Fri night, when we heard that Rich was in critical condition, God led me to this passage in Finney's book "Power, Prayer and Passion". I was struck by why God led me to it.
It said - to pray effectually, you must pray with submission to the will of God. It spoke of King David. When his child was sick, David agonised in prayer and refused to be comforted. But as soon as he heard the child was dead, he laid aside his grief and arose. While the child was yet alive, he did not know what was the will of God and so he fasted and prayed. He did not know but that his prayer, his agony, was the very thing on which it turned, whether the child was to live or not. He thought that if he humbled himself and entreated God, perhaps God would spare him this blow. But as soon as God's will was clear, and the child was dead, he bowed like a saint.
After God led me to this passage, I began to realise that it was likely God would take Rich home. But I was still disappointed in God that He would do so, because I thought He should honour the prayers of his saints. It is only now, gradually, that I'm beginning to see that God had more in mind - for our good, and His glory...
Prayer today: Father God, Finney wrote of David, "But as soon as God's will was clear... he bowed like a saint." Even as you call me to pray, help me not to be disappointed in you when your answers come in a different way from what I expect. Help me, as soon as your will is clear, to bow like a saint. To submit to your higher purpose. "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Cor 13)" You have your reasons for the things you do - help me to trust always in your loving, wise ways. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Spiritual weapons
Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!" 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plowshares, mattocks, axes and sickles [h] sharpened. 21 The price was two thirds of a shekel [i] for sharpening plowshares and mattocks, and a third of a shekel [j] for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads. 22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them. (1 Sam 13:19-22)
In the battle against the Philistines, the Israelites were severely handicapped - because they lacked weapons. "Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel." When I first heard this preached recently, I was shocked. How could the Israelites have allowed themselves to be in such a vulnerable position? Strategically, it was unbelievable. So I thank God for the weapons He has given us - Eph 6:14 "Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." God knows in any battle, we need weapons, and He has given us a full arsenal and the battle manual.
Prayer today: Father God, you have given us a full arsenal and battle manual. Help me O God to use your weapons - to walk in your truth, righteousness, faith, peace and to pray always in the Spirit. You alone are sufficient. In Jesus' name, Amen.
In the battle against the Philistines, the Israelites were severely handicapped - because they lacked weapons. "Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel." When I first heard this preached recently, I was shocked. How could the Israelites have allowed themselves to be in such a vulnerable position? Strategically, it was unbelievable. So I thank God for the weapons He has given us - Eph 6:14 "Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." God knows in any battle, we need weapons, and He has given us a full arsenal and the battle manual.
Prayer today: Father God, you have given us a full arsenal and battle manual. Help me O God to use your weapons - to walk in your truth, righteousness, faith, peace and to pray always in the Spirit. You alone are sufficient. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Boldness
It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.(Mark 15:42-43)
Joseph of Arimathea did something the Bible described as bold - he asked for Jesus' body so He could bury it. Boldness I've realised doesn't come easily for me. On the occasions I'm bold, or a risk-taker, it's because I've decided the downside doesn't matter. Like at work. My biggest achievements have typically occurred when I took huge risks - which paid off. The irony is that the only reason I dared to take the risks was that I was prepared - in the event of spectacular failure - to leave the workplace. In other words, I was prepared to hang on to what was dear to me loosely.
It strikes me that the same must surely be true of life. It's only if we hang on to life very loosely that we dare take big risks for God. In other words, boldness will only come if we believe like Paul does that 'To live is Christ, to die is gain.' That, whatever happens, there is no downside in pouring our lives out for God.
Prayer today: Father God, I know I am not bold for the cause of Christ. Give me the grace so that I may live like Paul did, knowing that 'To live is Christ, to die is gain'. That when we live courageously for you, whatever happens, we win. For when we have Jesus, we have everything and more that we need. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Joseph of Arimathea did something the Bible described as bold - he asked for Jesus' body so He could bury it. Boldness I've realised doesn't come easily for me. On the occasions I'm bold, or a risk-taker, it's because I've decided the downside doesn't matter. Like at work. My biggest achievements have typically occurred when I took huge risks - which paid off. The irony is that the only reason I dared to take the risks was that I was prepared - in the event of spectacular failure - to leave the workplace. In other words, I was prepared to hang on to what was dear to me loosely.
It strikes me that the same must surely be true of life. It's only if we hang on to life very loosely that we dare take big risks for God. In other words, boldness will only come if we believe like Paul does that 'To live is Christ, to die is gain.' That, whatever happens, there is no downside in pouring our lives out for God.
Prayer today: Father God, I know I am not bold for the cause of Christ. Give me the grace so that I may live like Paul did, knowing that 'To live is Christ, to die is gain'. That when we live courageously for you, whatever happens, we win. For when we have Jesus, we have everything and more that we need. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
When prayer and God's word meet
Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:13-20)
One of my resolutions this year is to go through the bible teaching of Don Anderson for six books of the bible (I set the target fairly modestly, although 2 months into the year, I've only just about finished 1 John - a very short book! ... ) But I've also realised that there are days when I listen to his preaching, and my heart is pierced. There are days when nothing penetrates my heart of hard soil. I've always thought it was the preacher. I've come to realise it's the listener that makes all the difference.
While the Word seems to be the central idea in Jesus' "Parable of the Sower", I see it slightly differently these days. I see prayer as even more central. Because prayer is needed to plough the soil first, so that the seed doesn't fall on the path, the rocky place or the thorny ground. Unless God ploughs my heart first, I hear but do not listen. My mind is a thousand miles away and totally unreformed.
So it seemed like God was speaking direct to me when I read these words by A. Murray. Murray put into words the niggling feeling I've been harbouring of late:
"Little of the word with little prayer is death to the spiritual life. Much of the word with little prayer gives a sickly life. Much prayer with little of the word gives more life, but without steadfastness. A full measure of the word and prayer each day gives a healthy and powerful life."
Prayer today: Father God, help me not to forsake your Word, or prayer, that I may have a healthy and powerful spiritual life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
One of my resolutions this year is to go through the bible teaching of Don Anderson for six books of the bible (I set the target fairly modestly, although 2 months into the year, I've only just about finished 1 John - a very short book! ... ) But I've also realised that there are days when I listen to his preaching, and my heart is pierced. There are days when nothing penetrates my heart of hard soil. I've always thought it was the preacher. I've come to realise it's the listener that makes all the difference.
While the Word seems to be the central idea in Jesus' "Parable of the Sower", I see it slightly differently these days. I see prayer as even more central. Because prayer is needed to plough the soil first, so that the seed doesn't fall on the path, the rocky place or the thorny ground. Unless God ploughs my heart first, I hear but do not listen. My mind is a thousand miles away and totally unreformed.
So it seemed like God was speaking direct to me when I read these words by A. Murray. Murray put into words the niggling feeling I've been harbouring of late:
"Little of the word with little prayer is death to the spiritual life. Much of the word with little prayer gives a sickly life. Much prayer with little of the word gives more life, but without steadfastness. A full measure of the word and prayer each day gives a healthy and powerful life."
Prayer today: Father God, help me not to forsake your Word, or prayer, that I may have a healthy and powerful spiritual life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Wholeheartedness
Not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times- 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. (Numbers 14:20-24)
One generation of Israelites perished in the desert instead of crossing over to the Promised Land because of unbelief. In contrast, Joshua and Caleb inherited the wonderful promise. In singling Caleb out, God said one thing about him that struck me, "My servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly."
Wholeheartedness. That is how the Bible describes Hezekiah too, and is the reason it gives for why he prospered.
This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. (2 Chronicles 31:20-21)
Wholeheartedness. That is God's condition for findng Him.
God promises 'Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart' (Jer. 29.13).
Andrew Murray says, "Prayerlessness cannot be overcome as an isolated thing. It is in the closest relationship to the state of the heart. True prayer depends on an undivided heart.
The good news as Murray puts it is that we cannot give ourselves the undivided heart that enables us to say 'I seek God with my whole heart.' No, that is impossible for us, but God will do it.
"However weak the desire may be, if there is but the sincere determination to strive after what God holds out to us, then he will himself work in our hearts both to will and to do. It is the great work of the Holy Spirit in us to make us willing and to enable us to seek God with the whole heart.
May there not be found in us confusion of face because, while we have given ourselves to so many earthly things with all our heart and strength, yet if anything is said about fellowship with our glorious God it so little affects us that we have not sought him with the whole heart."
Prayer today: Father God, I desire to have that undivided heart. I no longer want to lack focus, running after many things. I long to seek you with my whole heart. Help me O God, for I cannot will myself to this; only cause the Holy Spirit to awaken my spirit that I may pursue hard after thee. Amen.
One generation of Israelites perished in the desert instead of crossing over to the Promised Land because of unbelief. In contrast, Joshua and Caleb inherited the wonderful promise. In singling Caleb out, God said one thing about him that struck me, "My servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly."
Wholeheartedness. That is how the Bible describes Hezekiah too, and is the reason it gives for why he prospered.
This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. (2 Chronicles 31:20-21)
Wholeheartedness. That is God's condition for findng Him.
God promises 'Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart' (Jer. 29.13).
Andrew Murray says, "Prayerlessness cannot be overcome as an isolated thing. It is in the closest relationship to the state of the heart. True prayer depends on an undivided heart.
The good news as Murray puts it is that we cannot give ourselves the undivided heart that enables us to say 'I seek God with my whole heart.' No, that is impossible for us, but God will do it.
"However weak the desire may be, if there is but the sincere determination to strive after what God holds out to us, then he will himself work in our hearts both to will and to do. It is the great work of the Holy Spirit in us to make us willing and to enable us to seek God with the whole heart.
May there not be found in us confusion of face because, while we have given ourselves to so many earthly things with all our heart and strength, yet if anything is said about fellowship with our glorious God it so little affects us that we have not sought him with the whole heart."
Prayer today: Father God, I desire to have that undivided heart. I no longer want to lack focus, running after many things. I long to seek you with my whole heart. Help me O God, for I cannot will myself to this; only cause the Holy Spirit to awaken my spirit that I may pursue hard after thee. Amen.
Faith and what the mind can conceive
But Moses said, "Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!' 22 Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?"
The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you." (Numbers 11:21-23)
Moses couldn't conceive how God could feed 600,000 men meat. He thought he knew how many cattle and fish there were - not enough. He thought He knew how big God was, but God confounded him.
It is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
I think we always conceive wrong because our vision of God is too small. Our faith is too small. This too is my problem. Which is why I love so much these words I read a few weeks ago in an autobiography of Charles Finney, the great revivalist.
In the book "Power, Passion and Prayer", Finney's great faith is described. "But may we attain unto his great Faith? How did that faith come to be so great? Was it conferred outright, as a gift of God, or was it cultivated?"
Says the author: "We answer that his faith fed and grew upon the Word of God. He searched his Bible on his knees and grouped its promises, until unbelief fell, smitten, before the combined blaze of their testimony. It grew again, by the experience of prayer. Experiment is the most convincing argument. God bids the doubting soul, "Enter into thy closet;" there "handle me and see!" there "prove me, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing until there be none left to pour out." Faith is confirmed by every new promise that the prayerful soul grasps, and especially by every new experience of prayer answered."
The line "Experiment is the most convicing argument" resonates with me. I can attest to it. I believe giants of faith are built not overnight, but because they dare to ask God. When God answers, they become bolder in their asking. When God answers again, they begin to think to themselves, Our God answers! And they become even bolder in asking...
Prayer today: Father God, too often, my perspective is too earthbound, my vision of you too small, my faith too weak. Yet, you bid the doubting soul, "Enter into thy closet, there handle me and see!" Help me to be like the great revivalist Finney, who did just that, and found you to be faithful. In Jesus' name, Amen.
The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you." (Numbers 11:21-23)
Moses couldn't conceive how God could feed 600,000 men meat. He thought he knew how many cattle and fish there were - not enough. He thought He knew how big God was, but God confounded him.
It is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
I think we always conceive wrong because our vision of God is too small. Our faith is too small. This too is my problem. Which is why I love so much these words I read a few weeks ago in an autobiography of Charles Finney, the great revivalist.
In the book "Power, Passion and Prayer", Finney's great faith is described. "But may we attain unto his great Faith? How did that faith come to be so great? Was it conferred outright, as a gift of God, or was it cultivated?"
Says the author: "We answer that his faith fed and grew upon the Word of God. He searched his Bible on his knees and grouped its promises, until unbelief fell, smitten, before the combined blaze of their testimony. It grew again, by the experience of prayer. Experiment is the most convincing argument. God bids the doubting soul, "Enter into thy closet;" there "handle me and see!" there "prove me, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing until there be none left to pour out." Faith is confirmed by every new promise that the prayerful soul grasps, and especially by every new experience of prayer answered."
The line "Experiment is the most convicing argument" resonates with me. I can attest to it. I believe giants of faith are built not overnight, but because they dare to ask God. When God answers, they become bolder in their asking. When God answers again, they begin to think to themselves, Our God answers! And they become even bolder in asking...
Prayer today: Father God, too often, my perspective is too earthbound, my vision of you too small, my faith too weak. Yet, you bid the doubting soul, "Enter into thy closet, there handle me and see!" Help me to be like the great revivalist Finney, who did just that, and found you to be faithful. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Doing the right thing vs the popular thing
'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.
14 " 'But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you. (Lev 26)
Lev 26 lists down God's rewards for obedience and punishments for disobedience. God's promises to bless are not unconditional. Our identity as children of God do not guarantee blessings if we are rebellious, disobedient children. God reproves, he chastises, so we may share in His holiness.
"Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Heb 12:10)
In the workplace, we've recently had a discussion about the difference between good leaders and good managers. One difference is that good leaders do the right thing, not necessarily the popular thing. For me, one application of that learning is that I need to be truthful with my subordinates when they're not performing as well as they ought. That may not make me popular, but to sugarcoat my words would lull them into a false sense of complacency, and does nothing for their professional growth.
So while at first glance, it offends my theology a little to read in Leviticus just how severe God's punishments can be for those who disobey Him, I think I can understand it. Why, doesn't God still love us when we sin? I think He does - and it is precisely because He does that He makes His displeasure known, that we may turn back to restored unbroken fellowship with Him. Proverbs 27:6 says "Faithful are the wounds of a friend. But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy." Given the choice, I think we all prefer gentle words. But harsh truth is better than gentle lies, and true friends speak truth.
Prayer today: Father, you are love. And even when you punish, it is because you love us. Help us to understand this and not to resent it, but to be thankful, because you only discipline those you love. Likewise, help us to have the courage to be truthful to speak the truth in love to those around us who need to be corrected. Help us not to sugarcoat our words because we want to be popular. For faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. Help us to be better friends. In Jesus' name, Amen.
14 " 'But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you. (Lev 26)
Lev 26 lists down God's rewards for obedience and punishments for disobedience. God's promises to bless are not unconditional. Our identity as children of God do not guarantee blessings if we are rebellious, disobedient children. God reproves, he chastises, so we may share in His holiness.
"Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Heb 12:10)
In the workplace, we've recently had a discussion about the difference between good leaders and good managers. One difference is that good leaders do the right thing, not necessarily the popular thing. For me, one application of that learning is that I need to be truthful with my subordinates when they're not performing as well as they ought. That may not make me popular, but to sugarcoat my words would lull them into a false sense of complacency, and does nothing for their professional growth.
So while at first glance, it offends my theology a little to read in Leviticus just how severe God's punishments can be for those who disobey Him, I think I can understand it. Why, doesn't God still love us when we sin? I think He does - and it is precisely because He does that He makes His displeasure known, that we may turn back to restored unbroken fellowship with Him. Proverbs 27:6 says "Faithful are the wounds of a friend. But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy." Given the choice, I think we all prefer gentle words. But harsh truth is better than gentle lies, and true friends speak truth.
Prayer today: Father, you are love. And even when you punish, it is because you love us. Help us to understand this and not to resent it, but to be thankful, because you only discipline those you love. Likewise, help us to have the courage to be truthful to speak the truth in love to those around us who need to be corrected. Help us not to sugarcoat our words because we want to be popular. For faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. Help us to be better friends. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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