Micah 2:13 "The breaker goes up before them, they break out, pass through the gate and go out by it so their king goes on before them and the Lord at their head." NAS
We are the breakers in prayer in intercession we go out ahead and break through the strongholds, so the Spirit of God can come in so the King of Glory may come in.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Enter Your Prayer Closet
I believe the Word the Lord is giving me for 2010 is "enter your prayer closet."
Ephesians 5:14 "Awake sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." NAS
**AWAKE: the idea of collecting one's faculties to waken to rouse from sleep, sitting or lying; from disease; death; obscurity.
Rise: to stand up, literally and figuratively
Dead: corpse dead figuratively
Light: illuminate give light
Isaiah 26:20 "Come my people, enter into your rooms. And close your doors behind you. Hide for a little while. Until indignation runs its course (v.21) For behold the Lord is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. And the earth will reveal her bloodshed. And will no longer cover her slain." NAS
For 2010 He is calling for : completion, maturity, perfection, fulfilling, full fruition.
Light must come to expose the darkness, hardness, coldness of hearts, indifference, deception, manipulation these things must be illuminated. Conviction of righteousness, sin and judgement.
An outpouring of confession of sin and repentance not only for the individual but for Churches, Body of Christ and the nation.
Confession will get the ear of God.
There are multitudes in the valley of decision, decisions for eternal life to accept Christ.
there are also multitudes who profess Christianity who must make a decision in 2010 to turn from carnal Christianity and embrace a full commitment to the kingdom of God. Multitudes who must awaken and repent for the darkness and coldness in their hearts.
The church is filled with dead men walking.
The earth is groaning for man to stand and manifest the works of God.
Ephesians 5:14 "Awake sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." NAS
**AWAKE: the idea of collecting one's faculties to waken to rouse from sleep, sitting or lying; from disease; death; obscurity.
Rise: to stand up, literally and figuratively
Dead: corpse dead figuratively
Light: illuminate give light
Isaiah 26:20 "Come my people, enter into your rooms. And close your doors behind you. Hide for a little while. Until indignation runs its course (v.21) For behold the Lord is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. And the earth will reveal her bloodshed. And will no longer cover her slain." NAS
For 2010 He is calling for : completion, maturity, perfection, fulfilling, full fruition.
Light must come to expose the darkness, hardness, coldness of hearts, indifference, deception, manipulation these things must be illuminated. Conviction of righteousness, sin and judgement.
An outpouring of confession of sin and repentance not only for the individual but for Churches, Body of Christ and the nation.
Confession will get the ear of God.
There are multitudes in the valley of decision, decisions for eternal life to accept Christ.
there are also multitudes who profess Christianity who must make a decision in 2010 to turn from carnal Christianity and embrace a full commitment to the kingdom of God. Multitudes who must awaken and repent for the darkness and coldness in their hearts.
The church is filled with dead men walking.
The earth is groaning for man to stand and manifest the works of God.
Praying for Presidential Positions and the Church
When we were praying for the Presidential elections, I felt we should always start our prayers with repentance for how this nation treated President Bush. Whenever I expressed this feeling to people, intercessors looked at me like I was from the moon.
I still feel this way, that when we pray about the health care bill, the economy, gay marriage bills, abortion; that we must repent first for the great sins of this nation and for the sins of complacency of the church. then we can petition God for favor. Isn't II Chronicles 7:14 a verse of repentance, isn't that why God will hear from heaven, forgive and heal? God listens to the contrite heart, His ear is always turned toward the humble, repentant heart.
When we pray for our church, perhaps we should first repent for the carnality, the lack of prayer; the power struggle among the administrators, pray for our sins; pray for the people's sins.
Stand in the gap, ask for forgiveness for the lack of power, glory , grace and guidance. And then let us ask for His direction and his plans for the Church.
I still feel this way, that when we pray about the health care bill, the economy, gay marriage bills, abortion; that we must repent first for the great sins of this nation and for the sins of complacency of the church. then we can petition God for favor. Isn't II Chronicles 7:14 a verse of repentance, isn't that why God will hear from heaven, forgive and heal? God listens to the contrite heart, His ear is always turned toward the humble, repentant heart.
When we pray for our church, perhaps we should first repent for the carnality, the lack of prayer; the power struggle among the administrators, pray for our sins; pray for the people's sins.
Stand in the gap, ask for forgiveness for the lack of power, glory , grace and guidance. And then let us ask for His direction and his plans for the Church.
Commissioned to Pray
We are commissioned by Jesus to pray. Paul instructed us to pray without ceasing. Pray we must! God wants to release His power, glory and the knowledge of Him if we will just pray.
So we struggle with prayerlessness. We feel guilty; we feel ashamed,we have tried and failed our heart isn't in it. Yet we know the power that is lacking in the Church is due to prayerlessness. What are we to do?
The Blood of Jesus has set us free from all our other sins--why not the sin of prayerlessness? He will do it if we just ask and believe, if we confess our sin of prayerlessness and ask to be delivered why wouldn't the Blood of Jesus set us just as free in this area as it has in all other areas of sin.
First we must come to grips with the fact that prayerlessness is sin! It is sin because Jesus told us we are to pray, He gave us a format; He said go into your prayer closet, shut the door and pray in secret to the Father.
when the disciples asked why they lacked power to cast out a demon, Jesus said it comes with prayer and fasting.
The Church's prayerlessness goes against Jesus' commands, so it is sin. It is shunning time with God; it is attempting to serve God in our strength and power; it is prideful to think we can save souls without the power of prayer. All of this makes it a sin, all of this needs to be confessed and repented. When Jesus delivers us and softens our hearts once again, we are filled with the loved of God and are humble and able to bow the knee in prayer.
For most of the Church, it means going back to square one: recognize sin, confess sin, repent of sin, humble oneself in the sight of God; believe He will fill you with the Spirit of power.
Now there is another obstacle, the flesh has such a grip on us and is so deceived by the enemy of our soul that many believers do not even want the Spirit of prayer because of the sacrifice it requires. that is the devil lying to us in order to try to disarm us of our most powerful weapon. The flesh must be put down so that our spirit man can rise up and serve God in prayer.
There is only one road back to God--repentance!
So we struggle with prayerlessness. We feel guilty; we feel ashamed,we have tried and failed our heart isn't in it. Yet we know the power that is lacking in the Church is due to prayerlessness. What are we to do?
The Blood of Jesus has set us free from all our other sins--why not the sin of prayerlessness? He will do it if we just ask and believe, if we confess our sin of prayerlessness and ask to be delivered why wouldn't the Blood of Jesus set us just as free in this area as it has in all other areas of sin.
First we must come to grips with the fact that prayerlessness is sin! It is sin because Jesus told us we are to pray, He gave us a format; He said go into your prayer closet, shut the door and pray in secret to the Father.
when the disciples asked why they lacked power to cast out a demon, Jesus said it comes with prayer and fasting.
The Church's prayerlessness goes against Jesus' commands, so it is sin. It is shunning time with God; it is attempting to serve God in our strength and power; it is prideful to think we can save souls without the power of prayer. All of this makes it a sin, all of this needs to be confessed and repented. When Jesus delivers us and softens our hearts once again, we are filled with the loved of God and are humble and able to bow the knee in prayer.
For most of the Church, it means going back to square one: recognize sin, confess sin, repent of sin, humble oneself in the sight of God; believe He will fill you with the Spirit of power.
Now there is another obstacle, the flesh has such a grip on us and is so deceived by the enemy of our soul that many believers do not even want the Spirit of prayer because of the sacrifice it requires. that is the devil lying to us in order to try to disarm us of our most powerful weapon. The flesh must be put down so that our spirit man can rise up and serve God in prayer.
There is only one road back to God--repentance!
Matthew 4:4
Matthew 4:4 a well known and well quoted scripture but do we take it to heart "man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." NAS
Just as the body requires bread to live so the spirit requires the Word of God to live. We eat three times a day, maybe more, how often do we eat the Word of God. We cannot live spiritually without nourishing our spirit with the Word, just as bread strengthens our body; so does the Word of God strengthen our spirit. Many Christians have malnourished spirits but very well nourished bodies.
Just as the body requires bread to live so the spirit requires the Word of God to live. We eat three times a day, maybe more, how often do we eat the Word of God. We cannot live spiritually without nourishing our spirit with the Word, just as bread strengthens our body; so does the Word of God strengthen our spirit. Many Christians have malnourished spirits but very well nourished bodies.
Luke 1:17
Luke 1:17
John the Baptist was "to make ready people prepared for the Lord."
He was to do this by turning the hearts of the fathers back to the children and the disobedient to the attitude of the right.
It was a spiritual awakening and preparation to receive Christ.
Now we need another spiritual awakening and a preparation for an outpouring of the Spirit and the Second Coming of Christ.
Proverbs 6:6-11 tells us to be prepared through the example of the ant and the sluggard.
The ant is wise and has no ruler but still gathers provision in the summer and in harvest. The ant is prepared for winter for famine; for difficult times.
While the sluggard sleeps his poverty will come in like a thief.
His poverty in spirit, the lack of the Word; lack of prayer will catch him unawares; he will be swept away.
The ones who have built on the rock of the Word in calm times will have protection in times of storms.
John the Baptist was "to make ready people prepared for the Lord."
He was to do this by turning the hearts of the fathers back to the children and the disobedient to the attitude of the right.
It was a spiritual awakening and preparation to receive Christ.
Now we need another spiritual awakening and a preparation for an outpouring of the Spirit and the Second Coming of Christ.
Proverbs 6:6-11 tells us to be prepared through the example of the ant and the sluggard.
The ant is wise and has no ruler but still gathers provision in the summer and in harvest. The ant is prepared for winter for famine; for difficult times.
While the sluggard sleeps his poverty will come in like a thief.
His poverty in spirit, the lack of the Word; lack of prayer will catch him unawares; he will be swept away.
The ones who have built on the rock of the Word in calm times will have protection in times of storms.
Psalm 127:2
Psalm 127:2 "it is vain to rise early or stay up late working or to toil hard because the Lord gives to His beloved even while he sleeps" NAS
What a beautiful scripture, God loves us so much that He is pouring out into us even while we sleep!
Behold, little children, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us.
What a beautiful scripture, God loves us so much that He is pouring out into us even while we sleep!
Behold, little children, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Exodus 20 Revisited
I wrote about Exo.20:24 in the blog titled "Heb. 2:14, Matt.6:10". Let me re-visit Exodus 20:24 "altars of earth... In every place where I cause My name to be remembered..." NAS
God causes His Name to be remembered. How? When the people had an encounter with God; they did not have daily encounters with God. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and can have daily encounters, if we will present ourselves as a holy and living sacrifice daily to God. He will cause His Name to be remembered and will come to us and bless us. We are the altars of remembrance carrying the memory of God and His goodness each day to the world. Each day to the world and each day on our altars if we remind God of His word, He pours out the knowledge of His glory on all the earth.
God causes His Name to be remembered. How? When the people had an encounter with God; they did not have daily encounters with God. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and can have daily encounters, if we will present ourselves as a holy and living sacrifice daily to God. He will cause His Name to be remembered and will come to us and bless us. We are the altars of remembrance carrying the memory of God and His goodness each day to the world. Each day to the world and each day on our altars if we remind God of His word, He pours out the knowledge of His glory on all the earth.
Acts 2:19
Acts 2:19 "And I will grant wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath Blood and fire and vapor of smoke" NAS
Verse 19 accompanies the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon all mankind. Verse 17 as prophesied in Joel 2:28-32
Peter declared this the day of Pentecost was that Joel 2.
God has poured out His Spirit, but now we await the great outpouring, the harvest, the awakening and the soon coming king. We need a great awakening!
God said He will grant wonders in heaven and signs on earth in the Lord's prayer we are to pray "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
We are to pray heaven and earth together. We are to bridge the gap between the two. Loose His knowledge on earth "to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea."
He said He would grant the wonders in heaven and the signs on earth and He also instructed us to pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
So: prayer will bring this about! Call for signs and wonders according to His word, call for His kingdom to come, call for His will to be done. We cry for the windows of heaven to be opened and pour out on us, we are instructed to pray heaven and earth together.
Oh how we need to be awakened to heaven and to the knowledge of the King!
Was that what was happening in Jacob's Ladder, angels ascending and descending bringing heaven down to earth--touching heaven and earth.
Influencing earth with heavenly things was the will of God and the glory of God; the knowledge of God being poured out upon the earth in that place?
I submit to you that when we pray we connect heaven and earth and we make a place; an altar for the remembrance of God; His glory and knowledge are poured out onto the earth.
The more prayer spots--the more heavenly connections.
Send down the fireballs of glory Lord, we need heavenly connections.
Verse 19 accompanies the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon all mankind. Verse 17 as prophesied in Joel 2:28-32
Peter declared this the day of Pentecost was that Joel 2.
God has poured out His Spirit, but now we await the great outpouring, the harvest, the awakening and the soon coming king. We need a great awakening!
God said He will grant wonders in heaven and signs on earth in the Lord's prayer we are to pray "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
We are to pray heaven and earth together. We are to bridge the gap between the two. Loose His knowledge on earth "to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea."
He said He would grant the wonders in heaven and the signs on earth and He also instructed us to pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
So: prayer will bring this about! Call for signs and wonders according to His word, call for His kingdom to come, call for His will to be done. We cry for the windows of heaven to be opened and pour out on us, we are instructed to pray heaven and earth together.
Oh how we need to be awakened to heaven and to the knowledge of the King!
Was that what was happening in Jacob's Ladder, angels ascending and descending bringing heaven down to earth--touching heaven and earth.
Influencing earth with heavenly things was the will of God and the glory of God; the knowledge of God being poured out upon the earth in that place?
I submit to you that when we pray we connect heaven and earth and we make a place; an altar for the remembrance of God; His glory and knowledge are poured out onto the earth.
The more prayer spots--the more heavenly connections.
Send down the fireballs of glory Lord, we need heavenly connections.
Hebrews 2:14 and Matthew 6:10
Hebrews 2:14 "for the earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." NAS
Matthew 6:10 " Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." NAS
God has clearly shown us His desire and plan to bring revival and the light of His glory to the earth.
When we pray for a spiritual awakening it is well within His plan and lines up with His word.
When we pray this spiritual awakening and revival, we are taking an active place before God and are a participant in His grand plan for all of mankind--hallelujah!
Praying these prayers is an act of obedience.
Recognizing this requirement of prayer in the scriptures is part of what Psalm 119 speaks of when he says (verse 27) "make me understand the way of Thy precepts" NAS
(verse 34) "give me understanding that I may observe Thy law and keep it with all my heart" NAS
For God's glory to fill the earth He must be acknowledged and remembered throughout all the earth. In olden days, they built altars wherever they had an encounter with God so that He and His words would be remembered.
God instructed them to build the altars and sacrifice on it so He would be remembered and He promised to come to them and bless them in these places (Exodus 20:24) in the New Testament He also called for an altar and sacrifice (Romans 12:1).
Exodus 20:24 "You shall make an altar of earth for Me and you shall sacrifice on it burnt offerings, and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you." NAS
Romans 12:1 "I urge you, therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship." NAS
We are earthen vessels (II Corinthians 4:7)
We are the 'altar of earth' for God. We offer our bodies as a sacrifice as a spiritual service of worship as we build within us altars of obedience, thanksgiving, worship, praise and prayer God is remembered.
We bear God's name and we are the altars of earth that cause His name to be remembered; His knowledge to fill the earth; His will to be done because of our prayers, praise and obedience. We carry His name we show forth His glory.
We represent His awesome works; ambassadors for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20).
The fire on the altar is to never go out (Leviticus 6:13) "fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out." We are to always be on fire for God, to remain passionate, aglow, filled and pressing onward. Romans 12:11 "fervent in spirit" (amplified). "be aglow and burning with the Spirit". Never let the fire on the altar go out.
We are the ones that cause God to be remembered!
If we are not altars of praise and prayer, the next generation will not remember God.
This is what happened to the Children of Israel when their forefathers died off, they did not know of the wonders of God, that is why the Children of Israel were given such explicit instructions about telling their children of the works of God. Fathers were to pass the heritage down to sons; the fathers failed to do so, God was not remembered; the next generations turned to idol worship.
Redig the wells of living water keep the altar fires burning!
Matthew 6:10 " Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." NAS
God has clearly shown us His desire and plan to bring revival and the light of His glory to the earth.
When we pray for a spiritual awakening it is well within His plan and lines up with His word.
When we pray this spiritual awakening and revival, we are taking an active place before God and are a participant in His grand plan for all of mankind--hallelujah!
Praying these prayers is an act of obedience.
Recognizing this requirement of prayer in the scriptures is part of what Psalm 119 speaks of when he says (verse 27) "make me understand the way of Thy precepts" NAS
(verse 34) "give me understanding that I may observe Thy law and keep it with all my heart" NAS
For God's glory to fill the earth He must be acknowledged and remembered throughout all the earth. In olden days, they built altars wherever they had an encounter with God so that He and His words would be remembered.
God instructed them to build the altars and sacrifice on it so He would be remembered and He promised to come to them and bless them in these places (Exodus 20:24) in the New Testament He also called for an altar and sacrifice (Romans 12:1).
Exodus 20:24 "You shall make an altar of earth for Me and you shall sacrifice on it burnt offerings, and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you." NAS
Romans 12:1 "I urge you, therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship." NAS
We are earthen vessels (II Corinthians 4:7)
We are the 'altar of earth' for God. We offer our bodies as a sacrifice as a spiritual service of worship as we build within us altars of obedience, thanksgiving, worship, praise and prayer God is remembered.
We bear God's name and we are the altars of earth that cause His name to be remembered; His knowledge to fill the earth; His will to be done because of our prayers, praise and obedience. We carry His name we show forth His glory.
We represent His awesome works; ambassadors for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20).
The fire on the altar is to never go out (Leviticus 6:13) "fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out." We are to always be on fire for God, to remain passionate, aglow, filled and pressing onward. Romans 12:11 "fervent in spirit" (amplified). "be aglow and burning with the Spirit". Never let the fire on the altar go out.
We are the ones that cause God to be remembered!
If we are not altars of praise and prayer, the next generation will not remember God.
This is what happened to the Children of Israel when their forefathers died off, they did not know of the wonders of God, that is why the Children of Israel were given such explicit instructions about telling their children of the works of God. Fathers were to pass the heritage down to sons; the fathers failed to do so, God was not remembered; the next generations turned to idol worship.
Redig the wells of living water keep the altar fires burning!
Numbers 14:11-21
Numbers 14:11-21
Moses prayer to God; asking Him pardon the iniquity of the people. God was prepared to smite them.
Verse 20 the Lord Says to Moses, according to your word I have pardoned them.
According to the prayer of Moses, standing in the gap between the people and God, Moses' prayer caused God to change His mind and to hold back judgement and destruction.
We fail to recognize, believe in and utilize the position in prayer that we have been given.
Moses prayer to God; asking Him pardon the iniquity of the people. God was prepared to smite them.
Verse 20 the Lord Says to Moses, according to your word I have pardoned them.
According to the prayer of Moses, standing in the gap between the people and God, Moses' prayer caused God to change His mind and to hold back judgement and destruction.
We fail to recognize, believe in and utilize the position in prayer that we have been given.
Psalm 119:73
Psalm 119:73 "...give me understanding that I may learn Thy commandments."
To even learn of God's commandments before we even obey we must have understanding given to us by the Father.
There is a depth, a purpose, and a goal in the commandments not just rules to follow and we get a prize at the end of the day. His commandments are designed to lift us up above the corruption of this world; to move us into a domain that belongs to Him and Him alone. We must see beyond just rules and formulas, visualize the ultimate goal, the glorious result, the beauty of holiness. We must learn to see beyond our limited vision and see according to God's word.
verse 80 "May my heart be blameless in Thy statures that I may not be ashamed."
the scriptures speak in several places about not being ashamed.
There will come a day when every sinner will be ashamed, every one's eyes will be opened to the holiness of God and will fall on their knees and worship Him.
Sin, selfishness, blindness, hard hearts will be ashamed of how they spent their time on earth.
To even learn of God's commandments before we even obey we must have understanding given to us by the Father.
There is a depth, a purpose, and a goal in the commandments not just rules to follow and we get a prize at the end of the day. His commandments are designed to lift us up above the corruption of this world; to move us into a domain that belongs to Him and Him alone. We must see beyond just rules and formulas, visualize the ultimate goal, the glorious result, the beauty of holiness. We must learn to see beyond our limited vision and see according to God's word.
verse 80 "May my heart be blameless in Thy statures that I may not be ashamed."
the scriptures speak in several places about not being ashamed.
There will come a day when every sinner will be ashamed, every one's eyes will be opened to the holiness of God and will fall on their knees and worship Him.
Sin, selfishness, blindness, hard hearts will be ashamed of how they spent their time on earth.
Psalm 119:59
Psalm 119:59 "I considered my ways and turned my feet to thy testimonies" verse 60 "I hastened and did not delay to keep Thy commandments." NAS
We must consider our "ways" in verse 27 we are understanding the ways of Thy precepts, which leads us to knowing the ways of God; we have considered His ways. Now in verse 59 we must consider our ways, look deep into our hearts and what 'way' lies within it. If there are ways within us that do not match up with God's ways we must 'hasten' without delay to turn to god's ways and keep His commandments.
We must consider our "ways" in verse 27 we are understanding the ways of Thy precepts, which leads us to knowing the ways of God; we have considered His ways. Now in verse 59 we must consider our ways, look deep into our hearts and what 'way' lies within it. If there are ways within us that do not match up with God's ways we must 'hasten' without delay to turn to god's ways and keep His commandments.
Psalm 119:41-48
Psalm 119:41-48
Here the Psalmist speaks of all that he will do concerning God's word.
He will trust in the Word; keep it; walk in it; seek it; speak of it; not be ashamed of it; delight in it; love it; lift up his hands to it; meditate on it.
These words describe a life consumed with the Word of God. It describes a life built entirely on the word. The Word is the center of all he thinks, feels and does.
We say we love Your Word, Lord, but perhaps we need to examine our lives to see just how much of the Word actually does influence our lives.
Help us to walk in more obedience to the Word--to walk in the deeper places of the Word.
This life consumed with the Word; influenced by the Word is setting us up for wholehearted service to God. It is placing a nature within us that enables us to do the work that we have been created to do.
Ephesians 2: 10 "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good words" NAS
We must have this love, this influence and this obedience for the Word working in our being. Then we can yield to the pressing matter of prayer. We were created for prayer, we were created to loose the knowledge and will of God upon this earth. We will not have the strength for it without the great influence of the Word and the leadership of the Holy Spirit within us.
Here the Psalmist speaks of all that he will do concerning God's word.
He will trust in the Word; keep it; walk in it; seek it; speak of it; not be ashamed of it; delight in it; love it; lift up his hands to it; meditate on it.
These words describe a life consumed with the Word of God. It describes a life built entirely on the word. The Word is the center of all he thinks, feels and does.
We say we love Your Word, Lord, but perhaps we need to examine our lives to see just how much of the Word actually does influence our lives.
Help us to walk in more obedience to the Word--to walk in the deeper places of the Word.
This life consumed with the Word; influenced by the Word is setting us up for wholehearted service to God. It is placing a nature within us that enables us to do the work that we have been created to do.
Ephesians 2: 10 "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good words" NAS
We must have this love, this influence and this obedience for the Word working in our being. Then we can yield to the pressing matter of prayer. We were created for prayer, we were created to loose the knowledge and will of God upon this earth. We will not have the strength for it without the great influence of the Word and the leadership of the Holy Spirit within us.
Salvation is an Internal Experience
Salvation is an internal experience. It is not an external experience of purchasing a salvation ticket and standing in line to enter heaven. Salvation is an internal union of believer and God.
We talk people into praying for salvation and all they have done is outwardly spoken salvation but inwardly the heart remains the same. the heart is stony, cold and unresponsive to the gentle wooing of the Spirit. These people mistakenly believe they are saved and destined for heaven; they continue their daily lives unchanged, unconvicted and unholy.
The inward heart of man, the spirit of the man must be touched in such a way that he sees his sin, his helplessness, the futility of his life and his monumental need for God. Until the knees of his heart collapse and bow before God in humility and true repentance. There is no true abiding in Christ and no union between his heart and God's heart. The heart of man must be convicted and swept clear of his own ways , in all humbleness as he cries to God and the precious Spirit of God begins to hover over his heart and starts to breathe life into him. Then he awakens from his dead, sinful life and receives salvation in his heart and not in his hand.
Man must understand that his relationship with God is not an external relationship with a God who is "somewhere out there" but rather with a God who dwells within us and with whom we are to take on His nature and attributes giving Him complete control.
We talk people into praying for salvation and all they have done is outwardly spoken salvation but inwardly the heart remains the same. the heart is stony, cold and unresponsive to the gentle wooing of the Spirit. These people mistakenly believe they are saved and destined for heaven; they continue their daily lives unchanged, unconvicted and unholy.
The inward heart of man, the spirit of the man must be touched in such a way that he sees his sin, his helplessness, the futility of his life and his monumental need for God. Until the knees of his heart collapse and bow before God in humility and true repentance. There is no true abiding in Christ and no union between his heart and God's heart. The heart of man must be convicted and swept clear of his own ways , in all humbleness as he cries to God and the precious Spirit of God begins to hover over his heart and starts to breathe life into him. Then he awakens from his dead, sinful life and receives salvation in his heart and not in his hand.
Man must understand that his relationship with God is not an external relationship with a God who is "somewhere out there" but rather with a God who dwells within us and with whom we are to take on His nature and attributes giving Him complete control.
Personal Revival
The Psalmist repeatedly asks God to revive him.
Psalm 119:25,37, and 40
We also can and must ask for personal revival, we must be refreshed, renewed, revived and regenerated. We may do all that we know to do to be revived and still nothing changes. We can do nothing on our own, we must look to Him for our own personal renewal; ask Him to breathe a fresh on us; ask Him to enliven the word and to stir our soul. To quicken our spirits within us, to pour out fresh manna from heaven to feed our souls. He and He alone can quicken our mortal bodies and revive our spirits. He awakens us to the presence of His glory.
Psalm 119:25,37, and 40
We also can and must ask for personal revival, we must be refreshed, renewed, revived and regenerated. We may do all that we know to do to be revived and still nothing changes. We can do nothing on our own, we must look to Him for our own personal renewal; ask Him to breathe a fresh on us; ask Him to enliven the word and to stir our soul. To quicken our spirits within us, to pour out fresh manna from heaven to feed our souls. He and He alone can quicken our mortal bodies and revive our spirits. He awakens us to the presence of His glory.
Psalm 119:36
Psalm 119:36 "Incline my heart to Thy testimonies" NAS
I Kings 8:58 Solomon's blessing over the assembly of Israel
"...that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments" NAS
Incline: to stretch out; spread out; extend bend down; bent; bow
Psalm 119: We are asking God to stretch or spread our hearts in the direction of His Word. we must extend our hearts towards His word. Our heart must be humbled as we bow to His laws, we bend our hearts down and bow to His word in contrast to our hearts being lifted up in pride and arrogance. We must be obedient to God; but we need Him to draw our hearts; to incline the desire of heart to be for Him and His testimonies.
The carnal heart does not desire this, it desires the things of the world, so we must petition God to turn our hearts and to bend them towards His precepts.
We need Him to teach us, incline us, turn us to His Word: establish His Word in us.
This is why He has sent the Holy Spirit He is our teacher, He inclines us toward the Word and testimonies of God and reveals the Truth to us.
Psalm 119:37 "We can even ask Him to help us in turning our eyes from vanity" NAS
His job is to help us fix our eyes upon Jesus.
I Kings 8:58 Solomon's blessing over the assembly of Israel
"...that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments" NAS
Incline: to stretch out; spread out; extend bend down; bent; bow
Psalm 119: We are asking God to stretch or spread our hearts in the direction of His Word. we must extend our hearts towards His word. Our heart must be humbled as we bow to His laws, we bend our hearts down and bow to His word in contrast to our hearts being lifted up in pride and arrogance. We must be obedient to God; but we need Him to draw our hearts; to incline the desire of heart to be for Him and His testimonies.
The carnal heart does not desire this, it desires the things of the world, so we must petition God to turn our hearts and to bend them towards His precepts.
We need Him to teach us, incline us, turn us to His Word: establish His Word in us.
This is why He has sent the Holy Spirit He is our teacher, He inclines us toward the Word and testimonies of God and reveals the Truth to us.
Psalm 119:37 "We can even ask Him to help us in turning our eyes from vanity" NAS
His job is to help us fix our eyes upon Jesus.
Psalm 119:34
"Give me 'understanding' that I may observe Thy law and keep it with all my heart." NAS
To accurately observe God's laws we must have understanding. The laws are not a formula; the laws are not step 1,2,3 and now I am holy and sanctified.
The keeping of the laws is NOT an external exercise--it is an internal activity--done in the heart with all of the heart.
Understanding, insight, love for the laws, respect for the laws and an inner soul changing must take place to follow the laws because we love, adore and honor God; not plugging in a formula in.
The understanding enables us to keep the law.
How remarkable that God wants us to see into His hear, to know Him and understand His ways and purposes. He could have just said: 'here just follow these rules and don't ask questions, just do it'.
The UNDERSTANDING brings obedience; it brings a desire to please Him.
The Lord's ultimate goal is to rescue us from the capture, the one who imprisons, the one who binds up; the one who locks the door, the one who destroys the one who lies.
Our hearts should be so bound to the Lord that our only desire is to obey and please the Master who brought us from the wicked master who held us captive in sin. Gratefulness should flood our soul and the demonstration of our love should be evident in obedience.
Lord help us to walk in faithfulness and obedience, ever mindful of the wonders You have performed.
Man is always on God's mind and always in His heart.
What is on our minds and in our hearts??
Help me to know the way of Your heart!
To accurately observe God's laws we must have understanding. The laws are not a formula; the laws are not step 1,2,3 and now I am holy and sanctified.
The keeping of the laws is NOT an external exercise--it is an internal activity--done in the heart with all of the heart.
Understanding, insight, love for the laws, respect for the laws and an inner soul changing must take place to follow the laws because we love, adore and honor God; not plugging in a formula in.
The understanding enables us to keep the law.
How remarkable that God wants us to see into His hear, to know Him and understand His ways and purposes. He could have just said: 'here just follow these rules and don't ask questions, just do it'.
The UNDERSTANDING brings obedience; it brings a desire to please Him.
The Lord's ultimate goal is to rescue us from the capture, the one who imprisons, the one who binds up; the one who locks the door, the one who destroys the one who lies.
Our hearts should be so bound to the Lord that our only desire is to obey and please the Master who brought us from the wicked master who held us captive in sin. Gratefulness should flood our soul and the demonstration of our love should be evident in obedience.
Lord help us to walk in faithfulness and obedience, ever mindful of the wonders You have performed.
Man is always on God's mind and always in His heart.
What is on our minds and in our hearts??
Help me to know the way of Your heart!
Humility
Humility --knowing that all I am is by the grace of God. Humility is more than repentance--it is participating in the life of Jesus by serving; it is being an empty vessel and allowing God to manifest Himself through me; it is learning entire dependence on God.
Adam and Eve were in complete dependence on God until the temptation came to "be like God" that desire destroyed their humility; their dependence on God.
That has been the struggle of man ever since that day in the garden--the desire to be independent; to depend on one's own strengths, decisions and power to be in control-or- to surrender to God and be dependent upon Him. To serve or to be boss--this decides true humility!
Adam and Eve were in complete dependence on God until the temptation came to "be like God" that desire destroyed their humility; their dependence on God.
That has been the struggle of man ever since that day in the garden--the desire to be independent; to depend on one's own strengths, decisions and power to be in control-or- to surrender to God and be dependent upon Him. To serve or to be boss--this decides true humility!
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