Luke 18:26-27 (NASB)
They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

The metaphor of a search for God is suggestive of efforts of muscular will. … In the parables of the Gospel, it is God who seeks man. Nowhere in the Gospel is there question of a search undertaken by man. Man does not take a step unless he receives some pressure or is definitely called.
Simone Weil, “Waiting for God”

To believe that we are the center, that we initiate the discovery of God, is absurdity. We continue this absurd thought process by defining some churches as “seeker” churches. We allow people to say that they “accepted” Christ, as if it was the first step in salvation. Theologians in the 18th century documented from scripture (primarily Romans 8) what they called the Ordo Salutis, the order of salvation, which begins with a calling from God, a regeneration of our heart, and only then conversion when we are given faith by God, repent of our sins and call upon Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The order of salvation doesn’t end there. We are then justified by God, adopted as His child, sanctified over time, and then finally glorified when we are taken to heaven one day.

Father, You are the center of all. Is is only by Your mercy and grace that we are saved and drawn into your Kingdom. Thank you for that gift, the greatest of all. May my feeble efforts to love you in return bring You joy and glorify Jesus. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Revelation 1:3 (NASB)
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Many, even those that read scripture regularly, avoid the last book of the Bible. The imagery is vivid and the prophesy is difficult to understand without considerable study. However Christ, through the disciple John, makes it clear in the beginning of the book that we are blessed by reading and hearing these words.

Several years ago, my grandson challenged me to read Revelation Chapter 5 every morning. I did that for a couple of months. As I remember his challenge, I go back periodically and read it again. Chapter 5 is a picture of the gospel and a picture of heaven. You will be blessed by reading it. So, I challenge you to read it too.

Heavenly Father, I pray that I would not avoid certain books or passages of scripture. I know that all scripture is God breathed and worthy of my study. I pray that my prayers would come from your words, that my thoughts would come from your Spirit, that my words would reflect your scripture. I pray this is Jesus name. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Philippians 3:17-21 (NASB)
Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

My wife and I were recently at a dinner party with friends from our neighborhood. It was a pleasant evening with good company, excellent food, and interesting discussions. Near the end of the dinner, the topic of spiritual things came up. One person said that they were a skeptic even though they do attend church. They didn’t understand why, if God was real, why we didn’t have miracles today like those reported in the Bible. One other person, whose wife had passed away several years ago, said that he still liked to attend church on occasion. It was a time of reminiscing attending church with his wife for so many years.

I realized that there are many reasons why people attend corporate worship. For some it is a pleasant experience with comforting music. It is a reminder of other times, possibly an entertaining hour. For others, it is a place to gather information, to learn, possibly to hear an interesting sermon. For others it is a time to absorb the experience in a way to transform us into the likeness of Jesus.

I have to confess that I have thought of Sunday worship in all three ways. Over the years, I have learned through the Holy Spirit that my time in corporate worship needs to focus on being transformed by the Spirit. That is the main reason, although fellowship and learning are also components of the experience. I test it now by how I respond in word and thought following the service. Do I critique the music selection? Do I analyze the sermon against my knowledge of scripture? Or do I let the Spirit teach me what He wants me to learn from the experience?

Heavenly Father, transform me from my sinful state into conformity with the body of Christ. Forgive me when I reduce your worship to my entertainment. Forgive me when I reduce your worship into a focus on me instead of You. As your Spirit teaches, align my heart and mind with You. I pray in Jesus precious name. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Deuteronomy 6:4-6 (NASB)
Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.

Religious – the state of having an interest, a belief, or participating in activity that is very important to a person or group.

Recently, I had someone tell me that they were not a religious person. I knew what they were trying to communicate, but the thought stuck with me. It occurred to me that everyone is religious, especially if you apply the broad definition above. The difference between that person and a Christian is that their religion is something of this world. It can be something very good, something that they are very passionate about, something that consumes their thoughts and heart. I think that is why it bothers me when people label me as being a religious person. It is the way God created us; we are all religious.

God wants us to worship Him – with all our heart, soul, and might. When we do, the things of His creation are put into proper perspective. We can enjoy them because they are His creation, not because we worship them.

One of the ways we worship God is through prayer. It creates a bond between Creator and creature. It helps us to know Him as we link His communication to us (the Bible) with our words to Him. It allows our love for Him to grow.

Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of Deuteronomy 6 would fill my heart, soul, and being. Help me to put all things into proper perspective, so that I worship only You. Give me a heart that yearns to know You more each and every day. Praying this in the name and power of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Revelation 22:17 (NASB)
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

The free gift of God; the final invitation in the Bible. Salvation to anyone who wishes to take the water of life – and it is free.

Scoffers will say that it isn’t free. They say you have to bow to Jesus as your Lord. Dear scoffer, we all bow to a Lord in our lives. Do you want to bow to One that is capable of giving you salvation? Or will you continue to bow to a Lord that cannot? He is our Savior, who has paid the price to freely give you an eternity with Him in paradise.

Heavenly Father, what a masterpiece is your Bible. You tell a story of salvation for all who come to You. And You close Your book with an invitation. How can we refuse? I pray that all mankind will bend the knee and declare you Lord and Savior. May Your glory be magnified in all the world! Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Acts 1:14 (NASB)
These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

“Pray in secret before going. Let your prayers in the meeting be formed as much as possible upon what you have read in the Bible. You will thus learn variety of petition, and a Scripture style. Pray that you may pray to God, and not for the ears of man. Feel His presence more than man’s.”
Excerpt from a letter to J.T. Just on how to conduct a prayer meeting, March 27, 1840.
Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Corporate prayer can be powerful. Amazing miracles are possible through corporate prayer. A group of humble prayer warriors can summon the awesome power of Almighty God, who can bring about healing, revival, and conversion. There is no room for pride, no room for self interest, no room for self righteousness. It is being of one mind, synchronized to the Holy Spirit, and only asking for what is God’s will. Does that sound like the prayer meeting at your church? If so, then you have seen many wonders.

Almighty God and Father, I pray for the prayer warriors of your Church. I pray that they would be humble, of one mind, continually devoting themselves to prayer. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Psalm 116:1-2
I love the Lord, because He hears
My voice and my supplications.
Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.

Robert Murray M’Cheyne (1813-1843) in his fourth pastoral letter provides his flock with a discussion about the sweet duty of believing prayer. He gives four responses by God when we pray in faith.

1.  God gives us the very thing His children ask at the very time they ask. Psalm 138:3
2. God often delays the answer to prayer for wise reasons. Matthew 15:21-28
3. God often answers prayer by terrible things. Psalm 65:5 KJV and Romans 7:24. As the Holy Spirit reveals our true sin nature, our faith is increased.
4. God sometimes answers prayer by giving something better than we ask. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.

Heavenly Father, it is a sweet duty to come to you in prayer. It is your command, but it is also our blessing. Help me to incline my ear to you as you faithfully incline your ear to me. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Judges 3:9
When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to deliver them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

“Israel during the time of the judges was not sorry for their sin, but only for their circumstances.”
David Sinclair, from sermon series on Judges 5/6/2018

God’s mercy is amazing.  He is merciful when we cry out for our circumstances.  He wants us to pray for for unpleasant circumstances, for relief, for the hard times we pass through.

He also wants us to pray in repentance for our sin.  Like Israel though, how often do I only focus on the circumstances and not the sin?  How often am I only consumed by the difficulties in life and ignore the sin that is present before me?  I can pray in detail about the difficulties.  Yet I can gloss over the sin by expressing only a blanket sorrow for sin, not giving it the detail that God desires me to express.

Heavenly Father, Holy Son and Spirit, forgive me when I consider only my personal circumstances in prayer.  Reveal my sin.  Make my supplications more about repentance of the sin in my life.  Help me, Holy Spirit.  I pray that the sorrow for sin would overshadow the petty circumstances of life.  Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Psalm 46:10-11 (NASB)
“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

My last post was several weeks ago. There hasn’t been anything unusual going on. I haven’t had any crises in my life. But, the inspiration has waned. I know it’s not because God isn’t near or the Holy Spirit doesn’t have anything to say to me. I have tried to force a few posts, but realized that what I had to say was from me and not the Spirit, so I didn’t send anything out.

Have you had times like that? Times where you try to force the relationship, but it doesn’t seem to work? I was reminded today of Psalm 46. I need to cease striving. I need to be still. And so I am waiting on Him.

Heavenly Father, I pray that You would calm my heart, that I would be still and listen, that I would cease to strive in my own strength. I pray for Your voice. I pray for Your strength. I pray that You would be exalted. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,