Living by God's Grace in the Old Testament
And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes . . . "If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us . . . Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land . . . the LORD is with us." (Num_14:6, Num_14:8-9)
Throughout the Old Testament, we can find examples of people living by the grace of God. They may not have been able to describe their experience in terms of grace. Yet, their reliance upon God to work on their behalf was just as valid as ours. Living by grace involves God at work in people's lives. Even though they may have been born under the law, they could not live by means of the law. The law supplied no resource for life. Without God at work, the only resource is from the flesh, from natural human sufficiency. This has always been inadequate for living as God intended. Joshua and Caleb were two men who realized that God's sufficiency (His grace) was the only reliable hope.
Twelve Israelites had just returned from spying out the Promised Land. Ten of them had a similar perspective. "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey . . . Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large . . . We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we" (Num_13:27-28, Num_13:31). Their bad report was based upon what they saw, measured against their own resources. By this evaluation, they concluded: "We are not able to go up against the people." They were comparing two sets of human resources. "They are stronger than we."
Joshua and Caleb were deeply distressed by this inappropriate evaluation. "And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes." They knew that this outlook ignored what God had promised and what God could do. "If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us." They realized that this majority report, which was based on human sight and human capabilities, was actually a form of rebellion against the Lord. "Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land." Their rebellion was in fearing man and not trusting God. All the children of Israel needed to do was remember the Lord was committed to them. "The LORD is with us." The Lord was willing and able to give them the land.
Prayer
Lord God almighty, I am reminded that the majority report is so often based on human sight and earthly resources. Help me to be like Joshua and Caleb. I want a perspective that is based upon what You have promised and what You are able to do, Amen.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Deny Yourself
Deny Yourself
Mark 8:34 - 'And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'
Self promotion is the opposite of self denial. When you fight to be seen or to be known, you forfeit the promotion of God and chose your own means of exalting yourself and therefore, you become responsible for maintaining your image. In other words, when a person chooses to make their own way, God chooses to let them. And then you become your own source and must depend upon chance, luck, circumstance, and networking to achieve your goals rather than depending on God to make a way for you to be successful and excel.
Don't` get me wrong, I am not saying that we should not prepare for success by studying, schooling, learning, and becoming skilled at our abilities and talents, but we should only work towards those things that God has spoken to us about, and not just decide to do something, get out there doing it, and never getting God's opinion about it.
Here is what I'm trying to tell you. God has a plan for you and his plan will ultimately be pleasing to you. But the key is to deny what you feel you want out of life, and open yourself up to hearing and receiving direction from God. God will not lead anyone that will not follow him. He will not speak to anyone that will not listen to him and he will not waste time on anyone that is self focused and wants their own way. Being seen, known, and having your name made great are selfish motives and God is not in it. When you follow God, you must deny your flesh, say no to your own way, and purify your motives.
Remember, there are 2 ways to do everything. Your way or God's way. The way you choose will decide who you will serve. When you choose your own way, you become a slave to your agenda and a servant to your own will. Thus, you become your own master and God says you cannot serve 2 masters, but you will hate one or the other right? So, when it's self that masters you, then you are not mastered by God. But if you choose God's plan for your life, then you choose him as your master and can be led by him.
In order to do that, you must deny yourself. You must say no to what you want and say yes to what God wants. Then, it no longer is about you! Your prayers will change from "God give me this, give me that" to "God, what can I give you?" Your desires will change from "My season, my harvest, my favor, my miracle, my breakthrough" to "Your will, not mine! Please you not me Lord! Follow you, no matter what! You are God, not me!" Can you see what I'm saying here?
God is ready for us to move out of the attitude of selfishness that is being taught so prevalently by our TV Superstar preachers that seek to please themselves, and he is ready for a people that will seek to please him. People that will deny their own flesh and follow him. People that will stop doing what they want, and start seeking what he wants. God is wanting children that will obey and follow his plan, not people with their own agenda. To really know God requires that you deny yourself because you can't have his will and your own!
Mark 8:34 - 'And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'
Self promotion is the opposite of self denial. When you fight to be seen or to be known, you forfeit the promotion of God and chose your own means of exalting yourself and therefore, you become responsible for maintaining your image. In other words, when a person chooses to make their own way, God chooses to let them. And then you become your own source and must depend upon chance, luck, circumstance, and networking to achieve your goals rather than depending on God to make a way for you to be successful and excel.
Don't` get me wrong, I am not saying that we should not prepare for success by studying, schooling, learning, and becoming skilled at our abilities and talents, but we should only work towards those things that God has spoken to us about, and not just decide to do something, get out there doing it, and never getting God's opinion about it.
Here is what I'm trying to tell you. God has a plan for you and his plan will ultimately be pleasing to you. But the key is to deny what you feel you want out of life, and open yourself up to hearing and receiving direction from God. God will not lead anyone that will not follow him. He will not speak to anyone that will not listen to him and he will not waste time on anyone that is self focused and wants their own way. Being seen, known, and having your name made great are selfish motives and God is not in it. When you follow God, you must deny your flesh, say no to your own way, and purify your motives.
Remember, there are 2 ways to do everything. Your way or God's way. The way you choose will decide who you will serve. When you choose your own way, you become a slave to your agenda and a servant to your own will. Thus, you become your own master and God says you cannot serve 2 masters, but you will hate one or the other right? So, when it's self that masters you, then you are not mastered by God. But if you choose God's plan for your life, then you choose him as your master and can be led by him.
In order to do that, you must deny yourself. You must say no to what you want and say yes to what God wants. Then, it no longer is about you! Your prayers will change from "God give me this, give me that" to "God, what can I give you?" Your desires will change from "My season, my harvest, my favor, my miracle, my breakthrough" to "Your will, not mine! Please you not me Lord! Follow you, no matter what! You are God, not me!" Can you see what I'm saying here?
God is ready for us to move out of the attitude of selfishness that is being taught so prevalently by our TV Superstar preachers that seek to please themselves, and he is ready for a people that will seek to please him. People that will deny their own flesh and follow him. People that will stop doing what they want, and start seeking what he wants. God is wanting children that will obey and follow his plan, not people with their own agenda. To really know God requires that you deny yourself because you can't have his will and your own!
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Coming to the Lord for Edifying Grace
Coming to the Lord for Edifying Grace
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1Pe_2:4-5)
Coming to Jesus habitually for the grace that we need daily is at the heart of growing in grace. The spiritual impact in view here is edification: "being built up." As we saw earlier, God's grace is the edifying resource for our lives. "And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up" (Act_20:32). Now, we will look at the relational path that God has designed for accessing that edifying grace.
Jesus is likened here to "a living stone." He is solid and reliable, like a rock. Yet, a rock is lifeless, insensitive, unresponsive. Jesus is a "living stone." He is alive, tender, lovingly responsive. The Lord wants to build us up to be like Him (solid and stable, yet loving and caring). The Lord's way to build us up "as living stones" is to call us to an ongoing process of coming to Himself: "Coming to Him as to a living stone... you also, as living stones, are being built up." In order to practically grow "as living stones," we must be coming to the one who already is innately what He wants us to become. He alone can provide what is needed in our lives.
How do we come to Jesus in this manner? Well, again, it is a matter of relating to Him. When we get into the word of God, we are not merely looking for more biblical information. Jesus is the one we are to be seeking. When we are praying, we are not merely "saying our prayers." Jesus is the one in whose name we are praying and whose will and work we are seeking. When we are worshiping, we are not merely singing songs, we are singing to the Lord Himself. When we are going forth in ministry, we are not merely carrying out a valid task. We are looking to the Lord for enablement, while desiring to please and honor Him.
The more we come to Jesus in this way, to that extent His edifying grace will be building us up "a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Prayers
Dear Lord, You are the true living stone, stable and loving. So often I am unstable and unloving. I need to be built up as a living stone. I need to be more like You. Lord, help me to come to You daily, habitually. When I am studying the scriptures, praying, worshiping, or serving, help me to seek You in and through it all, in Your mighty name I pray, Amen.
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1Pe_2:4-5)
Coming to Jesus habitually for the grace that we need daily is at the heart of growing in grace. The spiritual impact in view here is edification: "being built up." As we saw earlier, God's grace is the edifying resource for our lives. "And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up" (Act_20:32). Now, we will look at the relational path that God has designed for accessing that edifying grace.
Jesus is likened here to "a living stone." He is solid and reliable, like a rock. Yet, a rock is lifeless, insensitive, unresponsive. Jesus is a "living stone." He is alive, tender, lovingly responsive. The Lord wants to build us up to be like Him (solid and stable, yet loving and caring). The Lord's way to build us up "as living stones" is to call us to an ongoing process of coming to Himself: "Coming to Him as to a living stone... you also, as living stones, are being built up." In order to practically grow "as living stones," we must be coming to the one who already is innately what He wants us to become. He alone can provide what is needed in our lives.
How do we come to Jesus in this manner? Well, again, it is a matter of relating to Him. When we get into the word of God, we are not merely looking for more biblical information. Jesus is the one we are to be seeking. When we are praying, we are not merely "saying our prayers." Jesus is the one in whose name we are praying and whose will and work we are seeking. When we are worshiping, we are not merely singing songs, we are singing to the Lord Himself. When we are going forth in ministry, we are not merely carrying out a valid task. We are looking to the Lord for enablement, while desiring to please and honor Him.
The more we come to Jesus in this way, to that extent His edifying grace will be building us up "a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Prayers
Dear Lord, You are the true living stone, stable and loving. So often I am unstable and unloving. I need to be built up as a living stone. I need to be more like You. Lord, help me to come to You daily, habitually. When I am studying the scriptures, praying, worshiping, or serving, help me to seek You in and through it all, in Your mighty name I pray, Amen.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Answered Prayer Promised in Jesus Name
Answered Prayer Promised in Jesus Name
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (Joh_14:13-14)
We who belong to the Lord have a great invitation to thoroughly express our hearts to Him in humble, dependent prayer. "Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him" (Psa_62:8). We also have a great need to be speaking to Him. "Without Me you can do nothing" (Joh_15:5). We also have great promises of answered prayer. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
When the people of God are prayerless, they do not receive from the Lord all that He wants to give to them. "You do not have because you do not ask" (Jam_4:2). At times, God's children pray, but they still do not receive from the Lord. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" (Jam_4:3). Their prayers are anchored in their own will and interests.
True praying is to be anchored in the will of God. "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1Jo_5:14-15).
At this juncture, the scriptures are vital in our daily prayer life. God's word directs us in praying according to the will of God. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (Joh_15:7).
As we are abiding in (depending upon) Christ, we will be wanting His word to have full sway in our lives. As we are consistently getting into His word, the scriptures are shaping our thinking and our desiring. Consequently, we ask what the Lord is teaching us to desire. In that beautiful biblical setting, He promises to give us whatever we ask.
All of this describes the essence of praying in the name of Jesus. Praying in Jesus name is not merely a formula of words with which to conclude our prayers. Whether we verbalize that phrase or not, it is about praying as Jesus would pray (always concerned about the will of His Father). It is about praying based on all that the word teaches about the person and work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf. Those who pray this way enjoy the certainty of these great promises of answered prayer, and they see much glory brought to God. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for these great promises of answered prayer. Teach me to pray in Your name. Please shape my praying by all that Your word reveals concerning Your will and Your work on my behalf. In Your precious name, I pray, Amen.
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (Joh_14:13-14)
We who belong to the Lord have a great invitation to thoroughly express our hearts to Him in humble, dependent prayer. "Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him" (Psa_62:8). We also have a great need to be speaking to Him. "Without Me you can do nothing" (Joh_15:5). We also have great promises of answered prayer. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
When the people of God are prayerless, they do not receive from the Lord all that He wants to give to them. "You do not have because you do not ask" (Jam_4:2). At times, God's children pray, but they still do not receive from the Lord. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" (Jam_4:3). Their prayers are anchored in their own will and interests.
True praying is to be anchored in the will of God. "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1Jo_5:14-15).
At this juncture, the scriptures are vital in our daily prayer life. God's word directs us in praying according to the will of God. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (Joh_15:7).
As we are abiding in (depending upon) Christ, we will be wanting His word to have full sway in our lives. As we are consistently getting into His word, the scriptures are shaping our thinking and our desiring. Consequently, we ask what the Lord is teaching us to desire. In that beautiful biblical setting, He promises to give us whatever we ask.
All of this describes the essence of praying in the name of Jesus. Praying in Jesus name is not merely a formula of words with which to conclude our prayers. Whether we verbalize that phrase or not, it is about praying as Jesus would pray (always concerned about the will of His Father). It is about praying based on all that the word teaches about the person and work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf. Those who pray this way enjoy the certainty of these great promises of answered prayer, and they see much glory brought to God. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for these great promises of answered prayer. Teach me to pray in Your name. Please shape my praying by all that Your word reveals concerning Your will and Your work on my behalf. In Your precious name, I pray, Amen.
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