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God Bless You, In Jesus Worthy Name!
God Bless You, In Jesus Worthy Name!
Posted: 05/09/13
The Grace of GOD
God's grace is in many ways similar to his mercy and his love, since it too has it's source in the goodness of God. Specifically, however, grace refers to the kindness of God toward the undeserving. God's mercy has as its focus our helplessness or our suffering, but God's grace focuses on our unworthiness.
Grace, as scripturally defined, is set in complete opposition to works or merit. Statements that put receiving something because of God's grace as wholly contrary to receiving something because of works abound in scripture, but perhaps the clearest is in Roman 11:4, where Paul, speaking of God's choice of a remnant out of the nation Israel, says that if this choice "is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. (ESV)" Something that comes to us from God's grace cannot come as a result of our works or our merit, for if it did, it would go against the very definition of grace used by Paul. Grace would no longer be true grace if it was in any way meted out based upon our good actions. To the extent that something is "of works" it cannot be "of grace," and if our salvation is "all of grace", then it is "none of works".
Our God is the "God of all grace." He is characteristically giving toward those who do not merit his favour, and every favour that we receive has its source in the God of all grace. His grace is eternal, for it has been given to those who are saved before time began (2 Timothy 1:9 ESV). From this same verse in 2nd Timothy, we also learn that grace is sovereignly and freely exercised by God, given "not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace." We don't call it out from him, but he extends it as it suits his purpose and because he is gracious. He is gracious to whom he will be gracious (Exodus 33:19).
God's grace is abundant, and it never runs out. The amount of God's grace is always greater than the depth of our sin. Paul tells us that grace multiplied where sin increased (Romans 5:20). We can be confident that it is always sufficient for us.
God's grace extends to all humankind--sustaining life, withholding judgment, and restraining sin; but it is particularly bestowed on those who are being saved, for redemption through Christ is the crowning work of God's grace. From start to finish, salvation is a work of grace. It is out of God's grace that he calls, regenerates, justifies, sanctifies and glorifies his own. Those who are God's children can know that all of God's actions toward them are gracious actions, because even the difficult things God allows them to endure come to them with a gracious purpose: to produce the fruit of righteousness within them (Hebrews 12:10,11). Those who are being saved are God's workmanship--his recreated people--and that all of what they become is a result of God's work rather than their own work demonstrates the surpassing wealth of God's grace (Ephesians 2:7-10).
It is in this work of salvation that we see God's grace in all of its glory; we are saved "to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son. (Ephesians 1:6)" God highly values his attribute of grace, for glorifying his grace--showing how abundantly rich it is--is an overarching purpose of the whole of redemptive history. God saves in order to reveal and to glorify the wonderfully abundant wealth of His characteristic grace.
The better we understand God's grace to us, the more thankful we will be, and the less pride we can have in our accomplishments. We are being spared what we justly deserved, and are freely receiving something we are entirely unworthy of, simply because our God is a gracious God and he has purposed to save us. We are receiving the greatest gift of all; the greatest gift ever given has been lavished upon us by our infinitely gracious heavenly Father. Any of our good acts are not products of our own intrinsic goodness, but of God's gracious creative work within us. There is no room for boasting from those who have seen God's grace.
Because we are thankful, and because we love the one who gave so freely to us, we need to be imitators of him. We need to graciously forgive the wrongs done to us and the debts owed to us, because we have been graciously forgiven by God (Ephesians 4:32). We are to do good and lend to others even when we know we will never receive anything in return (not even thanks) for our generousity.
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. (Luke 6:35 NET)
We, of all people, should be the most free with our giving, for we are to be the sort who not only give to those who give back to us in return, but also to those who mistreat us, or who use us merely for their own gain.
How difficult that is! Our natural instinct is to protect ourselves from being used and abused. When we have some inkling, however, of what we have been given--of the grace we have received from the God of all grace--how can we be stingy in the grace and forgiveness we extend to others? God prepared the works beforehand, and we have been graciously created in Christ Jesus to do them.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!—and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them. (Ephesians 2:4-10 NET)
Some biblical facts regarding God's grace. The gospel (good news) is a result of God's grace (Gal. 1: 6-9). Grace is presented as sufficient and Christians are called by grace (2 Cor. 12: 7-10, Gal. 1: 15). Man is saved by grace, the heart is established by grace, and we are justified by grace (Eph. 2: 5, 8, Heb. 13: 9, Tit. 3: 7). Moreover, we render acceptable service by grace and grace imparts everlasting consolation (Heb. 12: 28, 29, 2 Thes. 2: 16). God's grace also makes us better people and helps us in time of need (I Cor. 15: 9, 10, Heb. 4: 16).
The origin of grace. Paul wrote, "Grace be unto you, and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 1: 3). Grace is especially associated with Jesus in the New Testament (Jn. 1: 17, notice also the association of grace and truth). Hence, we read: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen" (2 Cor. 13: 14). James exclaimed, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" (Jas. 1: 17).
Some recipients of God's grace. Noah "found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen. 6: 8). The lowly are said to be favored with grace (Prov. 3: 34, I Pet. 5: 5). Jesus and Paul are expressly said to have experienced God's grace (Lk. 2: 40, I Cor. 15: 10). Also, all who love the Lord have God's grace bestowed upon them (Eph. 6: 24). Beloved, a study of those who enjoyed God's grace consistently reveals a certain type of person: one who was implicitly obedient, trusting, submissive to God's requirements, and who had enduring fidelity (Noah, Gen. 6: 5-8, Jesus, Jn. 4: 34, those who love the Lord, I Jn. 5: 3, and Paul, I Cor. 9: 26, 27, 2 Tim. 4: 7, 8). A required personality type to enjoy God's grace explains why while God's grace is universal, still only a few are saved (Tit. 2: 11, Matt. 7: 13, 14).
God's grace can be abused. Some in the First Century turned "the grace of our God into lasciviousness…" (Jude 4). One way in which this was done is seen in Paul's Epistle to the Romans. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" (Rom. 6: 1). Paul immediately answered his own question: "God forbid" (vs. 2). Alas, grace continues to be presented today in such a fashion as to actually encourage the commission of sin. Instead of teaching which stresses man's responsibility to live right we hear statements similar to: "…the way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul…"
God's grace is also terribly abused when it is presented by man in such a way that God is the only operative force and agent. Consider: "Salvation is a free gift from God to certain individuals. We exercise faith in order to be saved, but even our faith is also a gift of God…" (William Cox, Amillennialism Today, pg. 33).
"We believe that salvation of sinners is wholly of grace," one reads in the Baptist Manual (Art. 4, pg. 47).
Grace versus merit. The scriptures reveal that not only are grace and merit not coexistent, they are mutually excluding. Salvation cannot simultaneously be by grace and works (merit), Paul argues (Rom. 11: 6). If man could merit his salvation, God's grace would not be requisite (Rom. 4: 1 ff., Eph. 2: 8-18). However, the Bible truth that grace and merit are incompatible does not mean man is passive in the matter of enjoying God's grace (the scriptures, as seen, do not teach universal salvation - such would inevitably be the case if man were passive and God active because God is not willing that any perish, 2 Pet. 3: 9). "For by grace are ye saved through faith," explained Paul, "and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God…" (Eph. 2: 8). Grace is God's part, faith is man's responsibility. However, faith or belief itself is a work (Jn. 6: 29). Faith is not meritorious but a "work of God." Faith, saving faith, is always active and obedient (Jas. 2: 19-26).
Grace reigns through righteousness. An excellent verse regarding God's grace and which also addresses man's role is Romans 5: 21: "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." The expression "grace reign though righteousness" (charis basileuon dia dikaiosunes) reveals the climate in which grace is successful. "Righteousness" is an atmosphere of the presence of God's commandments and man's humble acquiescence to all that God had required of him (Ps. 119: 172, Acts 10: 34, 35).
In the vein just observed (God and man in the matter of grace), man's sins cancel out God's grace (Rom. 6: 1, 2-23). Grace can be received in vain (2 Cor. 6: 1), we can be removed from grace (Gal. 1: 6), and grace can be frustrated by man (Gal. 2: 21). We are to stand in grace, grow in grace, and be strong in grace (I Pet. 5: 12, 2 Pet. 3: 18, 2 Tim. 2: 1). Moreover, the Christian can "fall from grace" (Gal. 5: 4).
In closing, let us realize that God's grace can be "received in vain" (2 Cor. 6: 1). Hence, man does have responsibility in the matter of receiving and treating grace.
The Grace of GOD
God's grace is in many ways similar to his mercy and his love, since it too has it's source in the goodness of God. Specifically, however, grace refers to the kindness of God toward the undeserving. God's mercy has as its focus our helplessness or our suffering, but God's grace focuses on our unworthiness.
Grace, as scripturally defined, is set in complete opposition to works or merit. Statements that put receiving something because of God's grace as wholly contrary to receiving something because of works abound in scripture, but perhaps the clearest is in Roman 11:4, where Paul, speaking of God's choice of a remnant out of the nation Israel, says that if this choice "is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. (ESV)" Something that comes to us from God's grace cannot come as a result of our works or our merit, for if it did, it would go against the very definition of grace used by Paul. Grace would no longer be true grace if it was in any way meted out based upon our good actions. To the extent that something is "of works" it cannot be "of grace," and if our salvation is "all of grace", then it is "none of works".
Our God is the "God of all grace." He is characteristically giving toward those who do not merit his favour, and every favour that we receive has its source in the God of all grace. His grace is eternal, for it has been given to those who are saved before time began (2 Timothy 1:9 ESV). From this same verse in 2nd Timothy, we also learn that grace is sovereignly and freely exercised by God, given "not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace." We don't call it out from him, but he extends it as it suits his purpose and because he is gracious. He is gracious to whom he will be gracious (Exodus 33:19).
God's grace is abundant, and it never runs out. The amount of God's grace is always greater than the depth of our sin. Paul tells us that grace multiplied where sin increased (Romans 5:20). We can be confident that it is always sufficient for us.
God's grace extends to all humankind--sustaining life, withholding judgment, and restraining sin; but it is particularly bestowed on those who are being saved, for redemption through Christ is the crowning work of God's grace. From start to finish, salvation is a work of grace. It is out of God's grace that he calls, regenerates, justifies, sanctifies and glorifies his own. Those who are God's children can know that all of God's actions toward them are gracious actions, because even the difficult things God allows them to endure come to them with a gracious purpose: to produce the fruit of righteousness within them (Hebrews 12:10,11). Those who are being saved are God's workmanship--his recreated people--and that all of what they become is a result of God's work rather than their own work demonstrates the surpassing wealth of God's grace (Ephesians 2:7-10).
It is in this work of salvation that we see God's grace in all of its glory; we are saved "to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son. (Ephesians 1:6)" God highly values his attribute of grace, for glorifying his grace--showing how abundantly rich it is--is an overarching purpose of the whole of redemptive history. God saves in order to reveal and to glorify the wonderfully abundant wealth of His characteristic grace.
The better we understand God's grace to us, the more thankful we will be, and the less pride we can have in our accomplishments. We are being spared what we justly deserved, and are freely receiving something we are entirely unworthy of, simply because our God is a gracious God and he has purposed to save us. We are receiving the greatest gift of all; the greatest gift ever given has been lavished upon us by our infinitely gracious heavenly Father. Any of our good acts are not products of our own intrinsic goodness, but of God's gracious creative work within us. There is no room for boasting from those who have seen God's grace.
Because we are thankful, and because we love the one who gave so freely to us, we need to be imitators of him. We need to graciously forgive the wrongs done to us and the debts owed to us, because we have been graciously forgiven by God (Ephesians 4:32). We are to do good and lend to others even when we know we will never receive anything in return (not even thanks) for our generousity.
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. (Luke 6:35 NET)
We, of all people, should be the most free with our giving, for we are to be the sort who not only give to those who give back to us in return, but also to those who mistreat us, or who use us merely for their own gain.
How difficult that is! Our natural instinct is to protect ourselves from being used and abused. When we have some inkling, however, of what we have been given--of the grace we have received from the God of all grace--how can we be stingy in the grace and forgiveness we extend to others? God prepared the works beforehand, and we have been graciously created in Christ Jesus to do them.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!—and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them. (Ephesians 2:4-10 NET)
Some biblical facts regarding God's grace. The gospel (good news) is a result of God's grace (Gal. 1: 6-9). Grace is presented as sufficient and Christians are called by grace (2 Cor. 12: 7-10, Gal. 1: 15). Man is saved by grace, the heart is established by grace, and we are justified by grace (Eph. 2: 5, 8, Heb. 13: 9, Tit. 3: 7). Moreover, we render acceptable service by grace and grace imparts everlasting consolation (Heb. 12: 28, 29, 2 Thes. 2: 16). God's grace also makes us better people and helps us in time of need (I Cor. 15: 9, 10, Heb. 4: 16).
The origin of grace. Paul wrote, "Grace be unto you, and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 1: 3). Grace is especially associated with Jesus in the New Testament (Jn. 1: 17, notice also the association of grace and truth). Hence, we read: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen" (2 Cor. 13: 14). James exclaimed, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" (Jas. 1: 17).
Some recipients of God's grace. Noah "found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen. 6: 8). The lowly are said to be favored with grace (Prov. 3: 34, I Pet. 5: 5). Jesus and Paul are expressly said to have experienced God's grace (Lk. 2: 40, I Cor. 15: 10). Also, all who love the Lord have God's grace bestowed upon them (Eph. 6: 24). Beloved, a study of those who enjoyed God's grace consistently reveals a certain type of person: one who was implicitly obedient, trusting, submissive to God's requirements, and who had enduring fidelity (Noah, Gen. 6: 5-8, Jesus, Jn. 4: 34, those who love the Lord, I Jn. 5: 3, and Paul, I Cor. 9: 26, 27, 2 Tim. 4: 7, 8). A required personality type to enjoy God's grace explains why while God's grace is universal, still only a few are saved (Tit. 2: 11, Matt. 7: 13, 14).
God's grace can be abused. Some in the First Century turned "the grace of our God into lasciviousness…" (Jude 4). One way in which this was done is seen in Paul's Epistle to the Romans. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" (Rom. 6: 1). Paul immediately answered his own question: "God forbid" (vs. 2). Alas, grace continues to be presented today in such a fashion as to actually encourage the commission of sin. Instead of teaching which stresses man's responsibility to live right we hear statements similar to: "…the way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul…"
God's grace is also terribly abused when it is presented by man in such a way that God is the only operative force and agent. Consider: "Salvation is a free gift from God to certain individuals. We exercise faith in order to be saved, but even our faith is also a gift of God…" (William Cox, Amillennialism Today, pg. 33).
"We believe that salvation of sinners is wholly of grace," one reads in the Baptist Manual (Art. 4, pg. 47).
Grace versus merit. The scriptures reveal that not only are grace and merit not coexistent, they are mutually excluding. Salvation cannot simultaneously be by grace and works (merit), Paul argues (Rom. 11: 6). If man could merit his salvation, God's grace would not be requisite (Rom. 4: 1 ff., Eph. 2: 8-18). However, the Bible truth that grace and merit are incompatible does not mean man is passive in the matter of enjoying God's grace (the scriptures, as seen, do not teach universal salvation - such would inevitably be the case if man were passive and God active because God is not willing that any perish, 2 Pet. 3: 9). "For by grace are ye saved through faith," explained Paul, "and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God…" (Eph. 2: 8). Grace is God's part, faith is man's responsibility. However, faith or belief itself is a work (Jn. 6: 29). Faith is not meritorious but a "work of God." Faith, saving faith, is always active and obedient (Jas. 2: 19-26).
Grace reigns through righteousness. An excellent verse regarding God's grace and which also addresses man's role is Romans 5: 21: "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." The expression "grace reign though righteousness" (charis basileuon dia dikaiosunes) reveals the climate in which grace is successful. "Righteousness" is an atmosphere of the presence of God's commandments and man's humble acquiescence to all that God had required of him (Ps. 119: 172, Acts 10: 34, 35).
In the vein just observed (God and man in the matter of grace), man's sins cancel out God's grace (Rom. 6: 1, 2-23). Grace can be received in vain (2 Cor. 6: 1), we can be removed from grace (Gal. 1: 6), and grace can be frustrated by man (Gal. 2: 21). We are to stand in grace, grow in grace, and be strong in grace (I Pet. 5: 12, 2 Pet. 3: 18, 2 Tim. 2: 1). Moreover, the Christian can "fall from grace" (Gal. 5: 4).
In closing, let us realize that God's grace can be "received in vain" (2 Cor. 6: 1). Hence, man does have responsibility in the matter of receiving and treating grace.
Posted: 03/01/13
Theme: Pride … Leads to Every Other Sin
Scripture:
Daniel 5 : 37 “ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble”.
Romans 15 : 16 “ live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited “.
Application:
When we have made a mistake or are in the fault, it is always much easier to blame others or the circumstances or use emotional and at times physical intimidation to keep the blame away from us. We are not born perfect and no one is. We learn to do what is right by trial and error. So one may ask the question, ‘Why is it so tough for people to admit that they are wrong or at fault when they have made a mistake’. The answer is pride or having to be right. This just shows, as humans, how fragile and insecure we are.
God wisely designed the human body so that we can neither pat our own backs nor kick ourselves too easily. Dennis Peacocke says, “ You’ve got to be wrong in order to get right” and that he has come to the firm conclusion that : “…until you freely admit your errors you’ll never grow”. However, people use many devices some unique in it’s own way to keep from admitting that they are wrong about much of anything.
God hates a prideful heart. He doesn’t require for us to think of ourselves as nothing, but he wants us to think of ourselves in proper relationship to Himself. Pride elevates self to a place of importance not meant for us. Pride indicates self-reliance instead of reliance upon God. C.S. Lewis says of Pride, “There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others. The vice I am talking about is Pride or self-conceit.” Pride leads to every other vice; it is the complete anti-God state of mind.
We have difficulty recognizing in ourselves the attitude of
pride. We live in a day in which pride is not condemned
as something sinful or undesirable, but is instead celebrated
as a virtue. Consider the kind of people who are honored
and respected in our culture, like professional athletes, moviestars, television presenters or personalities, musicians, influential politicians, wealthy business people. Being humble and modest at most times is not forthcoming. But pride and arrogance seems to reign high in their attitudes and behaviour. Unfortunately, pride is associated with all the images of happy, successful people, we begin to think of it less as a spiritual defect, and more as something to be desired and even encouraged. We don’t recognize the sin of pride in our hearts because we have stopped thinking of it as a sin at all.
Remember, Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
A Story:
a) There is a story about Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the military hero of World War II and Korea.
MacArthur was highly thought of in Washington and was regarded as a leader. But he also had a reputation for being above everyone else personally. In order to fight this image of being a snob his Public Relations people came up with an idea. They would have him review a group of veterans. In the middle of the review they would have him suddenly recognize an enlisted man who had served under him during the war.
"It will be a tremendously moving and human moment," the advisers said to MacArthur. "Out of hundreds of men lined up for your inspection, you will suddenly pick out a single individual, call him by name and recall past campaigns." MacArthur agreed to go along with the plan.
So they set up the inspection and chose their veteran. The lucky soldier would be unaware that he’d been singled out for the honor. They went through the army records, found out everything about the fellow and figured out precisely where he would be standing when MacArthur marched through the ranks. To be on the safe side, they arranged for an aide to nudge MacArthur discreetly when he was directly in front of the proper soldier.
It all went off like clockwork. MacArthur saluted the veterans, the veterans saluted MacArthur. The general began his march along the long lines of soldiers. At the right moment, the aide gave MacArthur the nudge.
MacArthur halted. He turned and looked at the man standing stiffly at attention in front of him. "Jones!" he boomed. "We were together on Corregidor. You are Corporal Jones. I remember you."
Jones looked startled for a moment. Then he stared at the general with a puzzled expression. Finally, he blurted out, "MacArthur, I don’t know any MacArthur!" Jones didn’t know his own commander.
General MacArthur got his bubble burst that day and it served him right.
God knows how to get you off your high horse. It pays to remind ourselves that we are nothing without Jesus. It is God who must get the glory for our work, not us.
James May “Your Pride is Showing”
b) A U.S. Air Force transport plane with its captain and 5 crew members was flying over Alaska in the mid-50s when they entered an unusually fierce snowstorm. The navigator contacted an air base only to be told that he had veered several hundred miles off course.
Correct coordinates were given to the navigator, who continued to insist that his own calculations could not be that far off. Soon the plane ran low on fuel. The six men decided to abandon the plane and parachute to safety, but because of the -70 degree Farenheit temperature and winds that gusted to 50 mph, they were all frozen within minutes of hitting the ground.
A friend of mine was part of the rescue team that discovered and retrieved the bodies 3 days later. As a result of the navigator's pride, 5 other people went to their deaths.
Proverbs 12:15 tells us that "the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise." The results may not always be so dramatic, but we must all be careful to seek the counsel of God and wise individuals before making decisions of lasting significance.
Dave McPherson, Maranatha Bible Church, New Orleans.
Group Discussion:
Reflection
The following are a selection of ‘Signs of Pride’ as identified by Alfred Ells in “Unmasking Pride”. Carefully read through them and note areas that applies to you.
1. Insecurity. Insecurity is the root of many unhealthy and ungodly behaviours. It provokes us to want the lavish praise and attention of others too much. Much of pride is motivated out of one’s unmet need for self-worth. Finding one’s identity and security in Christ is a must to avoid pride.
2. The need to be right. This is a symptom of pride. The need to be right prevents one from appropriately evaluating issues as well as themselves (Galatians 6:3). A person who needs to be right has an exalted investment in himself or herself and thinks that he or she knows better than others. In religious circles, the need to be right is frequently manifest through always saying ‘God told me’ or ‘God showed me’.
3. Being argumentative. Individuals, who argue their point of view, especially to those in authority over them, are allowing pride to get the best of them. At the root of their argument is a belief that they are right and the other is wrong and that their will should prevail. It is appropriate to advocate for a point of view or position but not to do so in such a manner that you are more invested in your opinion than in arriving at a mutual understanding.
4. More invested in being heard than in hearing. When someone develops a pattern of needing others to listen to them rather than first hearing others, pride is motivating the need. Oftentimes, the individual does not feel loved or valued unless people "hear them out." In truth, this is often just an expression of insecurity and pride.
5. Anger. Anger is a self-justifying emotion. This means that the nature of anger is to prompt us to justify our position and blame another for the wrongdoing. Justification of self leads to denial of our own complicity or wrongdoing. The scripture warns that the "anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God." (James 1:20). An individual who is angry a lot is suffering from pride.
6. Irritability and impatience. When we are unable to be patient with another and are irritated, it demonstrates a haughty view of self. We feel that our views, time or needs are more important than the other persons. This again is more an indication of our pride than someone else’s slow movement or imperfection.
7. Lack of submissive attitude. Submission is the voluntary placement of oneself under the influence, control or authority of another. When an individual pledges their submission to you or another, yet is critical or argumentative of that authority, then pride is the hidden issue.
8. Not easily corrected. This too is pride. Before he died, a pastor in the East Valley was noted for being easily entreated and able to receive corrective feedback from others. He would thank the person for the negative feedback and commit to pray about it, seek counsel and get back to the person with what conclusions he came to. He was a role model for many of us.
9. Receiving correction but not changing. I worked with a man who often would receive my correction and say thank you for the feedback, but would never change. This too is a form of pride. The individual was placating me and people-pleasing me, telling me what I wanted to hear but not really taking the feedback to heart. His insecurity and fear prevented him from truly changing.
10. Needing others to take your advice. Counselors, such as myself, easily fall into the trap of having to have others take their advice. Advice should always be offered without strings attached. If you find yourself resenting the fact that your advice is not followed, look deeper at the motivating issues in your life.
11. Needing to proclaim your title or degrees. A good friend of mine requires everyone to call him ‘pastor’, saying that he has deservedly earned the title. Demanding that others call you ‘doctor’ or ‘pastor’ or ‘bishop’ is usually a way of making you ‘one up’ and them ‘one down’. Once again, pride is fueling the requirement.
12. Being stubborn. Webster’s dictionary defines stubbornness as "unduly determined to exert one’s own will, not easily persuaded and difficult to handle or work, resistant." The root issue of stubbornness is willfulness, which is ‘I want what I want when I want it’. Another name for pride.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
If we have become proud or arrogant in our attitude or find we are being disrespectful. Help us to always examine our own selves, show us our heart depths and weaknesses. Dear Father you resist the proud and receive the humble. Help us to be humble and learn humility, so that were able to come before you in true reverence, for forgiveness and restoration. Please purge the leaven of pride from our lives, so you once again become the true source of all our Joy and strength. Amen.
Further Study:
Ecclesiastes 7 : 1 – 14
Galatians 6 : 1 – 14
2 Corinthians 9 : 1 – 15
Theme: Pride … Leads to Every Other Sin
Scripture:
Daniel 5 : 37 “ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble”.
Romans 15 : 16 “ live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited “.
Application:
When we have made a mistake or are in the fault, it is always much easier to blame others or the circumstances or use emotional and at times physical intimidation to keep the blame away from us. We are not born perfect and no one is. We learn to do what is right by trial and error. So one may ask the question, ‘Why is it so tough for people to admit that they are wrong or at fault when they have made a mistake’. The answer is pride or having to be right. This just shows, as humans, how fragile and insecure we are.
God wisely designed the human body so that we can neither pat our own backs nor kick ourselves too easily. Dennis Peacocke says, “ You’ve got to be wrong in order to get right” and that he has come to the firm conclusion that : “…until you freely admit your errors you’ll never grow”. However, people use many devices some unique in it’s own way to keep from admitting that they are wrong about much of anything.
God hates a prideful heart. He doesn’t require for us to think of ourselves as nothing, but he wants us to think of ourselves in proper relationship to Himself. Pride elevates self to a place of importance not meant for us. Pride indicates self-reliance instead of reliance upon God. C.S. Lewis says of Pride, “There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others. The vice I am talking about is Pride or self-conceit.” Pride leads to every other vice; it is the complete anti-God state of mind.
We have difficulty recognizing in ourselves the attitude of
pride. We live in a day in which pride is not condemned
as something sinful or undesirable, but is instead celebrated
as a virtue. Consider the kind of people who are honored
and respected in our culture, like professional athletes, moviestars, television presenters or personalities, musicians, influential politicians, wealthy business people. Being humble and modest at most times is not forthcoming. But pride and arrogance seems to reign high in their attitudes and behaviour. Unfortunately, pride is associated with all the images of happy, successful people, we begin to think of it less as a spiritual defect, and more as something to be desired and even encouraged. We don’t recognize the sin of pride in our hearts because we have stopped thinking of it as a sin at all.
Remember, Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
A Story:
a) There is a story about Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the military hero of World War II and Korea.
MacArthur was highly thought of in Washington and was regarded as a leader. But he also had a reputation for being above everyone else personally. In order to fight this image of being a snob his Public Relations people came up with an idea. They would have him review a group of veterans. In the middle of the review they would have him suddenly recognize an enlisted man who had served under him during the war.
"It will be a tremendously moving and human moment," the advisers said to MacArthur. "Out of hundreds of men lined up for your inspection, you will suddenly pick out a single individual, call him by name and recall past campaigns." MacArthur agreed to go along with the plan.
So they set up the inspection and chose their veteran. The lucky soldier would be unaware that he’d been singled out for the honor. They went through the army records, found out everything about the fellow and figured out precisely where he would be standing when MacArthur marched through the ranks. To be on the safe side, they arranged for an aide to nudge MacArthur discreetly when he was directly in front of the proper soldier.
It all went off like clockwork. MacArthur saluted the veterans, the veterans saluted MacArthur. The general began his march along the long lines of soldiers. At the right moment, the aide gave MacArthur the nudge.
MacArthur halted. He turned and looked at the man standing stiffly at attention in front of him. "Jones!" he boomed. "We were together on Corregidor. You are Corporal Jones. I remember you."
Jones looked startled for a moment. Then he stared at the general with a puzzled expression. Finally, he blurted out, "MacArthur, I don’t know any MacArthur!" Jones didn’t know his own commander.
General MacArthur got his bubble burst that day and it served him right.
God knows how to get you off your high horse. It pays to remind ourselves that we are nothing without Jesus. It is God who must get the glory for our work, not us.
James May “Your Pride is Showing”
b) A U.S. Air Force transport plane with its captain and 5 crew members was flying over Alaska in the mid-50s when they entered an unusually fierce snowstorm. The navigator contacted an air base only to be told that he had veered several hundred miles off course.
Correct coordinates were given to the navigator, who continued to insist that his own calculations could not be that far off. Soon the plane ran low on fuel. The six men decided to abandon the plane and parachute to safety, but because of the -70 degree Farenheit temperature and winds that gusted to 50 mph, they were all frozen within minutes of hitting the ground.
A friend of mine was part of the rescue team that discovered and retrieved the bodies 3 days later. As a result of the navigator's pride, 5 other people went to their deaths.
Proverbs 12:15 tells us that "the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise." The results may not always be so dramatic, but we must all be careful to seek the counsel of God and wise individuals before making decisions of lasting significance.
Dave McPherson, Maranatha Bible Church, New Orleans.
Group Discussion:
- What is your definition of pride? Apply this to your self and see how you measure up.
- Why do people find it so difficult to admit that they are wrong ? Do you encounter this in your workplace ? What are your mechanisms for coping in these situations ? Discuss.
- Discuss Proverbs 16 : 18. Is it a guarantee that everyone who is proud and arrogant will eventually fall ?
- Go through the ‘signs of pride’ in reflection below and identify your weaknesses in relation to pride.. Discuss this with your group, then prayerfully bring them before the Lord and ask Him for His forgiveness and seek His guidance in the future.
Reflection
The following are a selection of ‘Signs of Pride’ as identified by Alfred Ells in “Unmasking Pride”. Carefully read through them and note areas that applies to you.
1. Insecurity. Insecurity is the root of many unhealthy and ungodly behaviours. It provokes us to want the lavish praise and attention of others too much. Much of pride is motivated out of one’s unmet need for self-worth. Finding one’s identity and security in Christ is a must to avoid pride.
2. The need to be right. This is a symptom of pride. The need to be right prevents one from appropriately evaluating issues as well as themselves (Galatians 6:3). A person who needs to be right has an exalted investment in himself or herself and thinks that he or she knows better than others. In religious circles, the need to be right is frequently manifest through always saying ‘God told me’ or ‘God showed me’.
3. Being argumentative. Individuals, who argue their point of view, especially to those in authority over them, are allowing pride to get the best of them. At the root of their argument is a belief that they are right and the other is wrong and that their will should prevail. It is appropriate to advocate for a point of view or position but not to do so in such a manner that you are more invested in your opinion than in arriving at a mutual understanding.
4. More invested in being heard than in hearing. When someone develops a pattern of needing others to listen to them rather than first hearing others, pride is motivating the need. Oftentimes, the individual does not feel loved or valued unless people "hear them out." In truth, this is often just an expression of insecurity and pride.
5. Anger. Anger is a self-justifying emotion. This means that the nature of anger is to prompt us to justify our position and blame another for the wrongdoing. Justification of self leads to denial of our own complicity or wrongdoing. The scripture warns that the "anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God." (James 1:20). An individual who is angry a lot is suffering from pride.
6. Irritability and impatience. When we are unable to be patient with another and are irritated, it demonstrates a haughty view of self. We feel that our views, time or needs are more important than the other persons. This again is more an indication of our pride than someone else’s slow movement or imperfection.
7. Lack of submissive attitude. Submission is the voluntary placement of oneself under the influence, control or authority of another. When an individual pledges their submission to you or another, yet is critical or argumentative of that authority, then pride is the hidden issue.
8. Not easily corrected. This too is pride. Before he died, a pastor in the East Valley was noted for being easily entreated and able to receive corrective feedback from others. He would thank the person for the negative feedback and commit to pray about it, seek counsel and get back to the person with what conclusions he came to. He was a role model for many of us.
9. Receiving correction but not changing. I worked with a man who often would receive my correction and say thank you for the feedback, but would never change. This too is a form of pride. The individual was placating me and people-pleasing me, telling me what I wanted to hear but not really taking the feedback to heart. His insecurity and fear prevented him from truly changing.
10. Needing others to take your advice. Counselors, such as myself, easily fall into the trap of having to have others take their advice. Advice should always be offered without strings attached. If you find yourself resenting the fact that your advice is not followed, look deeper at the motivating issues in your life.
11. Needing to proclaim your title or degrees. A good friend of mine requires everyone to call him ‘pastor’, saying that he has deservedly earned the title. Demanding that others call you ‘doctor’ or ‘pastor’ or ‘bishop’ is usually a way of making you ‘one up’ and them ‘one down’. Once again, pride is fueling the requirement.
12. Being stubborn. Webster’s dictionary defines stubbornness as "unduly determined to exert one’s own will, not easily persuaded and difficult to handle or work, resistant." The root issue of stubbornness is willfulness, which is ‘I want what I want when I want it’. Another name for pride.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
If we have become proud or arrogant in our attitude or find we are being disrespectful. Help us to always examine our own selves, show us our heart depths and weaknesses. Dear Father you resist the proud and receive the humble. Help us to be humble and learn humility, so that were able to come before you in true reverence, for forgiveness and restoration. Please purge the leaven of pride from our lives, so you once again become the true source of all our Joy and strength. Amen.
Further Study:
Ecclesiastes 7 : 1 – 14
Galatians 6 : 1 – 14
2 Corinthians 9 : 1 – 15
Posted: 31/07/12
The Great High Calling of God - An Exposition of Matthew 14:26-31
'I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus' - Philippians 3:14
MATTHEW 14: 26-27
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.
- Sometimes things come our way and we do not know if it is of God or of the evil one. Firstly, If it is of God he will speak to your heart and bring peace.
MATTHEW 14: 28-29
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
- Here, Peter is unsure and seeking further confirmation. The Lord being faithful, speaks again, giving him the grace and faith to come to Him on the water. This speaks of God calling us to great and mighty things. We often have ideas and plans for great things, but we must be patient; we should not attempt to 'walk on water' until we hear the voice of our Lord Jesus. After we hear God's voice and follow him in obedience, we can then have confidence that what he has called us to do he will also give us the grace to do it.
MATTHEW 14:30
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
- After we receive the call of God, we, like Peter, have a grace and start out strong, but we must remain on guard, for our enemy is like a roaring Lion seeking to devour us(1 Peter 5:8). Life's trials, tribulations and circumstances, can also weigh us down, and make us take our eyes off of God. If this happens, doubt and fear will set in and we begin to sink.
- We all want to do great things and receive great blessings from God, but are we willing to go through the storms, the winds, and the things that take us out of our comfort zone? How much do we really believe in Jesus and his promises?
MATTHEW 14:31
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
- Beware the sin of unbelief; doubt will always hinder us from fulfilling our purpose. That said, no one is perfect, we all make mistakes, but as long as we cry out to God, he will uphold us and keep us from falling.
CONCLUSION
'Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it' - 1 Thessalonians 5:24
When God gives you a vision or a promise, your faith will immediately be put to the test. Circumstances may make you doubt and say to yourself 'was that really God?'. 'Ye of little faith'- Be a child of God, open your spiritual eyes! The Lord wants to magnify his glory in your life! His promises are true and his word is sure, but what glory would be revealed if everything came easy? Remember that the enemy will do his utmost to keep you from the promises of God, fight him! Proclaim the Lord's promises over your life! You must trust in his faithfulness; believe he is who he says he is; persevere despite your circumstances and you will surely see the faithfulness and glory of the living God!
HEBREWS 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
GOD Bless
Christopher Williams
29/01/12
The Greatest is… LOVE
‘And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love’ – 1 Corinthians 13:13
1. Loving God.
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Mat 22:36-38) Loving God in such a manner will definitely involve keeping the first four of the ten commandments, which reveal the relationship between God and man.
The 1st Commandment — ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exo 20:3)
The 2nd Commandment — “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them. (Exo 20:4-5)
The 3rd Commandment — “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
The 4th Commandment — “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God:...”
2. Loving your neighbour.
Jesus also said “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Mat 22:39) Loving other people in an impartial manner will definitely involve keeping the last six of the Ten Commandments, which pertain to the relationship between one person and others. “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Rom 13:9-10) It should be noted that loving others, often involves forgiveness. (Mat 5:44; 6:12,14)
The 5th Commandment — “Honour thy father and
thy mother:...” (Exo 20:12)
The 6th Commandment — Thou shalt not kill. (Exo 20:13)
The 7th Commandment — Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Exo 20:14)
The 8th Commandment — Thou shalt not steal. (Exo 20:15)
The 9th Commandment — “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” (Exo 20:16)
The 10th Commandment — “Thou shalt not covet...’ (Exo 20:17)
God is love, everything he does is motivated by it and is the very reason were here. Many people wonder if God is so loving, how does he let bad things happen in the world?
Believe it or not, but if you look a bit deeper the answer is… LOVE!
The Lord has given each of us free will; the freedom to make our own choices in this life. This is no accident. He wants us to truly love him the way he loves us, so the only way for him to know our love is true is if by our own free will, we choose Him. Think about it, if we were preprogrammed to love God it wouldn’t be genuine and something would be missing. Would you want your spouse to love you and marry you because they had to, or because they wanted to? For love to be real and true it has to be a choice!
The thing is, those that don’t believe and understand the things of God, exercise their free will and live selfishly in this world, according to their own standards, their own ways; which leads to the evil we so clearly see in this world. Simply put, the absence of God is the absence of anything good.
Whether you believe or not God loves you! Today it is not too late for you to believe; it is not too late for you to receive God’s love and forgiveness. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Not one person is innocent of breaking the law and commandment of God, but thank God for Jesus! His law is rooted in love! His life lived for love, His suffering and death for life!
YOUR LIFE!
The choice is yours to make. God is waiting!
‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me’ – Revelation 3:20
PRAYER
Father God, I thank you for this word and message about your love, help us all to love you; help us to understand and receive your love not only in our minds but into our hearts. I pray that you bless all that reads this message, and that it helps all draw closer to your love forevermore… In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
The Greatest is… LOVE
‘And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love’ – 1 Corinthians 13:13
1. Loving God.
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Mat 22:36-38) Loving God in such a manner will definitely involve keeping the first four of the ten commandments, which reveal the relationship between God and man.
The 1st Commandment — ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exo 20:3)
The 2nd Commandment — “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them. (Exo 20:4-5)
The 3rd Commandment — “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
The 4th Commandment — “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God:...”
2. Loving your neighbour.
Jesus also said “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Mat 22:39) Loving other people in an impartial manner will definitely involve keeping the last six of the Ten Commandments, which pertain to the relationship between one person and others. “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Rom 13:9-10) It should be noted that loving others, often involves forgiveness. (Mat 5:44; 6:12,14)
The 5th Commandment — “Honour thy father and
thy mother:...” (Exo 20:12)
The 6th Commandment — Thou shalt not kill. (Exo 20:13)
The 7th Commandment — Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Exo 20:14)
The 8th Commandment — Thou shalt not steal. (Exo 20:15)
The 9th Commandment — “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” (Exo 20:16)
The 10th Commandment — “Thou shalt not covet...’ (Exo 20:17)
God is love, everything he does is motivated by it and is the very reason were here. Many people wonder if God is so loving, how does he let bad things happen in the world?
Believe it or not, but if you look a bit deeper the answer is… LOVE!
The Lord has given each of us free will; the freedom to make our own choices in this life. This is no accident. He wants us to truly love him the way he loves us, so the only way for him to know our love is true is if by our own free will, we choose Him. Think about it, if we were preprogrammed to love God it wouldn’t be genuine and something would be missing. Would you want your spouse to love you and marry you because they had to, or because they wanted to? For love to be real and true it has to be a choice!
The thing is, those that don’t believe and understand the things of God, exercise their free will and live selfishly in this world, according to their own standards, their own ways; which leads to the evil we so clearly see in this world. Simply put, the absence of God is the absence of anything good.
Whether you believe or not God loves you! Today it is not too late for you to believe; it is not too late for you to receive God’s love and forgiveness. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Not one person is innocent of breaking the law and commandment of God, but thank God for Jesus! His law is rooted in love! His life lived for love, His suffering and death for life!
YOUR LIFE!
The choice is yours to make. God is waiting!
‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me’ – Revelation 3:20
PRAYER
Father God, I thank you for this word and message about your love, help us all to love you; help us to understand and receive your love not only in our minds but into our hearts. I pray that you bless all that reads this message, and that it helps all draw closer to your love forevermore… In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
25/10/11
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CONTENTS OF PRAYER
1. Stacte - Supplication
2. Onycha - Prayer
3. Galbanum - Intercession
4. Frankincense - Thanksgiving and praise
Prayeris indispensable to spiritual life. Some saints say that prayer is to man’s soul what breath is to man’s body. St. Paul says, “Pray without ceasing” (I Thess.5:17). Although St. Paul had written many exhortations to Timothy, the chief of all of them was concerning prayer. He says, “1 exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” (I Tim.. 2:1). Therefore, we should examine this matter of utmost importance in detail.
Although ‘prayer’ is a single term, it refers to four aspects — supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, as mentioned in the verse quoted above. In the worship observed in the Old Testament times, which was in accordance with the law, incense is figurative to prayer (Rev.8:3; Psa. 141:2). This incense is made of four ingredients namely stacte, onycha, galbanum and pure frankincense (Exo.30:34 -38). These four signify the four aspects of prayer — supplication, prayer, intercession and giving of thanks, referred to j I Timothy 2:1. Let us consider these things.
1. STACTE—Supplication
Stacte is a gum that comes from the Storax tree when it is pierced. This resin is not very hard. It tastes very bitter. Although Hannah was childless, since her husband loved her much, she made no effort to supplicate or pray. But, when her adversary provoked her sore and grieved her pointing to her barrenness, she wept and did not eat’ (1 Sam. 1:6,7). When Hannah was afflicted in this manner and in agony, we find that she supplicated (vs.10, 11,16,17,27). King Josiah, in bitterness of heart, made ‘supplications’ weeping and rending his clothes, when he heard the words of God that were pronounced against the land and its people (2 Chron.34:27). Similarly, David too made ‘supplications’ in the day of trouble (Psa.17:1; 102:1,2). Thus we find that the petition of these people made in sorrow of heart is compared to the bitter nature of stacte.
Just as this stacte is not hard, while supplicating, it is not possible to ask God forcibly for anything. One seeking a job, or begging for alms, humbles himself and implores earnestly. He is not in a position to ask either authoritatively or as a matter of right or forcibly demand. This is supplication. Although Hannah asked in bitterness of soul, she was not in a position to ask forcibly or compel God to ‘give’, but made her supplication, saying, “If thou wilt give unto thine handmaid, a male child...” Eli too did not confirm an answer saying, ‘God will so command’, but said, “The God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.”
In our lives too, when we face bitter experiences such as wants, difficulties and reproaches and hear words which are like the piercing of a sword, we should supplicate without fainting. The
reason why the Lord permits bitterness, distress and other things in our life is that we might abound in the experience of supplicating to the Lord. We would thus be free from the mistake that Hannah made at the beginning — failing to make supplications to the Lord. If we thus commit ourselves to the will of God and make our supplications, the sorrow of the heart will be gone and joy will take its place (I Sam.1:18).
2. ONYCHA—Prayer
Onycha is obtained from certain marine molluscs or the Red Sea snail. These creatures have a very hard and fragrant shell. This shell is pounded and the resulting product is a powder called ‘onycha’. ‘Prayer’ (the second aspect of prayer in common) has always an element of fervency in it. We read t in James 5:17 that Elias prayed earnestly.
Prayer means striving with the Lord forcefully for a particular matter. Therefore, Paul the apostle wrote: “Now I beseech you, brethren,... that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Rom.15:30).
Although onycha is in the form of particles, its consistency is hard. Similarly, from a broken heart steadfast, fervent and decisive prayer should be lifted up (Psa.34:18). This signifies that we should strive in prayer. A prayer with such determination gets an answer forthwith. Jacob likewise wrestled with God without giving up saving, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me” (Gen.32:26). He relentlessly wrestled in prayer with a rightful claim and so was blessed straightway (vs.29). Therefore, this second aspect ‘prayer’ which is to strive in earnest should he made with a rightful claim and with authority.
In supplication which is the first aspect of prayer in general, when we resign ourselves to do the will of God, saying, “Thy will he done”, and make supplication, the will of God in that matter is manifested. After it is thus manifest, we should pray striving and receive the blessings, giving no room for fear and unbelief. Many fail to receive blessings because they do not strive and pray. Many will be the obstacles against such a prayer of striving. Therefore has a man of God said, ‘When it is hard to pray, pray hard.’ This experience can be found in the life of Daniel (Dan.6J0).
Although the king’s commandment was against him, Daniel had no fear and prayed keeping the windows open. God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths that they may not harm him (Dan. 6:10,22). The God of Daniel, Who is no respecter of persons, is with us even today. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heh.4:16).
3. GALBANUM—Intercession
Galbanum is a resin obtained from the Ferula, a strong rooted perennial of the carrot family. Stacte, onycha and galbanum all three, are sweet spices. Galbanum has a kind of smell that can preserve itself from flies and other insects. When mixed with the incense, the scent keeps the flies away from the incense and thus preserves it. Galbanum is figurative to intercession, the third aspect of prayer, mentioned in I Timothy 2:1.
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” (I Tim.2:1). Intercession means, one pleading with another on behalf of someone. When Job made intercession on behalf of his friends who had talked unwisely, the Lord heard his intercession and did not deal with them after their folly. He also turned away Job’s captivity (Job 42:8,10).
The galbanum that is in the incense preserves it from flies that carry disease-causing germs. So also to avoid sins that enter the life of man by folly, ‘intercession’, the third aspect of prayer is made. Jesus too interceded with the Father for His disciples, saying, “I pray... thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (Jn.17:15). Moreover, St. Paul tells the Philippian church that he interceded for them that they might be “sincere and without offence till the day of Christ”(Phil.1:9,1O). Therefore, we understand that in our prayer, we should always be searching our lives, and have the experience of making intercessions in order to be delivered from the shortcomings and infirmities that confront us in our life. Moreover, just as galbanum is used not just to preserve itself but the entire incense, we too should pray not only for our personal sanctification but also intercede for the ignorance and weaknesses of others.
4. FRANKINCENSE—Praise and Thanksgiving
Frankincense is obtained from three species of the genus ‘Boswellia’, a tree native only to South Arabia. The resin is obtained by piercing the bark of the tree. When thrown into fire, it smokes, giving out fragrance. This frankincense represents the fourth aspect of prayer, which is ‘thanksgiving’. In the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ too, after making intercession, the Lord Jesus Christ offers thanksgiving to the Father saying, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.” (Matt.6:13). Oh, how perfect the Word of God is!
When a person remains in the fiery presence of God after having lifted his heart in agony to God for his weaknesses, he is filled with gratitude as he thinks of how God has delivered him from eternal destruction. This grateful heart causes him to offer praises to God which is like the rising up of smoke when frankincense is put into fire. We find ‘praises’ offered profusely in the prayers of true Christians. Praising is an important part of prayer.
Praising like this is a sign of our faith that the Lord has answered our prayers. Daniel too finished his prayer with praising as he believed that the Lord had answered his prayer (Dan.6:1U). The Lord too honoured his faith and accepted his thanksgiving. “No mariner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God” we read (vs.23). Thus we can praise God only if we have faith.
As some children of God are not used to praising God while praying, they have no joy whatsoever when they end their prayers. Their hearts seem burdened as at the beginning. Praying like this is of no use. Before she prayed, Hannah was found to be of a ‘sorrowful spirit’, not eating and weeping. But after praying, she ate and her countenance was no more sad (ISam.I:18). The Lord answered her prayer as per the verse “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Psa.37:4). We also know that by the praises rendered, the walls of Jericho fell down and that the Israelites consequently captured the city. If you too praise like them, the Lord will remove all hindrances, open the closed doors and bless you.
Moreover, when Jehoshaphat faced the multitude of enemies, he sought the Lord first and prayed saying, “Our eyes are upon thee” (II Chron.20:i,3-12). Immediately, he and his people were encouraged by a prophet of the Lord. Accordingly, they refrained from going to the battle, and instead, praised the Lord with a loud voice on high (vs.19). “When they began to sing and to praise, . . . they (the enemies) were smitten” (vs.22). How marvelous the power of praise is! just as how the three nations which came to fight against King Jehoshaphat were defeated, when the world, the flesh and the devil strive against us in our spiritual life, we too can rejoice in the victory over our enemies. We read that King Jehoshaphat and his people “blessed (praised) the Lord” and that “the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies” (vs.26,27). If we too praise the Lord like this, God who is impartial will give us perfect victory in all things and make us happy. Therefore let us not forget to praise the Lord.
In Proverbs 15:8, we read, “The prayer of the upright is his delight.” Therefore, all prayers that are offered are not pleasing to the Lord. Let us not forget that the Lord considers such prayers as “sin” and “abomination” (Psa.109:7; Prov.28:9). So, let us be careful about the prayer we offer unto the Lord.
We need to understand yet another point about prayer. The conversation of Moses with the Lord on the mount typifies the prayer that we ought to make by waiting upon the Lord in our closet. Usually, we pray ‘looking unto’ the Lord. But ‘hen Moses went up the mountain to the Lord, we read the words, “Moses said unto the Lord” only in a few places, but these words “The Lord said unto Moses” occur in many places. From this we understand that after Moses had told the Lord a few things he was for the most part listening to His words. Our Lord is One Who speaks to us. Therefore, we need to have the experience of listening to His voice, praying and waiting in His presence.
While we thus pray and wait, we should be listening to what the Lord speaks to us instead of using vain repetitions as some do (Matt.6:7). If we learn this, His counsel will preserve us from the many problems we come across in our lives.
Thus far we have considered the four aspects of the incense called ‘prayer’ on the basis of Exodus 30: 34 -38. As we continue to analyze the 5ame, we can learn some more important points
regarding prayer.
We see in verse 34, that the “ingredients” to :e added in the incense were to be of the “same eight”. If there is to be a maximum benefit derived from prayer meetings where many people gather for prayer, then it is essential that those joining prayer be of the same spiritual standard.
Otherwise, they cannot pray with oneness of mind. For e.g., let us suppose that when one prays for deeper spiritual experiences, another prays for his profession, another for his wife and children, and yet another that the Lord might teach his enemies a lesson and so on. By such different “weights”, the oneness of mind in prayer is lost. Instead, for a matter to be prayed for, if we pray with the same ‘weight’, that is, with ‘oneness of mind’, then the words of Jesus as in Matthew 18:19, will be fulfilled in us. He said, “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven”.
Moreover, in Exodus 30:36 we see that the incense has to be brought to the presence of the Lord after being “broken very small”. Therefore, if we have to experience the joy and delight of the presence of God, we need to have a broken heart as the finely powdered incense. It is to signify this that David says in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit”. Furthermore, God Himself says through the prophet Isaiah, “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (57:15). How much the Lord loves a broken heart! He that dwells in “the high and holy” place comes to dwell in a broken heart! Therefore 0 child of God, do not be dismayed when you are broken by men or circumstances, but draw closer the Lord joyfully.
Next, it gives great joy to know the spiritual implication of what is said about the incense in Exodus 30:37—”the perfume...ye shall not make to yourselves”. Our Lord reveals it in Matthew 6:15,16 where He says, “When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray banding in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Moreover when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Yes, surely there are a group of people who pray and fast for their own fame. Some show themselves to be great prayer warriors by offering long prayers in public meetings without even having a little of their personal prayer. Some others wish that they alone should pray always in meetings without giving a chance for others to pray. Some preach while they pray. Yet others use good alliterations in their prayers and use it to show their proficiency in the language. All such things are like making incense for themselves.
Once, when D.L.Moody was conducting a meeting, one person made a long prayer. As he did finish the prayer, there was commotion in the gathering. So, Moody said aloud, “Let our friend continue his prayer and we shall sing a song” — so saying, he started a song. This act of Moody stopped Sir Wilfred Greenbell who had decided to leave the meeting abruptly, from going out. Later, he showed interest in such meetings. was saved and became a man of God. Yes, even today an antidote administered for such prayers will do good.
In the last verse of Exodus 30:38, it is written, “Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people”. Don’t these words make us tremble! Some people feel proud and glory in themselves when they think about their own prayers. Soon such a thought makes them feel that they are prayer warriors and causes them to despise others. When they reach such a state, they lose their grace little by little according to the verse “God resisteth the proud” (I Pet.5:5). This results in the death of their spiritual experience. Eventually some of them backslide and even drift away (are cut off) from the children of God. When Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron offered the strange fire which the Lord did not command, fire came out from the presence of the Lord and devoured their both. They were cut off from the children of God.
In Exodus 30:7,8 we read of the different times at which the incense had to be offered on the incense altar.
Every morning: Incense had to be offered even morning. David who knew this truth calls his prayer incense’ (Psa.141:2). As this has to be offered every morning, he says, “O God... early will I seek thee” Jsa.63:1). We read in Mark 1:35 that our Lord Jesus rising up a great while before day,...went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” This is the experience of the true saints of God. David followed the practice of looking at the face God every morning (Psa.5:3). Therefore he says, I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Psa.17:15). Since he was in the habit of seeking :he Lord early in the morning and being satisfied with His presence, he sings gladly, “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips” (Psa.63:5).
Just as a person who takes enough food in :he morning does not become tired through the Jay, when we too seek the Lord in the morning and wait upon Him and are satisfied with His likeness, we will not be subjected to weariness and temptation but be praising the Lord with joyful lips throughout the day like David. Moreover, Jeremiah too says ‘His mercies are new every morning’ Lam 3:22,23). Every new day we come across unexpected new temptations and problems. Our heavenly Father Who knows this, waits for us every morning with new mercies to enable us to triumph over these new temptations. Hence if we pray every morning, the Lord will fulfil His promise “those that seek me early shall find me” (Prov.8:17) and satisfy us early with His mercy so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days (Psa.90:14).
God’s people who tasted this happy life, no matter how hard and important their work might have been, first waited on the Lord early in the morning, and were satisfied with His likeness and grace and then accomplished their work for the day joyfully and easily.
We may desire to rise early in the morning, but being overcome by sleep we feel disappointed. We need not worry like this. Truly, if we seek this experience with all our hearts, our Lord will definitely grant it to us. Prophet Isaiah proves this when he says, “He wakeneth morning by morning” indicating that it is the Lord Who wakes us up every morning. Even today, the Lord wakes up His saints who are sincere and leads them on as said in this verse.
Therefore let us not fail to get these blessings by offering this sweet incense every morning.
Every Evening: We read “When Aaron lighteth the lamps at even he shall burn incense upon it” (Exo.30:8).
Firstly let us see what the burning of incense “at even” means. David says, “Let...the lifting up of my hands (be) as the evening sacrifice” (Psa.141:2). Apostle Paul also says that we have to pray “lifting up holy hands” (1 Tim.2:8). The psalmist points out the same thing when he says, ‘Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord”(Psa.134:2). When Ezra blessed the Lord, all the people lifted up their hands and answered “Amen, Amen”. This is a sign that they joined him in praising God (Neh. 8:6). Therefore lifting up hands and praying also means praising and offering thanks to God. “Lifting up my hands as the evening sacrifice” means lifting up hands to offer the sacrifice of praise. We must set time in the evening to praise God much recollecting all the goodness of the Lord and His protection through the day. This is what is called burning of incense ‘at even’. Therefore, every evening do not forget to lift up your hands and praise God for all the good things He has done for you.
The saints of God prayed not only in the morning but also at appointed times in the evening and have prayed without fail. Ezra and Daniel were able to do great things for the Lord because they prayed regularly (Ezra 9:5; Dan.9:21). The fact that apostles Peter and John went up together into the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer was to honour the evening sacrifice (Acts 3:1). Therefore it will be greatly beneficial in our lives if we fix time for prayer in the evening and pray regularly.
Secondly, we observe that the incense is offered at the time of “lighting of the lamps” at even (Exo. 30:8). In our spiritual lives we do come across it evening times—dull or sad times. At such times, many of us have been comforted by the Word of God. David also says “unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine is affliction” (Psa. 119:92). We also read, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path’ (vs.105). So we should read the Word, which is lamp and light, prayerfully. David who realized this, prayed often asking the Lord to teach him His statutes (Psa.119: 12,26,33,64 etc.), not to hide His commandments from him (vs19) and to strengthen him according to His word (vs.28). He has offered this same prayer many a time in the same psalm. Further, we see that his prayer in vs.18 of the same psalm “Open thou mine eves, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” also reveals that he faithfully observed the truth of offering the incense at the time of lighting the lamps.
The ‘Word of God’, as some think, is not mere written material; there are wondrous things in it. Only if our inner eyes are opened can we behold these wonders. The Lord is grieved with His people saying, “I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing (Hos.8:12). Great things are contained in the Bible without realizing this, if we reckon the Bible as an ordinary book and read it without praying, we may be inclined to think of them as strange things Therefore to see the wonders and greatness of the Scriptures, we need prayer. Instead of praying like this, some read books from Christian libraries, and without any revelation they talk about the Bible with man’s wisdom, bringing about disputes leading to arguments. Sometimes they also preach and writ hooks perverting the truths of the Bible and thus become traitors to the great and wonderful Word God. May God forgive them. Some have even become presumptuous to say that the Bible is entirely false and even a fable. How terrible! If we read the Bible with prayer and with the assistance of the Holy spirit, many hidden wonders scattered here and there will be gathered together and revealed to us giving us new revelations and leading us into new life. “His spirit, it hath gathered them” (Isa.34:16).
If we read the Word of God with prayer (burning the incense), this Word will be a light unto our path Psa.119:105), preserve us from going astray and finally give us eternal life. Therefore, the Lord has said about His law, “It is your life” (Deut.32:44,47). Yes, the Word of God brings us eternal life. This is the truth. Let us be careful to receive eternal life in reading the Bible with prayer.
By Christopher Leonard Williams
20/09/11
'IN HIM WE TRUST'
Psalm 20:7 'Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God'
Who do you trust? Who can you trust? Who should you trust? The obvious answer is God, however there are times when it would seem like we have to place our trust in someone other than him... A close friend? A spouse? Anyone will tell you how a relationship is built upon trust. But how can we trust someone that has made mistakes and dissapointed us before? 'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above' (James 1:17) Do not look to your friend or spouse, look to the father in heaven to give the good gift, to bear the good fruit in them and if your friend/spouse has caused you to doubt and feel mistrust, don't look at their weaknesses, dont look at their past, look to the Lord! keep praying and place your hope in him and it will never put you to shame (Rom 5:5).
If a person is found to be trustworthy, it is purely a gift from the grace of God. Remember that in man dwelleth no good thing (Rom 7:18) and that apart from Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5), therefore it is only God who can complete that good work. As we apply this truth, we exercise faith allowing the spirit of God to work 'all things together for good' (Rom 8:28) drawing us and others closer to Him, improving our relationships with eachother and 'transforming us from glory to glory' into the image of Christ
Nahum 1:7 'The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him'
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By Christopher Leonard Williams
18/08/11 The Presence of GOD
THE LORD IS WITH US… ALWAYS
‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee’– Hebrews 13:5
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
- The Lord is omnipresent; always by our side! Knowing our every movement and our every thought. (Psalms 139:1-4, 7-10) With him how could we fail? With Him, we have all we need!
THE LORD; AN ALL CONSUMING FIRE
Hebrews 12:28-29
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.
Deuteronomy 9:3
Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
Zechariah 13:9
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
1 Peter 1:7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 97:5
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The Lord is an all consuming fire. In the Old Testament, the priest would enter the holy place, lay an offering upon the altar and the presence of God would descend as a fire to burn and bring to ashes the sin in the peoples lives. Today, we too can come to God's presence, lay our sin and shame at His feet, and His sanctifying fire will burn it all up, and bring us back to a right standing relationship with our God. The Lord’s fire is his sanctifying power. Sanctification means to be ‘set apart for a holy purpose’. The Lord uses the 'fiery trials' of life to test our faith; as long as we submit and trust in the Lord, these trials will be for our own good; shaping and molding us into the image of Christ.
POWER AND FREEDOM IN PRAISES
Psalm 68:7-8
O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
The presence of God is powerful; able to shake the heavens and the earth
Psalms 22:3
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
The Lord’s presence and majesty dwells in our praises!
Acts 16:24-30
Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- The ‘prison’ speaks of being held captive to the enemy’s deception; those who are lost and need to accept Jesus into their hearts and those that need to believe in Jesus for victory over their current circumstances. Paul and Silas’s praises called the presence and majesty of God into the prison, setting all the captives free! ‘Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty’
(2 Corinthians 3:17)
OUR GUIDE
Exodus 13:21
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Exodus 33:13-15
Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
When we seek the Lord and ask for His help, He is faithful to guide our steps and give us rest.
Numbers 10:33
And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.
The Ark of the covenant is where the presence of God dwelt. In order to find rest, we need to keep the presence of the Lord before us.
JOSHUA; OUR EXAMPLE
Joshua 3:6-17
And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
In his obedience to God, Joshua commanded the priests to carry the Ark into the water of the Jordan. As soon as their feet hit the water, it’s flow stopped and left nothing but dry ground for the Lord’s people to cross! Verse 11 'LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan' - When the presence of God goes before us, we have nothing to fear because he will make a way. Also important to note, due to Joshua's obedience, God was able to magnify him in the sight of the people, making him a respected trustworthy leader.
THE LORD OUR PEACE
John 20:19-20
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Without Jesus, we are quickly overcome by fear. With Him in our midst, peace is restored and gladness fills our hearts!
REVIVAL
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
STRENGTH AND GLADNESS
1 Chronicles 16:27
Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.
JOY AND PLEASURES FOREVERMORE
Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
NO ENEMY SHALL STAND
1 Samuel 5:2-3
When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD.
The Phillistines worshipped Dagon and had a statue of him, however when the Ark arrived, he could not stand! Rather he was fallen upon his face and then cut off forever (from verse 4-5). In the presence of God, no other Gods can stand!
THINGS THAT KEEP US FROM EXPEREINCING HIS PRESENCE
BITTERNESS
Jonah 1:2-3
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jonah was commanded of God to bring a message to the people of Nineveh; a word that would convict their hearts, bringing them to repentance. Jonah instead fled the presence of God. He had bitterness in his heart and didn't want them to receive the mercies of God. Nineveh was the heart of the Babylonian and Assyrians empires which caused death and destruction to Israel. Nineveh was the “most hated” city of the Israelites. It is clear this very thing happens to us today. Bitterness and unforgiveness has a two-fold effect. It keeps us from speaking into the lives of others, meaning little to no chance for the lost to receive the mercies of God, whilst also forcing us away from God and doing His will. The Lord always has a plan of redemption for His children. We are His tools, so we must humble ourselves and follow the Lord’s leading.
THE TRUE STATE OF OUR HEARTS
1 Samuel 4:3
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
In order for the Israelites to have a chance to win the fight against the Philistines they sought out the presence of the Lord. Unfortunately the damage had already been done. Eli a man of God (in the line of Abraham) had sons which were ungodly men, but rather than stand for the Lord he continued to honor them. The Lord then prophesied that He would cut His presence off from them (1 Samuel 2:30). True to His word, that day came when they needed Him most. The Lord is the God of hearts. Only when they were in trouble or when it suited them did they seek him. This revealed the true state of their hearts. As a result, the presence of the Lord could not help them; that day thousands of people were killed and the ark was taken from them. (1 Sam 4:17)
SHAME AND CONDEMNATION
Genesis 3:8
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
When Adam and Eve knew they had made a mistake in disobeying God, they hid themselves from His presence. Their sin took away their innocence, opening their eyes to their nakedness and shame. This is the same for us today. When shame and condemnation comes upon us, we too run away from the presence of God. Important to note is that the word naked means ‘Devoid of customary or natural covering’- The Word of God commands us to not only believe in Christ but to ‘Put on Christ’ (Romans 13:14) and that in Christ we are clothed with righteousness! (Isaiah 61:10) With the Lord, we are no longer bare and are innocent in the sight of God!
As you can see, the presence of God presents a long list of benefits and precious promises! Much longer than the list of things that keep us from His presence. Simply put, the choice is ours. God is always with us, yet we determine how close and whether or not his promises become our reality. The Lord is a gentleman, never forcing himself upon anyone; rather He waits for us to make the first move!
'Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you' - James 4:8
By Christopher Leonard Williams
THE LORD IS WITH US… ALWAYS
‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee’– Hebrews 13:5
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
- The Lord is omnipresent; always by our side! Knowing our every movement and our every thought. (Psalms 139:1-4, 7-10) With him how could we fail? With Him, we have all we need!
THE LORD; AN ALL CONSUMING FIRE
Hebrews 12:28-29
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.
Deuteronomy 9:3
Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
Zechariah 13:9
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
1 Peter 1:7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 97:5
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The Lord is an all consuming fire. In the Old Testament, the priest would enter the holy place, lay an offering upon the altar and the presence of God would descend as a fire to burn and bring to ashes the sin in the peoples lives. Today, we too can come to God's presence, lay our sin and shame at His feet, and His sanctifying fire will burn it all up, and bring us back to a right standing relationship with our God. The Lord’s fire is his sanctifying power. Sanctification means to be ‘set apart for a holy purpose’. The Lord uses the 'fiery trials' of life to test our faith; as long as we submit and trust in the Lord, these trials will be for our own good; shaping and molding us into the image of Christ.
POWER AND FREEDOM IN PRAISES
Psalm 68:7-8
O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
The presence of God is powerful; able to shake the heavens and the earth
Psalms 22:3
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
The Lord’s presence and majesty dwells in our praises!
Acts 16:24-30
Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- The ‘prison’ speaks of being held captive to the enemy’s deception; those who are lost and need to accept Jesus into their hearts and those that need to believe in Jesus for victory over their current circumstances. Paul and Silas’s praises called the presence and majesty of God into the prison, setting all the captives free! ‘Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty’
(2 Corinthians 3:17)
OUR GUIDE
Exodus 13:21
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Exodus 33:13-15
Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
When we seek the Lord and ask for His help, He is faithful to guide our steps and give us rest.
Numbers 10:33
And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.
The Ark of the covenant is where the presence of God dwelt. In order to find rest, we need to keep the presence of the Lord before us.
JOSHUA; OUR EXAMPLE
Joshua 3:6-17
And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
In his obedience to God, Joshua commanded the priests to carry the Ark into the water of the Jordan. As soon as their feet hit the water, it’s flow stopped and left nothing but dry ground for the Lord’s people to cross! Verse 11 'LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan' - When the presence of God goes before us, we have nothing to fear because he will make a way. Also important to note, due to Joshua's obedience, God was able to magnify him in the sight of the people, making him a respected trustworthy leader.
THE LORD OUR PEACE
John 20:19-20
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Without Jesus, we are quickly overcome by fear. With Him in our midst, peace is restored and gladness fills our hearts!
REVIVAL
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
STRENGTH AND GLADNESS
1 Chronicles 16:27
Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.
JOY AND PLEASURES FOREVERMORE
Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
NO ENEMY SHALL STAND
1 Samuel 5:2-3
When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD.
The Phillistines worshipped Dagon and had a statue of him, however when the Ark arrived, he could not stand! Rather he was fallen upon his face and then cut off forever (from verse 4-5). In the presence of God, no other Gods can stand!
THINGS THAT KEEP US FROM EXPEREINCING HIS PRESENCE
BITTERNESS
Jonah 1:2-3
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jonah was commanded of God to bring a message to the people of Nineveh; a word that would convict their hearts, bringing them to repentance. Jonah instead fled the presence of God. He had bitterness in his heart and didn't want them to receive the mercies of God. Nineveh was the heart of the Babylonian and Assyrians empires which caused death and destruction to Israel. Nineveh was the “most hated” city of the Israelites. It is clear this very thing happens to us today. Bitterness and unforgiveness has a two-fold effect. It keeps us from speaking into the lives of others, meaning little to no chance for the lost to receive the mercies of God, whilst also forcing us away from God and doing His will. The Lord always has a plan of redemption for His children. We are His tools, so we must humble ourselves and follow the Lord’s leading.
THE TRUE STATE OF OUR HEARTS
1 Samuel 4:3
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
In order for the Israelites to have a chance to win the fight against the Philistines they sought out the presence of the Lord. Unfortunately the damage had already been done. Eli a man of God (in the line of Abraham) had sons which were ungodly men, but rather than stand for the Lord he continued to honor them. The Lord then prophesied that He would cut His presence off from them (1 Samuel 2:30). True to His word, that day came when they needed Him most. The Lord is the God of hearts. Only when they were in trouble or when it suited them did they seek him. This revealed the true state of their hearts. As a result, the presence of the Lord could not help them; that day thousands of people were killed and the ark was taken from them. (1 Sam 4:17)
SHAME AND CONDEMNATION
Genesis 3:8
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
When Adam and Eve knew they had made a mistake in disobeying God, they hid themselves from His presence. Their sin took away their innocence, opening their eyes to their nakedness and shame. This is the same for us today. When shame and condemnation comes upon us, we too run away from the presence of God. Important to note is that the word naked means ‘Devoid of customary or natural covering’- The Word of God commands us to not only believe in Christ but to ‘Put on Christ’ (Romans 13:14) and that in Christ we are clothed with righteousness! (Isaiah 61:10) With the Lord, we are no longer bare and are innocent in the sight of God!
As you can see, the presence of God presents a long list of benefits and precious promises! Much longer than the list of things that keep us from His presence. Simply put, the choice is ours. God is always with us, yet we determine how close and whether or not his promises become our reality. The Lord is a gentleman, never forcing himself upon anyone; rather He waits for us to make the first move!
'Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you' - James 4:8
By Christopher Leonard Williams
Why Do I Love Jesus?
30/06/2011
This is a testimony for the glory of God. I felt far from God, struggling with sin and self, I felt defeated by. The only thing I knew to do was to seek the Lord; something I hadn't been doing enough of. When I don't devote enough time to Him, I tend to live for myself, walk in my own ways. I decided to spend some quiet time with God and the first thought that popped into my head was 'Why do I love Jesus?' Hmm? An interesting question, one I don't recall asking myself; at least not recently. So, I meditated on that thought, answers started to come and I made a list:
- He has saved me from my sin, given me assurance of eternal life
- He took my shame and died for me
- He loves me and wants the best for me
- He gives me strength to persevere
- He gives me hope, not only for this life but for the one to come
- He comforts me- He gives me peace- He gives me joy
- He inspires me, and encourages me in times of need
- He does everything for me; without His grace I fail to achieve anything of worth
- He corrects me and makes me want to be a better person
- He has humbled me, opened my eyes and shown me the truth about this life
- He has given me purpose and vision
- He is my provider; spiritually, physically and materially
- He is always there for me! He's never too busy
- The experience of His presence
There is nothing better than the presence of God; in His presence I have been overwhelmed with feeling's of love, peace and a joy that goes beyond anything else in this life! Nothing compares. I can only imagine what it would be like in heaven! Wow! After writing these out and meditating on them I felt refreshed! Revived! What a great idea that was! Looking back now, the question that came to my mind could have only been the voice of God, the Spirit of God leading me back to the Lord's great love! What faithfulness! He knew exactly what I needed! These days I recall the goodness of the Lord, His blessings, His favor and great sacrifice, not just in times of need but all the time!
I also keep a journal, not everyday, but when I feel moved to write, I do; it really helps me to reflect on my walk with God, my struggles and times of joy. Journaling has also prompted more communication with God, questions and answers have come and alot of prayer and praises. To overcome sin and life's struggles we need to know that God loves us dearly, despite our sin. To overcome, we need to go back to the place where sin was first overcome! The cross and the great love of Jesus! Now, I urge you to ask yourself the same question, even sit down and write your own list! As you do this, the spirit of praise will surely rise up in you and your heart will be filled with the love God! 'Thank you Jesus! Thank you Lord! Hallelujah! He has won the victory! Hallelujah! He has won it all for me!' - AMEN! 'We love Him, because He first loved us'.
-1 John 4:19
By Christopher Leonard Williams
.
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Scriptures found on this website in bold blue text are taken from the King James Version of the Bible (Unless otherwise stated). To gain greater wisdom and to better understand the full context of the scriptures. Please refer to the full chapters found here in the
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Scriptures found on this website in bold blue text are taken from the King James Version of the Bible (Unless otherwise stated). To gain greater wisdom and to better understand the full context of the scriptures. Please refer to the full chapters found here in the
Holy Bible thank you. http://www.truejoy.co.uk
Christ
John Stott in the book Your Mind Matters says,
“All Christian worship, public and private, should be an intelligent
response to God’s self-revelation in His words and works recorded in Scripture.”
Martin Luther, seeing the importance of the Bible to one’s life, wrote:
“In truth you cannot read the Scripture too much;
And what you read, you cannot read too well.
And what you read well, you cannot too well understand;
And what you understand, you cannot too well teach;
And what you teach well, you cannot too well live.”
Christians, are you obeying God with your will? God is setting your will free that
you may keep His commandments. You are not worshipping God unless you are desirous
to keep God’s laws and precepts as they are revealed in Scripture. Obedience to God is
basic if a Christian is to truly worship God.
“I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I
have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How
sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain
understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path” (Psa.
119:101-104).
Christians, are you loving God with your emotions? God wants you to feel for
Him as well as know and obey Him. “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’” (Matt. 22:37). God is re-
newing your sinful emotions so you might feel and experience the one, true and living
God.
Worship, then, is about knowing God in an intimate, personal and dynamic way,
which involves the mind, the will and the emotions. Are you experiencing God? Do you
really know Him? Is the motivation of your heart to obey and please God? God is seeking
true worshippers and He is always pleased when He finds them. The true worshipper can
and will say,
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psa. 42:1-2).