spirit. Come out from among them. Love your enemies. Leave behind all your fears. Put down your lustful desires. Let no sin have dominion over you."
When you think honestly about how little you can do on your own to fulfill these challenges, you realize how very weak you are. Your heart begins to cry, "Lord, how can we do such great, holy things?" That is when our Lord takes over! He comes with such a comforting message: "Lay down your weapons. Quit trying to be so self–sufficient and strong. I am your weapon and your strength. Let Me do what you never can do. I will give you My righteousness, My holiness, My rest, My strength. You cannot save yourself or please Me in any way other than by receiving the blessings of the cross by faith. Let Me be in charge of your growth in holiness."
Monday, April 22, 2013
THERE WAS NO SWORD IN THE HAND OF DAVID by Gary Wilkerson
“David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. . . . When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way” (1 Samuel 17:50-52).
When David slew Goliath, the tide turned so dramatically that Israel put the stumbling Philistines to flight. Most important in this passage is one short phrase: “There was no sword in the hand of David.” God proved Himself faithful through David’s trust—and that filled every Israelite soldier with faith. All mockery and shame were gone, and the Israelites’ confidence returned—a confidence that their God would do battle for them.
The profound effect of seeing God’s power work on our behalf is that our confidence is renewed to enter the fray. The battle is Christ’s, who calls to us, “Come see My hand of victory. I have cut off the head of your accuser!” We are now empowered to follow, saying, “Lord, You haven’t abandoned me. You allowed all of this—every setback, even the taunts. And You did it in mercy so that I might believe You.”
Still, many of us wonder, “When will the Lord move on my behalf?” The answer to that is, Jesus has already moved! Your victory was secured 2,000 years ago on the cross. His triumph on the cross is the same victory that puts to flight every giant in our lives. Your marriage may be suffering, but Christ has defeated the powers of darkness arrayed against you and your spouse. Your finances may not be in order, but your Lord has prepared for you a future and a hope. Your children may not lead the godly life you envision for them, but Jesus has purchased their salvation. We may have battles on many fronts, but Christ has secured our victory.
Are you now able to see your foe defeated? Think of all the accusing voices you hear. You can answer them all: “This is the end for you, devil. Jesus’ victory has put you to flight. My victory is already sealed and won. Whenever He chooses, my Hero will demonstrate that victory, and the world will behold Him in all His glory. All will know that the battle is not with the sword and spear, but with the Lord.”
When David slew Goliath, the tide turned so dramatically that Israel put the stumbling Philistines to flight. Most important in this passage is one short phrase: “There was no sword in the hand of David.” God proved Himself faithful through David’s trust—and that filled every Israelite soldier with faith. All mockery and shame were gone, and the Israelites’ confidence returned—a confidence that their God would do battle for them.
The profound effect of seeing God’s power work on our behalf is that our confidence is renewed to enter the fray. The battle is Christ’s, who calls to us, “Come see My hand of victory. I have cut off the head of your accuser!” We are now empowered to follow, saying, “Lord, You haven’t abandoned me. You allowed all of this—every setback, even the taunts. And You did it in mercy so that I might believe You.”
Still, many of us wonder, “When will the Lord move on my behalf?” The answer to that is, Jesus has already moved! Your victory was secured 2,000 years ago on the cross. His triumph on the cross is the same victory that puts to flight every giant in our lives. Your marriage may be suffering, but Christ has defeated the powers of darkness arrayed against you and your spouse. Your finances may not be in order, but your Lord has prepared for you a future and a hope. Your children may not lead the godly life you envision for them, but Jesus has purchased their salvation. We may have battles on many fronts, but Christ has secured our victory.
Are you now able to see your foe defeated? Think of all the accusing voices you hear. You can answer them all: “This is the end for you, devil. Jesus’ victory has put you to flight. My victory is already sealed and won. Whenever He chooses, my Hero will demonstrate that victory, and the world will behold Him in all His glory. All will know that the battle is not with the sword and spear, but with the Lord.”
Friday, April 19, 2013
THIS IS THE VICTORY
“This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
Have you failed? Is there a sin that easily besets you? Do you feel like a weakened coward, unable to get the victory over secret sin? But with that weakness in you, is there also a consuming hunger for God? Do you yearn for Him, reach to Him? That hunger and thirst is the key to your victory. That makes you different from all others who have been guilty of failing God. That sets you apart. You must keep that hunger alive. Keep thirsting after righteousness. Never justify your weakness, never give in to it, and never accept it as a part of your life.
Faith is your victory. Abraham had weaknesses; he lied, almost turning his wife into an adulteress. But Abraham "believed God, and it was counted unto him as righteousness." God refused to hold his sin against him—because he believed!
Sure, you have failed. Maybe yesterday—or even today! But do you believe Jesus has the power to ultimately free you from sin's power? Do you believe the cross of Jesus means sin's bondage is broken? Do you accept the fact that He has promised to deliver you from the snare of Satan?
Let me tell you exactly where I believe the victory lies. Let your heart accept all the promises of victory in Jesus. Then let your faith tell your heart, "I may not be what I want to be yet but God is at work in me, and He has the power to loose sin's hold on me. It may be little by little, but the day will come when faith will conquer. I will not always be a slave. I am not the devil's puppet and I will not be his victim. I am a weak child of God, wanting the strength of Jesus. I am going to come forth as pure gold tried in the fire. God is for me! I commit it all to Him who is able to keep me from falling and present me faultless before the throne of God—with exceeding great joy."
Have you failed? Is there a sin that easily besets you? Do you feel like a weakened coward, unable to get the victory over secret sin? But with that weakness in you, is there also a consuming hunger for God? Do you yearn for Him, reach to Him? That hunger and thirst is the key to your victory. That makes you different from all others who have been guilty of failing God. That sets you apart. You must keep that hunger alive. Keep thirsting after righteousness. Never justify your weakness, never give in to it, and never accept it as a part of your life.
Faith is your victory. Abraham had weaknesses; he lied, almost turning his wife into an adulteress. But Abraham "believed God, and it was counted unto him as righteousness." God refused to hold his sin against him—because he believed!
Sure, you have failed. Maybe yesterday—or even today! But do you believe Jesus has the power to ultimately free you from sin's power? Do you believe the cross of Jesus means sin's bondage is broken? Do you accept the fact that He has promised to deliver you from the snare of Satan?
Let me tell you exactly where I believe the victory lies. Let your heart accept all the promises of victory in Jesus. Then let your faith tell your heart, "I may not be what I want to be yet but God is at work in me, and He has the power to loose sin's hold on me. It may be little by little, but the day will come when faith will conquer. I will not always be a slave. I am not the devil's puppet and I will not be his victim. I am a weak child of God, wanting the strength of Jesus. I am going to come forth as pure gold tried in the fire. God is for me! I commit it all to Him who is able to keep me from falling and present me faultless before the throne of God—with exceeding great joy."
Thursday, April 18, 2013
HIS PRICELESS TREASURES
God has determined to accomplish His goals here on earth through men with weaknesses.
Isaiah, the great prayer warrior, was a man just like the rest of us. David, the man after God's own heart, was a murdering adulterer who had no moral right to any of God's blessings. Peter denied the very Lord God of heaven—cursing the One who loved him most. Abraham, the father of nations, lived a lie—using his wife as a pawn to save his own skin. Jacob was a conniver. Adam and Eve turned a perfect marriage arrangement into a nightmare. Solomon, the wisest man on earth, did some of the most stupid things ever recorded in history. Joseph taunted his brothers in almost boyish glee—until the games almost backfired on him. Jonah despised the mercy of God toward a repentant people and wanted to see an entire city burn to justify his prophecies against it. Lot offered his two virgin daughters to a mob of sex–crazed Sodomites.
The list goes on and on—men who loved God, men who were greatly used by God, almost driven to the ground by their weaknesses. Yet, God was always there saying, "I called you; I will be with you. I will accomplish My will—regardless!"
One of the most encouraging Scriptures in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 4:7: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." Then Paul goes on to describe those earthen vessels—dying men, troubled on every side, perplexed, persecuted, cast down. And even though never forsaken or in despair, those men used by God are constantly groaning under the burden of their bodies, waiting anxiously to be clothed with new ones.
God mocks man's power. He laughs at our egotistical efforts at being good. He never uses the high and mighty but, instead, uses the weak things of this world to confound the wise.
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not . . . that no flesh should glory in his presence" (1 Corinthians 1:26–29).
God puts His priceless treasures in earthen vessels because He delights in doing the impossible with nothing.
Isaiah, the great prayer warrior, was a man just like the rest of us. David, the man after God's own heart, was a murdering adulterer who had no moral right to any of God's blessings. Peter denied the very Lord God of heaven—cursing the One who loved him most. Abraham, the father of nations, lived a lie—using his wife as a pawn to save his own skin. Jacob was a conniver. Adam and Eve turned a perfect marriage arrangement into a nightmare. Solomon, the wisest man on earth, did some of the most stupid things ever recorded in history. Joseph taunted his brothers in almost boyish glee—until the games almost backfired on him. Jonah despised the mercy of God toward a repentant people and wanted to see an entire city burn to justify his prophecies against it. Lot offered his two virgin daughters to a mob of sex–crazed Sodomites.
The list goes on and on—men who loved God, men who were greatly used by God, almost driven to the ground by their weaknesses. Yet, God was always there saying, "I called you; I will be with you. I will accomplish My will—regardless!"
One of the most encouraging Scriptures in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 4:7: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." Then Paul goes on to describe those earthen vessels—dying men, troubled on every side, perplexed, persecuted, cast down. And even though never forsaken or in despair, those men used by God are constantly groaning under the burden of their bodies, waiting anxiously to be clothed with new ones.
God mocks man's power. He laughs at our egotistical efforts at being good. He never uses the high and mighty but, instead, uses the weak things of this world to confound the wise.
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not . . . that no flesh should glory in his presence" (1 Corinthians 1:26–29).
God puts His priceless treasures in earthen vessels because He delights in doing the impossible with nothing.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM
“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (Matthew 14:24-27).
The disciples were so swamped, so suddenly overwhelmed, the very thought that Jesus was nearby watching over them was absurd. One probably said, "This is the work of Satan. The devil is out to kill us because of all those miracles we've had a part in." Another said, "Where did we go wrong? Which one of us has sin in his life? God is mad at somebody on this boat!" Another could have asked, "Why us? We're doing what He said to do. We're obedient. Why this storm all of a sudden?”
And in the darkest hour, "Jesus went unto them." How difficult it must have been for Jesus to wait on the edge of the storm, loving them so much, feeling every pain they felt, wanting so much to keep them from getting hurt, yearning after them as a father for his children in trouble. Yet, He knew they could never fully know or trust Him until the full fury of the storm was upon them. He would reveal Himself only when they had reached the limit of their faith. The boat would not have gone down, but their fear would have drowned them more quickly than the waves beating on the ship. The fear of drowning was from despair—not water!
"And when the disciples saw Him . . . they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit [ghost]" (Matthew 14:26).
They did not recognize Jesus in that storm. They saw a ghost—an apparition. The thought of Jesus being so near, so much a part of what they were going through, did not even enter their minds.
The danger we all face is not being able to see Jesus in our troubles. Instead, we see ghosts. In that very peak moment of fear, when the night is the blackest, the storm is the angriest, the winds are the loudest, and the hopelessness so overwhelming, Jesus always draws near to us to reveal Himself as the Lord of the flood—the Savior in storms.
"The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever" (Psalm 29:10).
The disciples were so swamped, so suddenly overwhelmed, the very thought that Jesus was nearby watching over them was absurd. One probably said, "This is the work of Satan. The devil is out to kill us because of all those miracles we've had a part in." Another said, "Where did we go wrong? Which one of us has sin in his life? God is mad at somebody on this boat!" Another could have asked, "Why us? We're doing what He said to do. We're obedient. Why this storm all of a sudden?”
And in the darkest hour, "Jesus went unto them." How difficult it must have been for Jesus to wait on the edge of the storm, loving them so much, feeling every pain they felt, wanting so much to keep them from getting hurt, yearning after them as a father for his children in trouble. Yet, He knew they could never fully know or trust Him until the full fury of the storm was upon them. He would reveal Himself only when they had reached the limit of their faith. The boat would not have gone down, but their fear would have drowned them more quickly than the waves beating on the ship. The fear of drowning was from despair—not water!
"And when the disciples saw Him . . . they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit [ghost]" (Matthew 14:26).
They did not recognize Jesus in that storm. They saw a ghost—an apparition. The thought of Jesus being so near, so much a part of what they were going through, did not even enter their minds.
The danger we all face is not being able to see Jesus in our troubles. Instead, we see ghosts. In that very peak moment of fear, when the night is the blackest, the storm is the angriest, the winds are the loudest, and the hopelessness so overwhelming, Jesus always draws near to us to reveal Himself as the Lord of the flood—the Savior in storms.
"The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever" (Psalm 29:10).
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
WE CAN HEAR HIS VOICE TODAY
Millions have been converted because one man heard His voice. Saul "fell to the earth, and heard a voice" (Acts 9:4). And when he became Paul, he continued to hear the voice of the Lord. He knew his Shepherd's voice.
Peter allowed the Savior's voice to come to him. "Peter went up upon the housetop to pray . . . and there came a voice to him (Acts 10:9, 13). The entire Gentile race was welcomed into the kingdom, along with the house of Cornelius, because a man obeyed His voice. We, too, must allow His voice to come to us. "Today if ye will hear His voice . . ." (Psalm 95:7). What God could do with Christians who learn to hear from heaven!
Instead of waiting for God’s voice to come to us, we run to counselors and psychologists, read books and listen to tapes, hoping to hear from Him. We want a leader to follow, a plan for the future, a clear word of direction. But few know how to go to the Lord and hear His voice.
God wants to shake the earth once more. The whole universe is ready for Holy Ghost convulsions! "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven" (Hebrews 12:25-26).
He has promised, "Once again My voice will be heard. Those who hear will shake the earth. Heaven and earth will be moved. By the hearing of My voice, whatsoever is loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
To the last church, the Laodicean church, the Lord cries, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).
That is the last call of Christ to the church. "Open up. Let Me into your secret closet. Talk with Me and let Me talk with you. Let's commune. That's how I will keep you from the hour of temptation that is coming on all the world."
Peter allowed the Savior's voice to come to him. "Peter went up upon the housetop to pray . . . and there came a voice to him (Acts 10:9, 13). The entire Gentile race was welcomed into the kingdom, along with the house of Cornelius, because a man obeyed His voice. We, too, must allow His voice to come to us. "Today if ye will hear His voice . . ." (Psalm 95:7). What God could do with Christians who learn to hear from heaven!
Instead of waiting for God’s voice to come to us, we run to counselors and psychologists, read books and listen to tapes, hoping to hear from Him. We want a leader to follow, a plan for the future, a clear word of direction. But few know how to go to the Lord and hear His voice.
God wants to shake the earth once more. The whole universe is ready for Holy Ghost convulsions! "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven" (Hebrews 12:25-26).
He has promised, "Once again My voice will be heard. Those who hear will shake the earth. Heaven and earth will be moved. By the hearing of My voice, whatsoever is loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
To the last church, the Laodicean church, the Lord cries, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).
That is the last call of Christ to the church. "Open up. Let Me into your secret closet. Talk with Me and let Me talk with you. Let's commune. That's how I will keep you from the hour of temptation that is coming on all the world."
Monday, April 15, 2013
“CHRISTUS VICTOR” by Gary Wilkerson
“Christus Victor” is the Latin phrase the early church fathers used to describe Jesus and His atonement. Roughly translated, it means, “Our victory is not in ourselves, but in Christ.” If we defeat an enemy when the odds are fifty-fifty, we are tempted to think, “I won the battle.” But when our enemy is nine feet tall; when we have rebuked him but he comes back stronger; when we have exhausted all our resources; when we have thrown up our hands and said, “I can’t do this,” then God says, “I have you right where I want you.”
Usually Old Testament stories are taught to children not as spiritual truths but as moral instruction. For example, the lesson of Jonah is usually presented as, “Don’t disobey God or you’ll get into deep trouble.”
Most of us were taught the story of David and Goliath in Sunday school and the lesson is, “Be brave and courageous.” The trouble with this interpretation of David’s story is that we are teaching our children to do something they are unable to do. There was not a single Israelite soldier who could have survived a hand-to-hand fight with Goliath. That battle was beyond even the bravest man.
Likewise, when we are in a spiritual battle, bravery and boldness are not sufficient. David knew he was no match for Goliath. In fact, he wasn’t even a soldier yet; he was too young. The only thing David was armed with when he showed up at the battlefront was bread and cheese for his brothers. Yet the difference with David was that he knew the battle was not his but God’s. When he heard Goliath’s taunts, he testified:
“This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head . . . that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand” (1 Samuel 17:46-47).
Spiritual victory is never our own—it comes from our Deliverer. In this story David is a picture of our Deliverer, Christ. He cuts through all our anguish and despair with an authority no demon can stand up to. Goliath had no chance that day, for one reason: The battle was the Lord’s.
Usually Old Testament stories are taught to children not as spiritual truths but as moral instruction. For example, the lesson of Jonah is usually presented as, “Don’t disobey God or you’ll get into deep trouble.”
Most of us were taught the story of David and Goliath in Sunday school and the lesson is, “Be brave and courageous.” The trouble with this interpretation of David’s story is that we are teaching our children to do something they are unable to do. There was not a single Israelite soldier who could have survived a hand-to-hand fight with Goliath. That battle was beyond even the bravest man.
Likewise, when we are in a spiritual battle, bravery and boldness are not sufficient. David knew he was no match for Goliath. In fact, he wasn’t even a soldier yet; he was too young. The only thing David was armed with when he showed up at the battlefront was bread and cheese for his brothers. Yet the difference with David was that he knew the battle was not his but God’s. When he heard Goliath’s taunts, he testified:
“This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head . . . that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand” (1 Samuel 17:46-47).
Spiritual victory is never our own—it comes from our Deliverer. In this story David is a picture of our Deliverer, Christ. He cuts through all our anguish and despair with an authority no demon can stand up to. Goliath had no chance that day, for one reason: The battle was the Lord’s.
Friday, April 12, 2013
BEARING FRUIT
There is a portion of Scripture that convicts me deeply. Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. . . If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:2, 6).
I have read and re-read these powerful words of Christ, and I cannot escape their convicting power. The Holy Spirit has impressed upon me the importance of understanding these words, "My Father is the husbandman . . . every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away."
This matter of Christians bearing fruit is not optional with God. He watches over His vine and all the engrafted branches with great jealousy and concern, patiently waiting for the branches to bring forth fruit. He stands beside it with pruning knife in hand, lovingly watching for the slightest evidence of corruption, blight or disease which could hinder growth. God expects fruit from every branch. Without fruit, it is impossible to honor and glorify Him or be a true disciple of Christ. Jesus said: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (John 15:8).
Bearing fruit has everything to do with pleasing God—fulfilling our mission in Christ— and with having our prayers and petitions answered. Jesus said, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (verse 16).
Actually, bearing fruit concerns what we are becoming, rather than simply what we are doing. I am bearing fruit when there is nothing hindering the flow of the life of Christ into me. That is what Jesus meant when He said, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3). He is saying, "Because you believed My word—trembling over it, letting it reveal every hidden secret, bringing to light every dark thing, allowing the Word of God to purge you—the hindrances are all gone!”
I have read and re-read these powerful words of Christ, and I cannot escape their convicting power. The Holy Spirit has impressed upon me the importance of understanding these words, "My Father is the husbandman . . . every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away."
This matter of Christians bearing fruit is not optional with God. He watches over His vine and all the engrafted branches with great jealousy and concern, patiently waiting for the branches to bring forth fruit. He stands beside it with pruning knife in hand, lovingly watching for the slightest evidence of corruption, blight or disease which could hinder growth. God expects fruit from every branch. Without fruit, it is impossible to honor and glorify Him or be a true disciple of Christ. Jesus said: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (John 15:8).
Bearing fruit has everything to do with pleasing God—fulfilling our mission in Christ— and with having our prayers and petitions answered. Jesus said, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (verse 16).
Actually, bearing fruit concerns what we are becoming, rather than simply what we are doing. I am bearing fruit when there is nothing hindering the flow of the life of Christ into me. That is what Jesus meant when He said, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3). He is saying, "Because you believed My word—trembling over it, letting it reveal every hidden secret, bringing to light every dark thing, allowing the Word of God to purge you—the hindrances are all gone!”
Thursday, April 11, 2013
THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST
Those who submit to Christ's lordship have an increase of strength and knowledge of Him. They literally gain a new mental and physical strength. They do not faint along the way because Jesus pours His own strength into them as they go.
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Colossians 1:9-11).
God will keep those who submit to His lordship blameless to the day of Christ's coming. If we submit to Jesus—doing as He commands, not leaning on our own understanding—we will never lack anything. He will supply everything we need to please Him. The Lord Himself will hold and keep us blameless to the very end!
"That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1Corinthians 1:5-9).
We are to entrust our lives into Jesus' care. It then becomes His responsibility to hold and keep us: "The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil" (2 Thessalonians 3:3). He says, "If you keep Me enthroned on your heart, I'll keep you blameless until My coming. I'll keep you from falling!" "Commit the keeping of [your] souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator" (1 Peter 4:19).
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Colossians 1:9-11).
God will keep those who submit to His lordship blameless to the day of Christ's coming. If we submit to Jesus—doing as He commands, not leaning on our own understanding—we will never lack anything. He will supply everything we need to please Him. The Lord Himself will hold and keep us blameless to the very end!
"That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1Corinthians 1:5-9).
We are to entrust our lives into Jesus' care. It then becomes His responsibility to hold and keep us: "The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil" (2 Thessalonians 3:3). He says, "If you keep Me enthroned on your heart, I'll keep you blameless until My coming. I'll keep you from falling!" "Commit the keeping of [your] souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator" (1 Peter 4:19).
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
JESUS IS KING OF MY LIFE
Perhaps you are saying, "I want Jesus to be king of my life. I want to do everything He commands me!" Let me show you two of the wonderful blessings that come to all who enthrone Jesus as king of their lives.
First, Scripture says if you will submit yourself to Jesus, waiting to receive His counsel and direction, you will partake of His holiness. "We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness" (Hebrews 12:9-10).
Paul commands us to come to Jesus, asking Him to give us dominion over all our sins and fears: "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:13-14).
God is saying, "If you want to know abundant life—true, full life—then submit yourself to Me and I will give you life without fear, guilt or condemnation!"
Second, those who submit to Christ's lordship will walk in peace—without fear or anxiety. "That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. . . . Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:74-75, 78-79).
What a wonderful promise! If we will yield our lives to Him, He will shine His light into our darkness and guide us into peace and rest. You can tell when a person has enthroned Christ in his heart. Such a life produces a peace that passes all understanding and you can see that peace in the person's face and demeanor.
First, Scripture says if you will submit yourself to Jesus, waiting to receive His counsel and direction, you will partake of His holiness. "We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness" (Hebrews 12:9-10).
Paul commands us to come to Jesus, asking Him to give us dominion over all our sins and fears: "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:13-14).
God is saying, "If you want to know abundant life—true, full life—then submit yourself to Me and I will give you life without fear, guilt or condemnation!"
Second, those who submit to Christ's lordship will walk in peace—without fear or anxiety. "That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. . . . Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:74-75, 78-79).
What a wonderful promise! If we will yield our lives to Him, He will shine His light into our darkness and guide us into peace and rest. You can tell when a person has enthroned Christ in his heart. Such a life produces a peace that passes all understanding and you can see that peace in the person's face and demeanor.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
BOLDNESS TO ENTER IN
Hebrews 10 contains an incredible promise. It says God's door is always open to us, giving us total access to the Father:
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:19-22).
A few verses later, we are warned that the day of the Lord is fast approaching: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (verse 25). God is saying, "Even now, as the time of Christ's return draws closer, you must seek My face. It is time to go into your secret closet and get to know Me!"
I believe we are already seeing signs that we are close to a meltdown of our financial system; violence and immorality are on the rise and our society is pleasure mad. False prophets—"angels of light"—have deceived many with their doctrines of demons. And at any time we can expect to see the hour of tribulation, which will cause men's hearts to fail with fear. Yet, before all this happens, the writer of Hebrews says:
"Don't let the truth slip away from you! Stay awake and alert. You have an open door into God's holy presence, so go into Him with full assurance of faith, making your petitions known. Christ's blood has already made the way for you and nothing stands between you and the Father. You have every right to enter into the holy of holies, to receive all the help you need!”
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:19-22).
A few verses later, we are warned that the day of the Lord is fast approaching: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (verse 25). God is saying, "Even now, as the time of Christ's return draws closer, you must seek My face. It is time to go into your secret closet and get to know Me!"
I believe we are already seeing signs that we are close to a meltdown of our financial system; violence and immorality are on the rise and our society is pleasure mad. False prophets—"angels of light"—have deceived many with their doctrines of demons. And at any time we can expect to see the hour of tribulation, which will cause men's hearts to fail with fear. Yet, before all this happens, the writer of Hebrews says:
"Don't let the truth slip away from you! Stay awake and alert. You have an open door into God's holy presence, so go into Him with full assurance of faith, making your petitions known. Christ's blood has already made the way for you and nothing stands between you and the Father. You have every right to enter into the holy of holies, to receive all the help you need!”
Monday, April 8, 2013
WALK IN THE SPIRIT by Gary Wilkerson
Most of us would admit we rarely feel God’s grace at work in us. That’s why we are prone to doubt that His presence abides in us. Paul addresses this dilemma for us in Galatians when he writes, “I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16, ESV).
It sounds simple enough but we tend to take Paul’s counsel here as a hard command to be obeyed. We grit our teeth and say, “I will walk in the Spirit today.” Then once we stumble, we think we are not “being spiritual” so we try even harder. Suddenly we are under the law again because we have turned to our fleshly ability, rather than trusting that we are already in the Spirit.
Paul says, “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (5:18). In other words, the Spirit of God abides in you, giving you access at all times to His grace, which empowers you. When Paul says, “Walk in the Spirit,” he means, “Walk under grace, not the law.”
Paul then shows us the result of a walk in the Spirit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (5:22-23). Take note: These things do not come about because of what we do. They are the fruit of the righteousness God has put in us—the result of His work in us.
You may not feel very loving at times, but love is in you because God put it there. You may not feel joy and peace, but God has implanted both deep within you. His Spirit is at work in you every hour of every day, to His great glory and to your deep blessing.
In one of the most amazing passages in Scripture, Paul gives us God’s response to the human condition: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. . . . There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Romans 7:25, 8:1-2).
It sounds simple enough but we tend to take Paul’s counsel here as a hard command to be obeyed. We grit our teeth and say, “I will walk in the Spirit today.” Then once we stumble, we think we are not “being spiritual” so we try even harder. Suddenly we are under the law again because we have turned to our fleshly ability, rather than trusting that we are already in the Spirit.
Paul says, “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (5:18). In other words, the Spirit of God abides in you, giving you access at all times to His grace, which empowers you. When Paul says, “Walk in the Spirit,” he means, “Walk under grace, not the law.”
Paul then shows us the result of a walk in the Spirit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (5:22-23). Take note: These things do not come about because of what we do. They are the fruit of the righteousness God has put in us—the result of His work in us.
You may not feel very loving at times, but love is in you because God put it there. You may not feel joy and peace, but God has implanted both deep within you. His Spirit is at work in you every hour of every day, to His great glory and to your deep blessing.
In one of the most amazing passages in Scripture, Paul gives us God’s response to the human condition: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. . . . There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Romans 7:25, 8:1-2).
Friday, April 5, 2013
THEY DON’T BELIEVE GOD HEARS THEIR PRAYERS
Some believers get discouraged over unanswered prayers and, finally, they simply give up. They think, "Prayer doesn't work for me and why should I pray if it doesn't work?"
The Israelites in Isaiah's time had the same attitude. Isaiah wrote: "They seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness . . . they ask of me . . . they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge (notice)?" (Isaiah 58:2-3).
These people were saying, "I love God. I do right and avoid sin, and until recently, I've been faithful to seek Him in prayer. But, you know what? He's never answered me. So why should I continue afflicting my soul before Him?"
James writes that God doesn't answer the prayers of those who ask for things simply to satisfy themselves: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (James 4:3). In other words: "You're not asking for God's will. You're not ready to submit to whatever He wants. Rather, you're trying to dictate to Him those things that will satisfy your own heart."
Our God is utterly faithful. Paul writes, "Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4). He is saying, "It doesn't matter if you hear a million voices crying, ‘Prayer doesn't work. God doesn't hear me!’ Let every man be called a liar because God's Word stands. He is faithful to hear us!"
Jesus said, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matthew 21:22). Simply put, Christ is saying, "If you truly believe, you will be willing to wait and expect an answer from your heavenly Father. No matter how long it takes, you will hold on in faith, believing He will answer."
"Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" (Psalm 31:19). "They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing" (34:10).
The Israelites in Isaiah's time had the same attitude. Isaiah wrote: "They seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness . . . they ask of me . . . they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge (notice)?" (Isaiah 58:2-3).
These people were saying, "I love God. I do right and avoid sin, and until recently, I've been faithful to seek Him in prayer. But, you know what? He's never answered me. So why should I continue afflicting my soul before Him?"
James writes that God doesn't answer the prayers of those who ask for things simply to satisfy themselves: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (James 4:3). In other words: "You're not asking for God's will. You're not ready to submit to whatever He wants. Rather, you're trying to dictate to Him those things that will satisfy your own heart."
Our God is utterly faithful. Paul writes, "Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4). He is saying, "It doesn't matter if you hear a million voices crying, ‘Prayer doesn't work. God doesn't hear me!’ Let every man be called a liar because God's Word stands. He is faithful to hear us!"
Jesus said, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matthew 21:22). Simply put, Christ is saying, "If you truly believe, you will be willing to wait and expect an answer from your heavenly Father. No matter how long it takes, you will hold on in faith, believing He will answer."
"Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" (Psalm 31:19). "They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing" (34:10).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)