The more complicated life becomes, the more we need to simplify our focus. So many of the urgings competing for my attention, (some random, some logical, all seemingly urgent), are bogus, sent by the enemy to distract and confuse, keeping my thoughts noisy so that I miss His still, small voice. My untiring foe knows that his defeat is found in my listening, heeding, and obeying that calming Word to my hearing heart. Thus, his strategy never wavers: (1) shorten our prayer time, until it is no more; (2) when we do pray, focus completely on our talking, mainly upon our needs-- no listening for God's response; (3) pray generally, not specifically... that way we will be continually unsure if we've been answered, will grow discouraged, and will go back to (1).
Why does the enemy oppose it so ferociously? Why do we find it so difficult to incorporate its discipline into our lives with ongoing perseverance? Because prayer touches God. The enemy knows better than we how strongly the Father's heart is moved, how powerfully He acts on behalf of the child who comes to Him, how intensely He longs for His child to call upon His Name. Why else would he focus so much potency to keep us from the Father's throne?
May we learn from the one who hates our soul: pray. Pray on. Never cease. Never.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Romans 9:14--18
What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, 'I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.' So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharoah, 'FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.' So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires."
What a delicate whisp of a thing is trust... developed at an early age in most, sooner or later trust becomes guarded, if not imprisoned, within walls of suspicion, abused by fallible folk. For some, it is so mistreated as to disappear altogether, a means of self-protection against the pain of betrayal's repeated rejection. It is a truism, then, that trust comes more easily for some than others... and that on a human level, with beings who can been seen, touched, physically heard, and responded to... little surprise, then, that trusting One Who does not have these attributes proves to be too much for the majority of mankind. And were invisibility not enough, this One to Whom all mankind is ultimately accountable is absolute in His sovereign rule, reign, and authority...
These truths (God's ubiquitous, unseen presence, and His absolute right to do as He wishes with any of His creation, including mankind) provoke lost humanity to cry, "It is unjust!," (that anyone should have such power and control over us). And such a response is understandable, stemming from deceived hearts (Jeremiah 17:9), that are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1),
and haters of God (Romans 1:30).
Yet what is especially troubling is to encounter the same spirit of impugning God's character from some of His own children (!) Apparently the apostle Paul anticipated such a questioning of the Almighty's motives ("There is no injustice with God, is there?"), and answered with an appalled reply, "May it never be!"
The feeling is, "Away with the thought!", or "How could the thought even be insinuated?!" Paul is incredulous that any among the Roman believers could entertain such unworthy thoughts of the Father, as to think Him unjust in anything, but particularly in the matter of salvation.
Still, the same man-glorifying spirit that was at work among the believers in Paul's day is no less active today. Now, as then, is needed the God-centered truth that salvation does not depend on man's will, or activity, but His mercy. For, to attribute to man a part of the salvation event is to give God's glory to another, which cannot be honoring to Him. Rather, the Father is pleased when His children unreservedly proclaim His unlimited sovereignty: "The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all," (Psalm 103:19).
And what is true of sovereign mercy, is equally true of sovereign reprobation. For some He shows compassion, Paul affirms, and also, He "hardens whom He desires." In this does God sin? No. Nor is He unjust. For, the "righteous Judge of all the earth" (Genesis 18:25) always does right. So, the issue comes back to trust... is He trustworthy in His sovereignty? The world says, "No." Sadly, even some of His own children agree... yet, there are those who, like the Psalmist, have come to "know Your Name... [and these] will put their trust in You, " (Psalm 9:10a), embracing the sovereignty of the living God in the salvation of His own.
These truths (God's ubiquitous, unseen presence, and His absolute right to do as He wishes with any of His creation, including mankind) provoke lost humanity to cry, "It is unjust!," (that anyone should have such power and control over us). And such a response is understandable, stemming from deceived hearts (Jeremiah 17:9), that are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1),
and haters of God (Romans 1:30).
Yet what is especially troubling is to encounter the same spirit of impugning God's character from some of His own children (!) Apparently the apostle Paul anticipated such a questioning of the Almighty's motives ("There is no injustice with God, is there?"), and answered with an appalled reply, "May it never be!"
The feeling is, "Away with the thought!", or "How could the thought even be insinuated?!" Paul is incredulous that any among the Roman believers could entertain such unworthy thoughts of the Father, as to think Him unjust in anything, but particularly in the matter of salvation.
Still, the same man-glorifying spirit that was at work among the believers in Paul's day is no less active today. Now, as then, is needed the God-centered truth that salvation does not depend on man's will, or activity, but His mercy. For, to attribute to man a part of the salvation event is to give God's glory to another, which cannot be honoring to Him. Rather, the Father is pleased when His children unreservedly proclaim His unlimited sovereignty: "The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all," (Psalm 103:19).
And what is true of sovereign mercy, is equally true of sovereign reprobation. For some He shows compassion, Paul affirms, and also, He "hardens whom He desires." In this does God sin? No. Nor is He unjust. For, the "righteous Judge of all the earth" (Genesis 18:25) always does right. So, the issue comes back to trust... is He trustworthy in His sovereignty? The world says, "No." Sadly, even some of His own children agree... yet, there are those who, like the Psalmist, have come to "know Your Name... [and these] will put their trust in You, " (Psalm 9:10a), embracing the sovereignty of the living God in the salvation of His own.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
ACTS 13:44--48
"And the next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, 'It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 'For thus the Lord has commanded us,
'I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,
THAT YOU SHOULD BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed."
In accord with the order set forth by the Lord Jesus Himself, (Acts 1:8), Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel to the Jews first, as was Paul's consistent practice (Romans 1:16). Yet, as so often happened even during the Lord Jesus' ministry, so in this scenario as well, the Jews rejected the Lord Jesus, His claims as Messiah, and especially the thought that Gentiles might have any hope of salvation in Him. Bad enough that they refused to believe for themselves, but to openly contradict Paul & Barnabas' preaching (!), and go so far as to blaspheme... a clear evidence of the impact their proclamation was having, spiritually.
Yet it is when Scripture (Isaiah 42:6) is quoted that a sweeping harvest of souls begins. The Holy Spirit used the passage to cause great rejoicing among the Gentiles in the crowd, "and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed."
No one believes indiscriminately. No one is saved by happenstance. Belief to salvation is by design, by divine intention, from all eternity. Given the nature of man (Romans 3:10--12), only by such eternal grace could anyone be saved, for no one would seek Him, otherwise. All credit and glory belongs to the triune God for His plan of salvation in grace and mercy!
'I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,
THAT YOU SHOULD BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed."
In accord with the order set forth by the Lord Jesus Himself, (Acts 1:8), Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel to the Jews first, as was Paul's consistent practice (Romans 1:16). Yet, as so often happened even during the Lord Jesus' ministry, so in this scenario as well, the Jews rejected the Lord Jesus, His claims as Messiah, and especially the thought that Gentiles might have any hope of salvation in Him. Bad enough that they refused to believe for themselves, but to openly contradict Paul & Barnabas' preaching (!), and go so far as to blaspheme... a clear evidence of the impact their proclamation was having, spiritually.
Yet it is when Scripture (Isaiah 42:6) is quoted that a sweeping harvest of souls begins. The Holy Spirit used the passage to cause great rejoicing among the Gentiles in the crowd, "and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed."
No one believes indiscriminately. No one is saved by happenstance. Belief to salvation is by design, by divine intention, from all eternity. Given the nature of man (Romans 3:10--12), only by such eternal grace could anyone be saved, for no one would seek Him, otherwise. All credit and glory belongs to the triune God for His plan of salvation in grace and mercy!
Friday, June 1, 2012
The Ongoing Warfare
Daniel 10:1-14, 20, 21
"In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and one of great conflict, but he understood the message and had understanding of the vision. In those days I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all, until the entire three weeks were completed.
And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult.
Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, "O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you. And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.
The he said to me, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.
Then he said, 'Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.' "
This is a rare parting of the curtain, giving us a very unusual glimpse into angelic warfare that is undoubtedly going on all the time in unseen realms. From Daniel's perspective, the three weeks were filled with mourning for his nation's spiritual bankruptcy, manifested by such intense focusing upon God for intervention that he left off both food and personal hygiene. Perhaps after a week he wondered at the apparent lack of answer. At the end of week two, weakened physically, there seems no lessening of his resolve to seek God's face. By the conclusion of the third week, his bodily weakness is pronounced, requiring aid and strengthening several times during the encounters he has with God's messenger. Still, even in the face of heavenly silence, Daniel prayed on... refusing to allow the lack of God's response to deter him in his prayerful pursuit. He simply would not give up.
What a needed word for this generation of instant gratification Christians! We know nothing of this kind of prayerful perseverance, this kind of lengthy pursuit of our God's intervention. Our love of ease has deep roots into our flesh, and we are loathe to sacrifice comfort & convenience for spiritual power.
Too, we seldom consider spiritual warfare in the heavenlies as a factor in our praying... and we pay the price for such lack of spiritual awareness. May our Lord bring this, and other such passages, to mind to heighten our sensitivity to the need for alertness when we enter the domain of prayer (Colossians 4:2).
"In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and one of great conflict, but he understood the message and had understanding of the vision. In those days I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all, until the entire three weeks were completed.
And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult.
Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, "O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you. And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.
The he said to me, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.
Then he said, 'Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.' "
This is a rare parting of the curtain, giving us a very unusual glimpse into angelic warfare that is undoubtedly going on all the time in unseen realms. From Daniel's perspective, the three weeks were filled with mourning for his nation's spiritual bankruptcy, manifested by such intense focusing upon God for intervention that he left off both food and personal hygiene. Perhaps after a week he wondered at the apparent lack of answer. At the end of week two, weakened physically, there seems no lessening of his resolve to seek God's face. By the conclusion of the third week, his bodily weakness is pronounced, requiring aid and strengthening several times during the encounters he has with God's messenger. Still, even in the face of heavenly silence, Daniel prayed on... refusing to allow the lack of God's response to deter him in his prayerful pursuit. He simply would not give up.
What a needed word for this generation of instant gratification Christians! We know nothing of this kind of prayerful perseverance, this kind of lengthy pursuit of our God's intervention. Our love of ease has deep roots into our flesh, and we are loathe to sacrifice comfort & convenience for spiritual power.
Too, we seldom consider spiritual warfare in the heavenlies as a factor in our praying... and we pay the price for such lack of spiritual awareness. May our Lord bring this, and other such passages, to mind to heighten our sensitivity to the need for alertness when we enter the domain of prayer (Colossians 4:2).
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
II Kings 6:11-17
"Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, 'Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?" And one of his servants said, 'No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.' So he said, 'Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.' And it was told him, saying, 'Behold, he is in Dothan.' And he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, 'Alas, my master! What shall we do?' So he answered, 'Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' Then Elisha prayed and said, 'O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.' And the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
Everything which fills our senses incessantly insists that it is real, and what is unseen is myth. Every moment of our days is filled with this message, skillfully impressed upon our hearts by the world's system, reinforced by our own flesh, and confidently confirmed by the enemy of our soul. Each sensing overlaps and is interwoven with another to reduce to nothing any thoughts of dependence upon that which cannot be touched, tasted, seen, heard, or felt. Such focus, such perspective on the 'seen-only', leads to fearings and frettings... overwhelmed by life's armies, both real and imagined... Elisha's servant found it so: he assumed that what he saw was all there was... forgetting the greater reality of the invisible living God. What a moment it must've been when the unseen armies were revealed, in all their spiritual might!
I John 4:4 comes to mind... a needed reminder that the Lord who resides within each of His children is greater than the enemy who attacks from without. James 4:7 promises that we can resist him and he will flee... Ephesians 6 describes the weaponry we are to use... what then? Stand firm!
Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, 'Alas, my master! What shall we do?' So he answered, 'Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' Then Elisha prayed and said, 'O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.' And the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
Everything which fills our senses incessantly insists that it is real, and what is unseen is myth. Every moment of our days is filled with this message, skillfully impressed upon our hearts by the world's system, reinforced by our own flesh, and confidently confirmed by the enemy of our soul. Each sensing overlaps and is interwoven with another to reduce to nothing any thoughts of dependence upon that which cannot be touched, tasted, seen, heard, or felt. Such focus, such perspective on the 'seen-only', leads to fearings and frettings... overwhelmed by life's armies, both real and imagined... Elisha's servant found it so: he assumed that what he saw was all there was... forgetting the greater reality of the invisible living God. What a moment it must've been when the unseen armies were revealed, in all their spiritual might!
I John 4:4 comes to mind... a needed reminder that the Lord who resides within each of His children is greater than the enemy who attacks from without. James 4:7 promises that we can resist him and he will flee... Ephesians 6 describes the weaponry we are to use... what then? Stand firm!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Luke 11:1
"And it came about that while He was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.' "
Such an intriguing thing...Jesus praying. No mystery that I need to pray...my heart is desperately sick, my soul in deep dependency ever and always, continually in need of the Spirit's ministry, interceding with groanings too deep for words... but the Lord Jesus? To fend off any hint of slighting His equality with the Father, we are instant in our defense of His deity (Colossians 2:9)... perhaps to the point of understating His humanity. As 100% man, He modeled His dependency upon the Father through the same means He bids His elect ones use: prayer and the Scriptures. From the outset of His public ministry, prayer preceded the calling of His Twelve...and use of the Word as a wonderfully-wielded weapon during intense temptation set the tone for the entire time of His earthly moving among men and spirits.
Yet, apart from the seventeenth chapter of John, and a smattering of other moments addressing His Father before a miracle, we do not know what He uttered in His times of prayerful solitude. And, despite the tendencies of theologians and theologian-wanna-be types to give quick responses.... there is actually answerless mystery here: the Son of God, praying. Yes, it pleased the Father, yes He was glorified... but still.....it's an intriguing thing... Jesus praying.
Such an intriguing thing...Jesus praying. No mystery that I need to pray...my heart is desperately sick, my soul in deep dependency ever and always, continually in need of the Spirit's ministry, interceding with groanings too deep for words... but the Lord Jesus? To fend off any hint of slighting His equality with the Father, we are instant in our defense of His deity (Colossians 2:9)... perhaps to the point of understating His humanity. As 100% man, He modeled His dependency upon the Father through the same means He bids His elect ones use: prayer and the Scriptures. From the outset of His public ministry, prayer preceded the calling of His Twelve...and use of the Word as a wonderfully-wielded weapon during intense temptation set the tone for the entire time of His earthly moving among men and spirits.
Yet, apart from the seventeenth chapter of John, and a smattering of other moments addressing His Father before a miracle, we do not know what He uttered in His times of prayerful solitude. And, despite the tendencies of theologians and theologian-wanna-be types to give quick responses.... there is actually answerless mystery here: the Son of God, praying. Yes, it pleased the Father, yes He was glorified... but still.....it's an intriguing thing... Jesus praying.
Monday, May 14, 2012
"Be still, and know that I am God."
The greater my vision of who You are, the better my perspective on the circumstances of life. When life looms large, You seem inadequate, and my vision is skewed. My soul's enemy will do all he can to scatter my thoughts with busyness...frenetic worryings...unlikely possibilities...dubious outcomes...incessant botherings...it makes him no difference...whatever it takes! So long as I am not still, to know You, my God. For when I still my spirit and quieten my heart... when my thoughts are taken captive to Your obedience, lost in the wonder and adoration that You deserve, he is forced to flee, praise to Your Name!
The greater my vision of who You are, the better my perspective on the circumstances of life. When life looms large, You seem inadequate, and my vision is skewed. My soul's enemy will do all he can to scatter my thoughts with busyness...frenetic worryings...unlikely possibilities...dubious outcomes...incessant botherings...it makes him no difference...whatever it takes! So long as I am not still, to know You, my God. For when I still my spirit and quieten my heart... when my thoughts are taken captive to Your obedience, lost in the wonder and adoration that You deserve, he is forced to flee, praise to Your Name!
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