Pray Without Ceasing! It's Exciting!

 One of the most freeing moments in my life was when I found out that prayer was not a repetitive, memorized, knee-crunching activity that was more like a job than a joy. Common misconceptions of prayer engender a boring, tedious and unresponsive prayer life. I can understand why people have to be reminded to pray.

Prayer is active, ongoing, exciting and peaceful. It is something to look forward to, and maintains ongoing peace. There is a constant parade of stressful situations in our lives looming around every corner. This world is far from perfect because God is not running it. People who know God and are on talking terms with the Father of all good, however, can change the world's effects.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 The Greek word from which the word 'prayer' is translated from (especially prayer to God) is 'proseuche'. Koine Greek is very expressive. The first part of that word 'pros' means 'face to face' or 'together with'.  The rest of the word means 'desire' or 'want'.  When we are face to face with God with the desires of our heart, we learn that He is all good and loves us beyond anything we could imagine.  It becomes pure joy to look at His answers. Prayer is a simple and continual conversation.

Recently I was praying about a specific situation I had a picture in my mind of holding up a platter  to God upon which rested all the things I was thinking. God cleaned off the platter immediately and replaced everything a beautiful answer to sit back and enjoy.  I could sense an excitement in how the prayer was answered. God does get excited!  There are other times answers don't come as fast. It is God's business how He answers. Peace is immediate, the rest of the answer may not be. I had another experience a couple weeks ago involving a prayer that had been around on my plate for a long period of time. The answer just dropped unexpectedly out of the blue. It was no big dramatic moment. God is full of surprises.

We don't have to wear out our knees, whine, beg or bargain when we pray. We can pray for everyone and everything with genuine thanksgiving. We can pray for family, friends, enemies, good weather, bad weather, our country (I Timothy 2:2) or whatever else is on our minds. We just grab the peace and run with it desiring  His "will be done on earth as it is in heaven!"

Unbelief -Deal With It!

There is a great record in Mark 9 when Jesus was asked to heal a man's son.

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Verse 24 says the man reacted straightway or immediately. Just reading what the man said about believing and unbelieving appears confusing. In Greek there are two words in the New Testament for unbelief: apeitheia and apistia. Apeitheia is an obstinate opposition to something, whereas apistia is a word meaning distrust, lack of faith, weakness in faith. (Apeitheia and apistia link). In this record the word for unbelief is apistia.

The father said he believed but evidently something was holding him back. It wasn't an adamant refusal to believe God, it was a lack of faith or trust. He did say he believed, yet he knew he didn't fully trust God in every area of his life. So he asked for help. He dealt with his weakness in believing.

It is a great lesson to learn to say "Lord I believe, help my distrust!  The spirit of God doesn't control us. The other god tries to do that. The adversary works throughout the systems of the world to get us hooked  and controlled by  his solutions. His systems and methods surround us. It is in the acknowledgement of where we can obtain help, that brings solutions. By our own free will, we choose to believe God, His word and what He accomplished in Jesus Christ. Our minds become refreshed with love and hope and that brings strength.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

That is the way God designed us.

God's Best?

Recently I read a preacher's remark telling Christians to ask God to show them His best today. I thought it was an odd statement when I read it.  If God has a best, does He have a worst?  Certainly not.

God is good always. Darkness occurs when there is no light. They don't co-exist. Wherever there is light it can be seen,

John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

James 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God shows us His best everyday. Are we looking?

I, II, III John

The three letters of John toward the end of the Bible are rich encouragement to the believer. The letters are about fellowship with the Father, Jesus Christ and each other. The Free On-Line Dictionary defines 'fellowship' as:

1. a. The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals, or experiences, as by reason of profession, religion, or nationality
b. The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms.
2. A close association of friends or equals sharing similar interests.
3. Friendship; comradeship.

John's letters are addressed to Christians, not pagans seeking salvation. He makes this quite clear in
I John 2:21:

21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

When reading all three letters, it is important to keep who this is addressed to in mind.We can be a son of God and be out of fellowship with Him. God wants to have a vital spiritual relationship with us. in 1:3-4 it says:

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Our joy is to be full! It is one thing to say we are Christian, but it is quite another thing to experience the great pleasure that comes with having an active relationship with God. Throughout these letters, fellowship is the big topic.

 In I John I and II, the word 'abide' is used over and over (actually 26 times). It is an interesting study and substantiates the point of John's letters. 'To abide' in something means to continue in, to stay in or to remain at. Studying God's word enables a person to reach for the 'full joy' of fellowship. It is a continuing process. We remain at it. An appleseed never produced an apple without first producing roots, stems and leaves. It takes time and staying at it. We produce fruit in just the same way. The fruit is a result of our continuing relationship with God.

The Yoke's on You!

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

These words of Jesus Christ are beautiful!  Somehow for many years I had seen the 'yoke' thing as something hard and sacrificial. The 'learn of me' part really got me to really think through these verses.

A 'yoke' is a bar with two loops hanging down. It was used to bind two oxen together to plow a field. Often farmers would hook up a seasoned ox with a young ox to be trained. That's where the 'learn of me' fits in. Jesus Christ said he was meek (not over-bearing) and lowly (humble). He's a good kind of trainer and one that brings rest! It is a great picture to carry around in our minds as we go about our day!

The kind of religion the pharisees represented had a lot to do with emphasis on works and the law. Galatians 5:1 mentions this yoke of bondage.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage

Jesus Christ narrowed the list to two things: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. In addition, we have the help of the gift of holy spirit. Our work is easy and light.

I Corinthians 12,13,14 Gift of Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12 - Describes the operation of the gift of holy spirit

1 Corinthians 13 - L♥ve of G♥d that has been shed abroad in our ♥♥

1 Corinthians 14 -  Order and respect at gatherings of believing people

Philippians 1:15-18 - Christ!

Paul had a great attitude, even when he was imprisoned in Rome. He wrote several important epistles from Rome. In Philippians 1, there is a great section that shows his heart.

Philippians 1:15-18  Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

When someone teaches the truth about Christ regardless of motive, Christ is preached. Two human elements are involved in instruction: the teacher and the student.  Because of the spiritual new nature that resides in a person who loves God, there should  be profit to both teacher and student.  However, if other motives dominate the teacher, the teacher will not himself profit like he should, but the student could still certainly profit if it is the word of God. Reversing the situation, the teacher could teach God's word out of a pure heart and the student could have other motives. In this situation the teacher would profit and the student wouldn't.  This is an important point because God works through and with whomever he can to communicate His Word.  There are many teachers and students and we all are both, but in either function we are responsible for our own actions and heart.

Paul was blessed when people talked about what Jesus Christ accomplished. Many people are impressed by famous degrees, great names and organizations. I have read tons of books on religion throughout my life, but it is the name of Jesus Christ that really brings my heart into communion with God. Paul's life was changed when he met Jesus Christ, so has mine.

There is no one organization that has the corner on truth. There are some 38,000 Christian denominations reported today and they don't all agree. What we do have is the 'head' Jesus Christ, the word of God and the gift of holy spirit. When one confesses Jesus as Lord, he becomes a part of the body of Christ and when the body is united with the head everyone involved profits! This is how the true church is supposed to work.

Ephesians 6:13-15

Life is challenging, but God has provided the way for us to stand despite challenges. Ephesians 6 is full of great learning to be tapped. It is pretty obvious everything on earth is not all peachy. Ephesians 6:13-15 has some sound advice:

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

First, having one's mind wrapped in truth brings great freedom. All contests start in the mind. When truth inhabits the mind, endless doubts and fears are settled. Indecision, worry, endless questions do not bring strength to our hearts, they undermine it. We get truth from God's word and God's word has all of life's answers.

Second, having the protection of righteousness keeps the pipeline open for God's perfect solution.  Having God's righteousness is the only kind of "rightness" to have. Many Christians know a lot of truth but without righteousness, it is ineffectively applied.  Righteousness is given to us because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  His sacrifice took away our "wrongness'. We didn't earn it, we just accept Jesus Christ as Lord and believe that he was raised up by God for our wholeness. It's a tall order because man wants to fix himself and feels condemnation when he fails. We don't have to feel condemned, that's been done away with. We just need to believe what's been provided and be thankful for the spirit of God that has been given to us. We have access to God!

If we have the truth and we boldly believe in God's righteousness in our lives, we have preparedness that springs forth from true peace, the third endowment. Peace promotes clarity and timeliness. We are resilient to the bumps and unevenness on the path of life.

Did God Really Say That?

Adam and Eve had it all: paradise and a wonderful relationship with a loving Father. So why did they mess up?  It all boiled down to a question: "Did God really say that?" The same thing is true today and that question has been the same stumbling block throughout the entire history of human existence.

If we look at history starting with the garden of Eden, this question has continued to rise front and center in all cultures and societies.  Cain's offering to God from the 'fruit of the ground' when God had said the ground was cursed is another example of someone questioning what God said.

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

There are plenty of examples throughout the Bible and beyond all through history. That question surrounds us everyday on TV, in newspapers, in books, magazines and from other sources of the 'fruit of the ground'.

God gave us two ears and two eyes, two nostrils, two hands, but only one mouth.  Hearing, observation, and even the sense of smell and touch are abilities for receiving information. We also have been given spiritual abilities. God has given us every opportunity to know Him. Man's problem is not his equipment. His problem comes with what he pays attention to. Eve listened to God's opponent. Every human being has the right to listen to whomever he or she wants. Free-will choice is a gift of God.

Just type in the word 'God' on a Google search. The results would be very confusing with all the many different beliefs. Study the Crusades, religious wars, and councils (start with the Council of Jerusalem in the book of Acts and  read about some of many councils that came after the Bible was written) to see the 'Did God really say?' question pop up over and over. I really struggled with who to believe, what to believe or what was actually true. What I finally decided after just simply reading the Bible for myself, was that it is very simple to see God's love and that God is bigger than that question. God provided us with so much in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have known and read many teachers of the gospel and have come to the conclusion that there isn't any one person or organization that really has a monopoly on truth both doctrinally and practically. But God, who is spirit, does for us just as he did in Jesus Christ. This same spirit that was in Jesus Christ is in us and communicates to us. We can have the truth!

Look at the words Jesus Christ spoke in John 16:13-15:

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

When we read God's word believing for understanding, the spirit of God can help us. I can learn from other people, but the assurance and confidence in the truth comes from a prayerful inner heart.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

When the "Did God really say?" question arises don't give up on the Bible. Read it and refuse to be anxious. The answers will be coming.

Why is the Mystery So Important?

Living the mystery is a way of life.  The doctrinal basis of the mystery lies in the Pauline epistles, but what does it mean or look like when people get together or live life together according to the New Testament. Paul wrote in Ephesians 3 about his stewardship of what God had him write about and what he was to help people see:

 Ephesans 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ (the oldest manuscripts omit this last phrase 'by Jesus Christ'): 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.  

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; ¹⁷ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; ¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Paul was not mentioned in the book of Acts in the beginning. There was a big transition in thinking after the day of Pentecost and was carried on throughout the book of Acts. The transition took place over time and developed. Paul explained it's significance to our lives in his epistles. Jesus Christ is the central example. By his faith we have access to God and knowledge of what true love is all about. That is what is the basis of our relationship with others.

EW Bullinger in his Companion Bible translated verse 18:

¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of love is; (God's love in Christ)

The Christian walk is a strengthened walk.  God fully intended that each of us would be empowered. God is no respector of persons. In the first century, the church was made up of people from all walks of life. Opportunity excluded no one. The wall of elitism was torn down with the veil of the holy of holies.  There is only one mediator between God and man and that was Jesus Christ, a man of faith and love.

Each of us is important to the body of Christ. I need other people to rejoice with and share the Word with. The key is to recognize our own personal responsibility in believing God's Word and then having respect for the spirit of God in each other. The true God wants his kids to thrive, anything short of that is not God's will. Christians cannot be passive to their spiritual responsibility to seek God and recognize the God-appointed Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ's example is huge. I love to look at what he did in the four gospels, his beautiful leadership style, his heart for God, his love for truth. Truth is love because it sets us free. That is big time gigantic love when we share it with each other!

Recipe For Fruitfulness

I Peter 1:3-8 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add (Link - epichoregeo- furnish a chorus) to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Recipe for Fruitfulness

Ingredients to add:
Start with faith - believing

• Virtue - quality, spiritual excellence
• Knowledge - clear and precise understanding
• Temperance - self-control
• Patience - enduring, remaining after others have gone
• Godliness - a true vital relationship with God (link - eusebeia)
• Brotherly kindness - brotherly love, love of the brethren
• Charity - the love of God

Stir with diligence (haste in earnestness)