I am filled with wonder at the privilege of being a Christian.
When you finish praying do you come away with glad confidence that every prayer will be answered? If not – why not? Of course, we all know the hindrances to prayer – deliberate disobedience – unbelief – unforgiveness – failure in tithes and offerings – pride etc. But I think most of us are beyond that (but not beyond the temptation to such things).
Listen to Oswald Chambers - - The way we talk about our own inability is an insult to the Creator. The things that sound humble in the sight of man are really staggeringly impertinent before God. If you say – oh, I shouldn’t like to say I’m sanctified, there are so many chances I haven’t had, so many imperfections in my brain and body and etc. What you are really saying is No, Lord, it isn’t possible for you to sanctify me. That is not humility but an attitude of defiance.
The only relationship that matters is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go but maintain that at all costs and God will fulfill His purpose through your life.
Remember – every command of the Lord contains 2 vital elements - - the opportunity for faith and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to obey.
Jesus didn’t say IF you pray, but (Matthew 6:7) WHEN you pray. It is very interesting and important to me that Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer. Why not? I’ll come back to that question.
Let our minds go back many years and (Exodus 30:10), Leviticus 16:34) we’ll follow the high priest into the Holy of Holies. He is hidden from the congregation behind the veil. Only the tinkling bells on the hem of his robe inform the congregation that he is still alive.
He has a container of blood which he pours on the mercy seat and then backs out. He must do this once every year but only once every year.
Now let’s advance the years and spend some time in Gethsemane. We are trying to locate the CUP – we’ve spotted it and – oh joy – it is empty. Why does that make us rejoice? Because – no EMPTY CUP – no EMPTY TOMB! If the MAN Christ Jesus had not emptied that CUP into Himself – the MAN Christ Jesus could not have risen from the dead and we would be damned and doomed.
Now let’s follow our risen Lord with His own Blood (Hebrews 9:11-12, Hebrews 9:24) into the Holy of Holies in Heaven. Up to this time the way in (Hebrews 9:8) was not manifest to us – but now – (Hebrews 10:19) we have freedom and confidence to enter the Holy of Holies by the power of the Blood of Jesus – BECAUSE –
Lo He is the Mighty Conqueror
Since He rent the veil in two.
He is our (1 John 2:2) Propitiation/Mercy Seat – He is our (1Timothy 2:5) Mediator – so He makes it possible for us to approach God (1Timothy 6:16) even in the blinding light of His holiness – and call Him Father.
Now back to my question – why did Jesus never mention unanswered prayer ? BECAUSE – for all genuine prayer there is a sole purpose – just one reason – a total goal (John 14:13) that the Father may be glorified in the Son. It doesn’t matter if it’s for my personal spiritual growth or for the darkest corner of the world. This is the target of every prayer in the Holy Spirit.
Any claim to my right to myself is a false claim because (1 Peter 1:18-19) I have been purchased and the price paid for me is beyond calculation.
When I enter by the Blood-sprinkled way into the Holy of Holies to present my requests before the Sovereign Majesty on His majestic throne, Who dwells (Isaiah 57:15.) in eternity – I consider it an exchange of gold. Meaning what???
I offer my requests based on faith (1 Peter 1:17) that is more precious than gold. HOLD IT! How do I dare to say that my faith – my faith – is more precious that gold? Let’s take a logical viewpoint. Whom would I be wiser to trust – the Omniscient God Who knows everything, or myself with my limited faulty knowledge – or foolish fluctuating public opinion – in every circumstance and for everything? I’m not talking about feelings and emotions. Certainly they are involved in our intimacy with God but they are not the controllers. THE DRIVING SHAFT IS THE WILL! I have adjusted my driveshaft and I am determined to trust in the Lord with all my heart (Proverbs 3:5-7) no matter how it looks – no matter how it feels. With my driveshaft adjusted, my life and prayers have a deeper level of worship. All I can say is !!! WOW !!!
Can we go back to the throne room/prayer room now? I offer the gold of my faith to God and He extends to me (example Esther 5:2-3) the golden scepter. As I touch the tip of His scepter, the unfathomable Holy Ruler - my precious heavenly Father – assures me that every request is granted by His almighty power and His perfect timing.
I tremble as I think of the tremendous privileges lavished on us because of the empty CUP – the rent veil – the Cross of Calvary resulting in the surpassing Atonement. All of grace but at such a cost.
Heart-to-heart with Jesus ---
SO THE FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED IN THE SON
I felt led to add these thoughts. I was talking to the Lord while listening to Christmas carols and this question came into my mind. I asked – Lord, what was it like in heaven at the exact time You deposited holy sperm in the virgin’s womb which joined her egg and the God-Man began? This is the answer that came.
Abraham remembered that God told him his Descendant would bless al families of the earth.
Moses remembered that God promised to raise up a Prophet similar to him.
Isaiah remembered God’s promise that a virgin would bear a Son and His Name would be Emmanuel.
Satan remembered that the Seed of the woman would crush him.
Nine months before Christmas in Bethlehem – would that be Passover time – the time years later when He would fulfill the purpose for which He came - - to die on the cross of Calvary because God so loved the world?
Because human life began in God – by the injection (1 John 3:9) of the divine Sperm, the holy Seed - - GOD’S LIFE can begin in humans and our fellowship/intimacy (1 John 1:3) is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
This is the ongoing deep meaning and reality of Christmas.
Christmas means GOD WITH US
Pentecost means GOD IN US
I am filled with wonder at the privilege of being a Christian.