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Destined for the Throne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Paul E. Billheimer

In his foreword, Billy Graham wrote:

Every Christian who feels impelled to find a deeper dimension of Christian witness should not only read this book, but study it prayerfully, and apply its principles to his life.

Destined for the Throne is one of those books that is like a smoothie drink made from extremely healthy and delicious ingredients that not only satisfies the taste buds but also nourishes the body. It is packed with scriptural insights, powerful logic, and faith building conclusions. For the most part, I agree wholeheartedly with Billheimer’s statements and conclusions; although, I was uncomfortable with a few of his positions. I will summarize it chapter by chapter.

The Ultimate Goal of the Universe: The Church

In Chapter One, Billheimer convincingly shows that God has a definite purpose for his creation and that…

There is only one philosophy of history that makes sense and that is the Biblical philosophy. (p.21)

He argues that God created the entire universe to provide a suitable habitation for mankind, out of which he would choose an eternal companion or “bride” for his Son.

The church, then – the called-out body of redeemed mankind – turns out to be the central object, the goal, not only of mundane history, but of all that God has been doing in all realms, from all eternity. (p.22)

Using Romans 8:28, he argues convincingly that

As the Lord of history, God is controlling all of its events, not only on earth but in all realms, to serve his purpose of bringing to maturity and eventually to enthronement with his Son, not angels or archangels, but the Church, his chosen Bride. (p.23)

The author opines that the Marriage Supper of the Lamb pictured in the Book of Revelation is the culmination or goal of history. He concludes this thought provoking chapter by writing:

Up until then, the entire universe under the Son’s regulation and control is being manipulated by God for one purpose – to prepare and train the Bride. (p.27)

The ultimate goal is for the church to share Christ’s rule and glory for eternity. This is the theme of the entire book.

God’s Purpose for the Church: Supreme Rank

Billheimer further develops his thesis that the church is the focus of God’s eternal plan in Chapter Two.

Created originally in the image of God, redeemed humanity has been elevated by means of a divinely conceived genetic process known as the new birth to the highest rank of all created beings. (p.33)

He develops this idea by pointing out that angels are created beings, but not “generated” through divine conception, as born again humans are. The new birth elevates humanity to become part of God’s own family, having God’s “seed” and Spirit.

This is God’s purpose in the plan of redemption – to produce, by means of the new birth, an entirely new and unique species, exact replicas of his Son with whom he will share his glory and dominion, and who will constitute a royal progeny and form the governing and administrative staff of his eternal kingdom. (p.37)

It is no wonder that Satan hates the church so greatly. The church, through no merit of her own, but entirely according to God’s incomprehensible mercy and grace, has been elevated to such a high rank that we share in the nature of God and are part of his family.

By these means God has exalted redeemed humanity to such a sublime rank that it is impossible for Him to elevate them any further without bringing them into the inner circle of the Godhead itself. (p.38)

At this point the author introduces an important corollary regarding prayer. He posits that prayer is part of God’s training program to teach the church how to wield Christ’s authority to overcome evil in preparation to exercise sovereign rule through eternity.

The Mystery of Prayer

This chapter is worth the price of the book. The author begins by asking a question many others have posed: since God is sovereign, why did he set up a system that requires his servants to participate through prayer?

God’s promises to answer prayer are so sweeping… as to constitute a veritable carte blanche, that is, a blank card bearing the authority of His own signature. It is as though God handed us His scepter and begged us to use it. (p.45)

Billheimer shows how prayer is God’s means of training his church to participate in his sovereign rule.

Independently and of His own will God makes the decisions governing the affairs of earth. The responsibility and authority for the enforcement and administration of those decisions He has placed upon the shoulder of His Church. (p.46)

In heaven and for eternity, the Church, Christ’s “bride”, will co-reign with him. Here on earth we learn how to rule in our prayer closets. The author proposes that God will never “go over the head” of his church because that would abort the training process and stunt the church’s growth. Billheimer makes a wonderful analogy when he compares prayer to how a safe deposit box is opened. The bank holds a key and the owner of the box holds the other. Neither can open the box without the other. God’s promises constitute one key to the release of his authority and will on the earth. Our prayer is the other. When our prayers align with his will, God’s will will be done. (1 John 5:14-15)

Heaven holds the key by which decisions governing earthly affairs are made, but we hold the key by which those decisions are implemented. (p.52)

He concludes the chapter by stating that prayer has eternal consequences for the world and us. What a challenge to pray more fervently!

Christ’s Gift of Authority

I cannot fully endorse the contents of this chapter. It begins well with a quote of Luke 10:19,  but then Billheimer makes a big leap by stating the following.

This is the church’s Magna Carta in her conflict with Satan… It is clear from this and other passages that God intends the true church…to be the controlling factor in human affairs. (p.57)

Although the church is organically unified with Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17), has already been elevated to Christ’s throne (Ephesians 2:5-6), and shares in our Lord’s authority as his representatives (Luke 10:19), I cannot make the leap to our being the “controlling factor in human affairs.” I believe that is reserved for Christ and the Holy Spirit; even though he privileges the church to participate. Otherwise, the weight of responsibility would be impossible to bear. The government is upon Christ’s shoulders, not ours. (Isaiah 9:6) He is the King.

Quoting Wesley’s words, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer,” the author makes another unsupportable leap when he makes the following statement.

God will not go over the head of his church even to save a soul without her cooperation. If she will not intercede, the Holy Spirit, by his own choice, cannot do his office work of convicting and persuading [the lost]. (p.65)

I do accept that followers of Christ have an important role to play by praying for the lost, both for individuals and for people groups, but I can find nowhere in scripture that specifically says that God will only save those for whom the church specifically prays. How then were the very first disciples saved, since there was no church to pray for them? Is our salvation not because our Father God sovereignly chose us? (Ephesians 1:4-6) Every child of God was chosen by God before the foundation of the world. The Son came to die for those Father God chose. The Holy Spirit is God’s agent to seek out those who are called, chosen, and purchased by Christ’s blood. He works inside us to draw us to Christ. The church is privileged to work in partnership, after we come into our sonship, by preaching the gospel and praying for the lost.

We have a part to play, but our shoulders are not big enough the carry the weight of being responsible for the salvation of every human. Only Christ can carry that.

The Legal Basis for the Authority of the Church

Billheimer addresses what happened with regard to authority at the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. He posits that when God gave Adam and Eve authority and dominion it was a bona fide gift in that it was theirs to do with as they saw fit. Sadly through disobedience they ceded that authority and dominion to Satan, becoming Satan’s slave in the process. This gave Satan the right to mistreat, oppress, and even kill his slaves, who now had no legal rights. In order to redeem mankind and turn this situation around, a man, a Second Adam so to speak, who was born of God so as to escape the terminal fault of having an inborn sin nature, had to perfectly serve the Creator / Father God with unblemished loyalty. This God-Man would also be required to make a perfect sacrifice for our sins in order to pay the just penalty for our rebellion against God. This is why the Incarnation is absolutely critical to our salvation.

The battle of the ages was between Satan and Jesus. Satan leveled all his malevolent power against our Lord in order to seduce him into forsaking his life of obedience to the Father.

The temptation of Gethsemane was to refuse to drink the “cup.” The decision He [Jesus] had to make was whether He would retain the fellowship which He had with the Father before the world began or whether He would accept this unjust, yet genuine identification with [our] sin. (p.78)

In his attempts to compromise Jesus’ obedience, Satan pressed our Lord all the way to the cross, where he died an innocent man while maintaining complete obedience to his Father. This was Satan’s undoing. He murdered an innocent man, which made him a transgressor of God’s justice and gave Christ a complete victory over his foe. (Hebrews 2:14) This victory also belongs to the church.

Christ’s Dynamic Victory

In this chapter Billheimer argues that for Christ to pay the just penalty for our sin he had to be sent to hell, as we would have been. He also points out that the immense cost paid by Christ to secure our salvation was shared by the Father and the Spirit, since they are one. He states that Christ in his “dead” state of three days duration was subsequently “justified in spirit” (1 Timothy 3:16) and “made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18) by the Father, after he was satisfied that his Son had fully paid our debt (Isaiah 53:10-11). When Jesus burst the bonds of death and rose again, it made him the “first born from the dead” (Revelation 1:5).

Death did its utmost to shackle Him, to keep Him permanently in its grip. All of the resources of the underworld were mustered to prevent his resurrection, but in vain. It was impossible for death to “keep its prey.” (p.87)

When Christ rose again and forty days later ascended to the right hand of God, through the miracle of the Incarnation and Resurrection, “an authentic human being [now] sits on throne of the universe, wielding all the authority of the Godhead.” (p.88)

What is perhaps even more remarkable is that God included his church in this exaltation.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:4-6 (NASB)

We are not surprised that all things have been put under his [Christ’s] feet. What we have failed to comprehend is that as part of Him, His Body, all things are also legally beneath our feet… We have underestimated the supreme importance of the Church in God’s economy.  (p.89)

The author makes the case that Christ’s victory over Satan is our victory, since we are in him and seated with him on his throne.

When He (Christ) defeated Satan, it was our victory. He did not conquer Satan for Himself. The entire substitutionary work of Christ was for His Bride-elect, the Church…Instead of his (Satan’s) having power over us, we have been given authority over him. This is the meaning our enthronement with Christ. (p.91)

The final two chapters are an attempt to reconcile an apparent lack of congruity between Billheimer’s theology with unanswered prayers and unrequited faith. I always find these sorts of lists rather frustrating and tending toward legalism, but his points are worth pondering.

Destined for the Throne clearly lays out the importance of the church in God’s plan. Since we share in Christ’s victory and authority and have been elevated to become sons of God, we should live as if we believe it.

We are in training for co-ruling with Christ for eternity, an eternity which has already begun. It is entirely reasonable to believe that the church should already be engaged in every area of society, functioning as “salt and light.” It goes against our calling for us to retreat into our church “bunker” while ceding every natural realm of influence to Satan’s legion of followers, which is exactly what we have done by and large. Satan has done his level best to convince followers of Christ that we have no right to voice our opinions or take part as a Christian voice in government, education, or science. We are taught that we are descended from apes by a natural process called evolution, thereby stripping us of any eternal importance at all. Worse than that, Satan has convinced hordes of people that they have no significance apart from having pleasure and wielding power. Existentialism teaches us that life consists of experiences and nothing more, consigning mankind to a pointless existence. No wonder more and more young people are committing suicide. In addition, the Great Liar has convinced many that man is actually the earth’s worst problem, setting the groundwork to justify our eradication through depopulation schemes. We must reject these Satanic lies and, from here forward, fully accept who we are in Christ and start acting congruently with our position as God’s children and Christ’s representatives. This first and foremost involves preaching the gospel and making disciples who will go and do the same, but it also includes raising up sons and daughters who will enter the world of politics, education, the arts and media, finance, medicine, science, and society, including the family.

Until Christ returns, we must use our influence to expand God’s benevolent kingdom here on earth in anticipation of his glorious return.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 (NASB95) —
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Maturity through Warfare

Spiritual warfare is a reality, whether we think so or not. It affects us whether we acknowledge it or not. We are in the battle whether we are actively fighting or passively hiding our heads in the sand. We see it clearly played out in the Bible in the lives of kings and prophets. We have a clear reference to it in the Book of Daniel when that prophet was told by an angel that his prayers for Israel’s restoration to the land were heard immediately, but an evil spirit hindered the response from getting to him.

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Daniel 10:13 (NASB95) —

Jesus told a parable about kings going to war and the need for his followers to count the cost of entering the warfare involved with being his disciple. (Luke 14:31-32) Paul wrote about our warfare in greater depth in his letter to the Ephesians.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12–13 (NASB95) —

Satan managed to seduce one-third of the angels to follow him into death and destruction. Then he came after Adam and Eve who were created to co-rule with God. Since our first parents were able to reproduce (co-create), Satan took down the entire line of descendants in one fell swoop. Since then, every one of us is born into this world marred by a sinful proclivity to live in isolation from God, the source of all life and happiness. By doing this, our adversary negatively affected creation in general.

For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.  Romans 8:19–22 (NASB95) —

This shows us how significant man is in God’s economy. The physical creation was made for man’s benefit and is connected to our existence. It was meant to bless us, but, when we sinned, part of God’s just sentence was for the creation to cease to function as originally intended.

God could have left us to his own devices, but according to Paul, love never gives up. (1 Corinthians 13:7) God did not give up on us. He sent his Son. We probably understand why Jesus had to fight to obtain our release from Satan’s despotic rule. Just as the Egyptian pharaoh refused to release the Israelites from slavery until he was forced by God’s mighty hand, Satan would not let us go until he was forced to do so by the resurrection of Jesus as Lord of Lords. Our Savior recaptured the authority Adam had ceded to Satan, undid the sentence of death upon the entire human race, reconciled us to God the Father, and made us children of God, heirs together of Christ’s glorious riches and honor.

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. Colossians 2:13–15 (NLT) —

Perhaps it is less obvious why we born again children of God must continue the struggle after Christ’s magnificent resurrection sealed the victory. To get a better understanding of why, we should consider that God’s purpose in redeeming us was to elevate us to his throne as his mature sons (and daughters) to allow us to share in his glory.

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:29–30 (NASB95) —

I think few of us have come to realize just how great an honor it is to be God’s son or daughter. By sending Jesus, the eternal Logos who became a man, to die and rise again, God made it possible for those who put their trust and allegiance in him to become one with him through the indwelling Holy Spirit. This means that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing there is because we are in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3) This means that we sit with Christ at God’s right hand. (Colossians 3:1, Ephesians 2:6) This means that what King David wrote so long ago is absolutely true.

What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! Psalm 8:4–5 (NASB95) —

Satan absolutely hates us because God graciously gave to us what he tried to take for himself – the throne of God. Of course, we are not divine, even though we are indwelled by God. This is part of the mystery. God’s glory inhabits what the Bible calls “earthen vessels.”

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NASB95) —

Even the angels, who are greater in strength and power, have been assigned to serve us!  (Hebrews 1:14) Taking all this into account, it becomes clearer why God requires us to grow in maturity as we prepare to take our place at his side.

Since we are destined for the throne, we must learn to govern and rule, and that involves learning to gain victory through spiritual warfare over the enemies of God through the authority of Christ and his Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

God promised Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Joshua and all Israel that he would give them the promised land, but that did not mean they would be able to simply walk in to take it over without a fight. Going to war is part of what God uses to bring us to maturity.

Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan; 2 only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly). Judges 3:1–2 (NASB95) —

In the Old Testament, when the Israelites fought to obtain their promised possession, they experienced God’s help. It takes faith to go into battle. It is only after we enter the fray that we experience God’s coming alongside us to ensure victory. In the last analysis, the battle is the Lord’s, but we are privileged to participate in the victory. What we learn about God in the process is part of what will prepare us for reigning with Christ.

Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle. 9 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 10 Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory. Interlude Psalm 24:8–10 (NLT) —

If God simply handed everything to us without a struggle, we would never grow up.

Every good parent knows this. That is why we require our children to learn to do things for themselves. When my kids were younger, I taught them to file their own taxes, change their own oil, drive a stick shift, etc. If we had lived on the frontier back in the 1700’s, I would have shown them how to fight, too, because it would have been a necessity. Learning spiritual warfare is just such a necessity, and God is a loving Father who teaches us to fight a good fight, just as he taught King David.

Blessed be the LORD, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle; 2 My lovingkindness and my fortress, My stronghold and my deliverer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. Psalm 144:1–2 (NASB95) —

Paul admonished Timothy to fight.

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 (NASB95) —

Thankfully those words to Timothy were recorded and passed down to us upon whom the end of the ages has come. Satan is riled up knowing that his time is short. Deception floods the earth. This is the time for God’s people to arise and enter the fray in the power of God’s might, knowing that victory is assured as we do our part. And now I will close with this promise from Paul.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:20 (NASB95) —
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Chapter 59: Introduction to the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a very important part of God’s plan called the Great Commission. It is his means to empower and equip the church to do the work of the ministry. Why then is there so much ignorance regarding it? Why is it so often resisted? The devil works hard to keep the church from receiving this amazing gift called “the promise of the Father.”

Let’s begin our journey into greater understanding by reading our Lord’s own words.

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV)

There are 1260 promises in the Bible, but only one has the special status of being called “the promise of the Father.”

What is so special about this promise? Jesus commanded his disciples to refrain from public ministry until they received it; therefore, it must be tremendously important.

What Is It?

In this section, I will examine various aspects of the baptism of the Spirit. For now, I will give this definition upon which we can expand later. The baptism in the Spirit is a second experience with the Holy Spirit which can take place concurrent with the new birth, but usually afterward. The Spirit comes to indwell every person who is born again to impart Christ’s life, provide an interior witness that we are God’s children, provide guidance, and to teach us the meaning of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is poured out on believers in the baptism in the Spirit to empower and equip us for service to God, especially to be his witnesses. Later I will give the biblical basis for each of these assertions. For now, we will focus on the big picture.

Jesus: Baptizer in the Holy Spirit

God’s chose John the Baptist to introduce Jesus to the world at the beginning of his public ministry and gave him prophetic insight into Jesus’ identity and mission. John told us that Jesus, the Messianic Son of David and Lord, would have two other key ministry roles. He would die as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world and, after his resurrection and ascension into heaven, would baptize his followers in the Holy Spirit as the Lord of the harvest. The following passage records this prophecy.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” 32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ John 1:29-33 (NKJV)

Every born-again disciple has come to know Jesus as the Lamb of God who died for our sins. Fewer have grasped the enormity of his power and authority as the risen Lord of Lords, and still less have come to know him as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and Lord of the Harvest.

Jesus, the Eternal Son of God, died for our sins as the Lamb of God to become the Lord of Lords and the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit.

He forgives men’s sins to make them part of God’s family and enroll them in his army of disciple makers.

Consider that those who fail to receive the baptism in the Spirit are cut off from at least one-third of Jesus’ ministry.

We rightly emphasize what Jesus accomplished by dying as God’s Lamb and rising again. In addition, his ministry of baptizing his followers in the Holy Spirit launched the church into fulfilling the Great Commission and is vital to world evangelization and the expansion of God’s kingdom. We dare not resist or ignore it. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to His disciples to equip and empower us to be effective witnesses.

Without this amazing gift, we will not be able to complete properly our assignment to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

 

The Full Gospel

Declaring Christ’s Lamb of God ministry is a foundation stone of the gospel message, but it is only one-third of it. The announcement that Jesus is the soon to return Messianic King and judge and the currently reigning Lord of the Harvest and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit is the other two thirds.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is integral to the Gospel and is God’s means for effectively delivering the Good News to the world.

Jesus announced that his followers would receive the Spirit following his ascension and glorification.

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38  “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'” 39  But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39 (NASB)

God fulfilled this promise on the first New Covenant celebration of Pentecost that launched the church on its worldwide mission of disciple making, which will continue until Jesus returns to raise the dead, judge all people, and inaugurate the conclusion of all things.

The baptism in the Spirit is as fundamental to the Gospel message as the new birth, the Second Coming, and the last judgment.

Christ’s miraculous coming (virgin birth), his Spirit-enabled ministry, his rejection and death, his resurrection, his ascension, his sending of the Spirit, and his promised Second Coming are all part of the gospel story, none of which we can leave out if we preach the “full gospel.”

Part of the reason Jesus died was so that we can receive the “promise of the Father,” the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He was so excited about the prospect that he cried out to the throngs in the passage quoted above from John Chapter Seven. This is no small thing.

Receiving what Jesus died to give us is not an option, such as satellite radio on an automobile. This is part of the “engine” of the disciple’s life!

Israel’s Three Feasts

God commanded Israel to observe three major feasts on a yearly basis or be “cut off.” These feasts represent the three major components of Christ’s work. The Old Covenant feast of Passover foreshadowed his death on the cross as God’s Passover Lamb. The Old Covenant experience of Pentecost at Mt. Sinai, fifty days after the first Passover, when the Law was given, foreshadowed the giving of the Spirit fifty days following Christ’s death and resurrection. Finally, the Feast of Tabernacles, which came at the end of the harvest year, predicts Christ’s Second Coming and the final ingathering of people into God’s kingdom family, which is yet to be fulfilled.

Each feast was critical to God’s plan for Israel, and experiencing each New Covenant fulfillment is a requirement for the believer.

Unless we personally experience Passover through the new birth, Pentecost through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the Feast of Tabernacles through the resurrection of the dead, we cannot participate in the fullness of God’s plan and blessing for us in Christ.

Every true Christian will readily agree that experiencing the New Covenant fulfillment of Passover and Tabernacles is required. We understand that every follower of Christ must be born anew and raised from the dead. Why is it not equally obvious that the feast of Pentecost must be experienced in its New Covenant form as the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

A Doorway into More of God

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is also a doorway into experiencing some of the wonders of God’s power and gifts, which are amazing tools for ministry.  Can you imagine Jesus’ ministry without his using spiritual gifts? Jesus relied on the Spirit to give him prophetic insight and the ability to heal, do miracles, raise the dead, and liberate the oppressed. (Acts 2:22)

The power and gifts of the Spirit do not make us “better” Christians in any judicial or moral sense, but they can make us more effective in representing God to lost people.

God intends for the Gospel to be transmitted in both Word and Power. (1 Thes. 1:5) He wants to work with his messengers through signs, wonders, and gifts of the Spirit to confirm the veracity of his Word. (Mark 16:20) The Lord wants all his servants to receive the “promise of the Father” to equip us to do the work of ministry. (Acts 1:4-5)

 

You can read more about the baptism of the Spirit and the gifts in Pete's book, Promise of the Father, which is available on Amazon. Click here for the link.
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An Unexpected Key to Joy

 

God is full of joy which he shares with us. He designed creation to maximize his and our joy while simultaneously bringing honor to him.

Our experience of God’s joy depends to a great extent on how well we participate in a process the Bible calls transformation through the renewing of the mind.

Paul encourages us to allow the Spirit to transform our thinking by renewing our minds, instead of allowing the world system to conform us to its deadly pattern.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NASB95) —

The New Living Translation says that transformation comes when we change how we think.

The etymological definition of repentance (Greek: metanoeo) is to change our minds or how we think about things.

The devil’s chief weapon against us is deception. When Adam and Eve bought his lie in the garden, their disloyalty to God plunged humanity into darkness and death that comes from separation from God. The first lie they believed was that God is not good or trustworthy and we are better off going it alone. Every deception since then is built on this foundation. Everyone is born into this world with a default proclivity to think sinfully and want to live independently from God. The part of us derived from Adam is called the “flesh” and habitually takes us down thought roads that lead to sin and death.

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6–8 (NASB95) —

Satan promises great things, but it all a lie. All he has to give are the temporary pleasures that sometimes accompany our selfish pursuits, but which always end in death

There is only one way to escape the deception death trap. It’s called the new birth. The corrupted part of us called the “old man” has to die so that the “new man” can be resurrected in Christ. (Romans 6:5-9)

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:21–24 (NLT) —

The decision Adam and Eve made to believe Satan’s lie and suppress God’s truth impacted everything, including our thinking ability. Since then, apart from the intervention of God’s Spirit, we are unable to think correctly and adequately discern truth.

It takes a supernatural breakthrough of revelation of the truth about God and his Word to create faith in the human heart.

And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” John 6:65 (NASB95) —

When we first begin to grasp who Jesus is and what he did for us, we are able to trust in him and are born again. This new birth causes the spirit to come alive again as we are united with God’s Spirit. His life invades us giving us the ability to think again according to truth.

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:14–16 (NASB95) —

This is when our participation in the process of transformation begins. We have been given the responsibility to renew our minds according to God’s truth.

The Bible says we are spiritual beings who have bodies. God breathed his spirit into the body he formed from the dust of the earth and Adam came alive. The combination of spirit and body gave rise to the soul, our mind, will, and emotions.(Genesis 2:7) The mind can exist outside the body, which is what happens after death before the resurrection.

Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. 2 Corinthians 12:3–4 (NLT) —

The mind has a spiritual component and is not limited to the physical brain; although there is a connection. The brain, therefore, is servant to the mind.

God made the human brain with an amazing capacity to renew itself. As we think, our neurons weave themselves together in new pathways. If we habitually think a certain way, those thoughts become physically ingrained in our neurons. How we think will impact our lives going forward. We can think upon that which is from God and renew our minds for good, or we can give ourselves over to thinking on what is sinful and end up with what the Bible calls a reprobate mind, a very dangerous condition.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. Romans 1:28–32 (NLT) —

As believers, we can choose to take advantage of our God-given ability to renew our minds and increase our joy by engaging in simple life-giving spiritual habits: worship, prayer (especially in tongues), and reading and meditating on God’s Word.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6–9 (NASB95) —

As we regularly set aside time to engage in these godly pursuits, we actively renew our minds by training our brains to think in godly patterns.This is not the power of positive thinking, as if we changed ourselves. As we obey the Lord in worship, prayer, and meditation on the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit works with us in the process. We are never left to our own devices. Otherwise, it would be just one more religious activity. If it were ever to become a mere religious exercise, we have missed the point entirely.

We should sense God’s pleasure and joy as we learn to spend more and more time in his presence where there is fullness of joy.

King David wrote these amazing words.

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:11 (NASB95) —

According to Dr. Caroline Leaf’s research, it takes three sets of 21 days (63 days in a row) to thoroughly ingrain a new habit and renew the mind. After that, it is a daily exercise in keeping our focus on God.

Satan set up a mammoth operation to saturate our minds with his lies using all sorts of media and government financed schools. Children especially are bombarded with everything from pornography to evolution, inculcating in them a godless and perverted worldview. The power of brainwashing is real. Those who have submitted to the world’s conforming process often cannot recognize truth when they stare it in the face. We cannot afford to be passive any longer.

Those who cooperate with the Spirit in the transformation process will experience amazing freedom. They will begin to think more in line with God’s truth. The Spirit will reveal more and more truth about our amazing God, his love, and his faithfulness. As our minds and hearts gain greater understanding of how amazing God’s love is, our faith in him will enlarge and our joy will overflow.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:14–19 (NLT) —

The renewing of the mind is a huge and perhaps unexpected key to experiencing ever increasing joy. Try it. You will like it.

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Does God Ever Feel Shame?

Shame is a powerful motivator. Adam and Eve felt it for the first time after disobeying God and hid themselves. That is one of the things shame does to us. Fear and shame work together. We are afraid of our shame being exposed; so, we hide.

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. 8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. 9 Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” Genesis 3:6–10 (NLT) —

When our consciences work properly, we feel shame when we sin and betray our Creator or some other person.

Those who feel no shame regarding their sin likely have what the Bible calls “seared” consciences, or as the New Living Translation puts it, “dead” consciences.

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. 1 Timothy 4:1–2 (NLT) —

The Holy Spirit convicts us when we sin, which causes a proper apprehension of shame, leading us to turn to Christ for forgiveness and a removal of all guilt and shame, which is called justification.

There are other potential sources of shame besides our sin, which are connected to things over which we have no control or responsibility, but concerning which others may try to shame us.

Each of us comes into this world having received from our parents and God the core of our personality and physical makeup. We get our “looks,” our physical and mental strength or weakness, our intelligence, our “race” and gender, where we are born, and the family from which we derive without having any say in the matter. The world esteems the “good looking” and generally ignores or puts down the ugly. It rewards strength and scorns weakness. Depending on our culture, race and gender may open doors of opportunity and privilege or tend to close them. Generally, the world honors smart people and despises those with less intellectual ability. Those who are bold and have outgoing, affable personalities may gather a following; whereas, the shy and introverted may suffer the humiliation of being overlooked or worse. Winners are lauded, and losers are made to feel less than worthy. Fans of winning teams make shaming their opponents and their fans an art form. We may be born into riches, poverty, or the “middle class.” Our family of origin may give us an advantage or put us “behind the eight ball.” We may have loving parents or experience abandonment or abuse from those who brought us into the world. The shame and hurt that is connected to things outside of our control can penetrate deeply into our hearts and influence us to believe lies about ourselves and God. Getting free from these lies and pain  may require a deep work of the Holy Spirit in what is called the transformation process, about which I have written elsewhere.  God has used me and others in a ministry I call “wonderful counseling” to help people experience freedom from deeply ingrained lies and unhealed pain. What makes it wonderful is that Jesus is in charge. He is the Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6)

Lies lose their power over us when we know and embrace the truth of God’s Word.

Sadly, we hate to be shamed but are often willing to shame others. We want to feel good about ourselves, even if it involves making others suffer. This is the human condition without Christ and the world in which we live, but what about God? Is there any reason he might feel the sting of shame? He does not sin; so, that cannot be a source. He is perfect in every way; so, he cannot feel shame when compared to others. Is it even possible for him to feel shame?

The Bible says that we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26).

Our emotions, however damaged or misguided they may be at times, were given to us by God and reflect his own personality.

The Bible makes it clear that God feels emotion. He becomes angry and feels compassion. He experiences joy and can be grieved. Jesus was and is the perfect representation of God’s nature and character (Hebrews 1:3). The emotions we see in Jesus reflect those of his Father, and Jesus experienced shame during his relatively short stay on planet earth.

Father God orchestrated things so that his Son would be conceived through the activity of the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin. From the beginning, Jesus carried the shameful stigma of illegitimacy in the eyes of family, friends, and enemies. Who would have believed Mary’s story except for Joseph who was told by an angel that it was so? The Pharisees knew the story and were unafraid to bring it up when Jesus told them that they were not God’s children.

Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41 No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.” 42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:40–44 (NLT) —

Jesus came to originate an entirely new generation of humanity descended directly from God through the new birth, free from the taint of the shame connected to Adam’s sin.

Our Lord experienced life as a “normal” person in terms of wealth and privilege. I believe this was because so many of us experience life this way.

God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:28–29 (NLT) —

When it came time for Jesus to enter his public ministry, he had no credentials which would have given him status with the “powers that be.” He did not receive a formal theological education from an approved institution. He was not a member of the prestigious Pharisees, Sadducees, Sanhedrin, or Levitical priesthood. He was not politically connected. In terms of what the world esteems, he had little. What he had was all he needed, however – his divine origin, impeccable character, calling, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Those of worldly rank and privilege viewed these assets as a threat. Little did they realize that he was not only the long awaited Messiah. He was and is also their Creator and the Sustainer of all living things! (Colossians 1:17) Jesus experienced the shame of being ridiculed and resisted by those who should have loved, joined, and worshiped him.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. John 1:10–11 (NASB95) —

Rejection and abandonment are two big potential sources of shame.

Those who have experienced this, whether it was intended or not, often carry deep scars. Our Lord did not succumb to self-pity or begin to believe any lies about God or himself as a result of his rejection, as many of us do. He knew that his heavenly Father loved him deeply and fully approved of him (Matthew 3:17). This knowledge allowed Jesus to persevere unflinchingly in the face of the sting of human rejection all the way to the cross.

Another source of shame is betrayal by those we thought were loyal to us.

“Et tu, Brutae?” is one of Shakespeare’s most famous lines, which was uttered by Caesar when he realized that his supposed friend Brutus was a co-conspirator in his murder. Father God was betrayed in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve chose the serpent over him. Jesus was also in a garden when he uttered these well known words.

...“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48 (NASB95) —

In marriage a man and woman vow before God to remain faithful to each other for life. If one spouse violates that covenant by adultery or abandonment, it is a betrayal of the deepest sort that shames the other partner. The greater the commitment we make to someone, the greater is the potential for shame if we are betrayed. Those we love have the ability to hurt us the most. Imagine how God felt when Adam and Eve, who were lovingly created in his image and given everything they needed, very soon decided that he was unworthy of their love and trust and undesirable compared to what the slithery lying serpent promised them!

Satan has a very low opinion of humans. He knows how duplicitous and easily deceived we can be. God, on the other hand, takes fatherly pride in us when we show unflinching loyalty to him, as is revealed in the Book of Job.

Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.” 4 Satan replied to the LORD, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. 5 But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!” Job 2:3–5 (NLT) —

Satan wants to destroy us and embarrass God by turning our hearts against our Creator.

Another potential source of shame is when we are disregarded by those who deem us to be unimportant.

Sin is so deeply ingrained in us that we often do this to people without even realizing it. Sin so corrupted humanity that it is common for people to refuse to acknowledge God’s very existence, much less honor him.

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, Romans 1:28 (NASB95) —

When we consider that God or another person is not worth knowing or spending time with, it puts that one to shame and grieves his or her heart.

Does a young woman forget her jewelry, or a bride her wedding dress? Yet for years on end my people have forgotten me. Jeremiah 2:32 (NLT) —

Even we who call ourselves Christians quite often put other things before God. Our gathering on Sunday and spending twenty minutes in praise and worship is good but does not offset a week of neglect. What does our neglect of spending time with God say about his value to us? Conversely, when we prioritize our relationship with God, it honors him and tremendously benefits us – a win-win for sure.

Another source of shame is being defeated by our enemies.

King David prayed repeatedly that the Lord would not let this happen to him. Here is an example.

O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. Psalm 25:2 (NASB95) —

When we go to battle, whether it be in mortal combat, a debate, a sports contest, or some other contest, we risk defeat. Goliath put God’s people to shame be challenging them to combat, exposing their cowardice, which results when we are afraid to risk being put to shame. David feared being put to shame through defeat at the hands of his enemies, but he chose to fight because he could not tolerate God’s and Israel’s being put to shame because of the taunts of the enemy. His courage rose to the occasion because of his faith in God.

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46 “This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45–47 (NASB95) —

We can boldly enter the fray if we trust in God’s keeping power more than we fear being put to shame.

But though his creatures put him to shame by rejecting him in favor of his archenemy, God did not reject us utterly or hide himself from us. On the contrary, he embraced the shame of our guilt and sin as the means to bring us back to him! Father God sent his own Son, the eternal Logos who became a human, to identify completely with us in our sin and shame. Jesus endured the shame of being called illegitimate, falsely accused, betrayed, mocked, spit upon, beaten, and finally hung naked upon the cross where he endured a ghastly, shameful death as a criminal for our sake.

Jesus died as the Lamb of God who took our sin and shame upon himself in order to restore us in a shameless condition to Abba Father.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB95) —

Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. Colossians 1:22 (NLT) —

Jesus, God’s one and only Son, through whom Abba created everything, was willing to be put to an open shame for our sake in order to remove the sting and stain of our shame.

Isaiah the prophet wrote about him.

I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. 7 For the Lord GOD helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. Isaiah 50:6–7 (NASB95) —

Jesus was able to endure the shame and pain of the cross because he kept his eyes on the prize – our redemption and restoration to Abba.

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NASB95) —

He despised the shame of being forsaken. Jesus endured being temporarily abandoned by his loving Abba Father as he hung upon the cross and was identified with our sin. His mournful words immortalized in scripture reveal the depths of his pain.

At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Matthew 27:46 (NLT) —

Jesus had to go through the experience of being put to shame to redeem us from the power of shame.

He was willing to be exposed to public humiliation and ridicule to set us free. He refused to hide from the shame men thrust upon him out of loyalty to his Father and to us.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 (NLT) —

When we hear the gospel, it is an opportunity to place our faith in him and pledge eternal loyalty and allegiance to the one who is unflinchingly loyal to us.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9–10 (NLT) —

It is vitally important for us to confess our allegiance to him aloud and to publicly demonstrate it in water baptism. He wants us to show unashamed loyalty to him, just as he did for us.

One of my sons once told me that when he was in high school he made up his mind to never do anything to bring shame upon the family. I remember how amazed I was at this declaration of loyalty and faithfulness. This is the very attitude that God wants every child of God to have.

Our Lord wants us to be loyal to him, to one another, and to the gospel.

This means that we make it a point to avoid doing or saying anything that might make someone feel ashamed. (There are exceptions to this rule, but that is a subject for another article – 2 Thessalonians 3:14.) In addition, we are to avoid doing anything that might bring shame upon God and his gospel. Those who have experienced God’s goodness and then reject him do just that. If we…

...turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. Hebrews 6:6 (NLT) —

There is little so hurtful as when friends or loved ones refuse to stand up for us.

We who are faithful in general to our Lord may bring shame to him if we fail to acknowledge him before others.

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26 (NASB95) —

Thankfully, God does not abandon us when we are less than faithful to him.

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. 2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT) —

How can we not publicly and unashamedly proclaim our love and loyalty to such a Savior!

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Chapter 58: Giving to Those in Need

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus included giving to those in need (alms) with prayer and fasting in his list of spiritual disciplines to be done privately for God’s sake, rather than for a public show.

When you give a gift to someone in need, don't shout about it as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone, don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. Matthew 6:2-4 (NLT)

I covered the practice of tithing in detail in an earlier lesson. As a quick recap, since Jesus is the Lord of our finances, we give ten percent right off the top to God without any questions or decision making on our part. This usually goes to a New Covenant equivalent of the Old Testament “storehouse,” which most consider to be the church.

Tithing is a way of demonstrating that God comes first and that we rely on him to meet our needs when we prioritize him. It also supports the work of the ministry.

Giving to those in need is something we can do with the money left over after we tithe. Jesus assumes that His disciples will give sacrificially to the poor in the passage above. He does not say “if” you give but “when.”

Our Lord wants His followers to compassionately care for those in need.

Jesus gave us the parable of the sheep and goats to emphasize the importance of giving to the poor.

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’  Matthew 25:35–40 (NLT) —

Our love for Jesus is demonstrated by our care for those in need.

Jesus lovingly calls such people the “least of these my brethren.” This is likely because they have little to offer the giver in return, which is everyone’s spiritual condition in relationship to the Lord. We are all “poor in spirit,” which means spiritual paupers or beggars.

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  Matthew 5:3 (NLT) —

When we give to the poor, our Lord tells us to expect nothing from them in return. God is the one who will reward us.

Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”  Luke 14:12–14 (NLT) —

One of the earmarks of godly giving is that it done with enthusiasm.

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.  2 Corinthians 9:7–8 (NLT) —

The book of Proverbs promises that generosity towards the poor will be rewarded. Here are a few verses.

Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. Proverbs 22:9 (NLT) 

If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD—and he will repay you! Proverbs 19:17 (NLT) 

Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing. But a curse will come upon those who close their eyes to poverty. Proverbs 28:27 (NLT)

When we encounter people in need, we have an opportunity to do something to help alleviate their suffering. It may not be enough to simply pray or offer words of encouragement.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.  1 John 3:16–19 (NLT) —

Faith prompts us to act. In his letter to the church, James wrote that we demonstrate our faith through our loving deeds.

Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, 16 and you say, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well"—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless. James 2:14-17 (NLT)

We do not save ourselves through doing good works. Rather, we prove that we have saving faith by how we live. God is transforming us on the inside so that our actions match what we profess to believe.

The church can also assist the needy by using its surplus tithe funds or special offerings designated for benevolence. The less overhead a church has, the more money it may be able to use for the poor and to support other ministries. Church leadership may ask various individuals, perhaps ordained deacons, to oversee its benevolence ministry. Although the church can be a great source of funds, often God wants us to give as individuals, too.

Some people “make their living” by requesting churches and other groups to help them financially. Here are some questions to assist in evaluating such requests. Remember that the government provides resources as well. Most of the people who approach you from the outside will also be on some form of government assistance. It is a good idea to determine what their needs are after they receive government benefits.

  1. Do you have family who can help you? The family is our first line of defense. The church is not supposed to let family members “off the hook” by stepping in when they are able and should help. (1 Timothy 5:8) Not surprisingly, most do not have family who can or will help. They are either alienated from their family, have already overtaxed them, or the rest of the family is likewise in bad financial shape.
  2. Do you belong to a local church? Our second line of defense is the local church. Churches should be committed to helping their members through financial difficulties and to meet pressing needs, unless there is some good reason not to do so, such as their refusal to work or bad habits that drain their finances, such as drug abuse. If the needy person has a home church, I ask them if they have petitioned their church for help. The answer to this question can be revealing. I have had some give me the name of the church, but they do not know who the pastor is. Or perhaps they hardly ever attend. Sometimes their church has no more funds to give, which is often the case. Before helping such a person, I recommend contacting the home pastor for advice. If they do not belong to a church, I often invite them to one of our gatherings to meet them face-to-face. This eliminates most people. If they do attend, we almost always help them.
  3. How long have you been in this situation and is there any light at the end of the tunnel? I am disinclined to help someone who has a chronic need that shows little promise of ending unless they are truly disabled and have nowhere else to turn. This is almost never the case, especially since the government has so many programs. If the person is in the church, the request for financial assistance may open the door for financial counseling. Our long-term goal is to help them out of the financial pit in which they find themselves. Usually we will be more devoted over the long haul to those in the church.

For most people, unless we are “professional” con men, it is quite humbling to ask for assistance. We should try to be sensitive to this fact and not act in a way that further humiliates them. However, I expect those asking for aid to humbly submit to valid questions, since we have a responsibility to handle our money wisely and lovingly. If the person becomes angry, this is a red flag. If they remain patient, it is a good sign.

If the need is so pressing that it cannot wait until getting to know them at one of our meetings, then I lean on others to help make the decision. Sometimes people deliberately try to put us in an artificial time bind to try to force us into acting without properly investigating things. For example, they may say they need help by 5 pm or their power will be cut off, but they are usually a couple of months overdue by this time. The urgency is of their own making.

All of us have seen people asking for money on the side of the road. I usually try to go with the leading of the Spirit. Sometimes I give. Other times I do not. We should not give out of guilt. Let us always keep in mind our Lord’s words.

Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:42 (NET) —

Here are some further guidelines that may help you.

  • It is usually best to procure what is needed rather than give the person cash. For instance, if gas is needed, go to the gas station with them to fill their tank.
  • If you catch the one asking for help in a lie, that is a huge red flag.
  • If you can employ a person to do some job to “earn” the money, it will contribute to their sense of dignity. You may wish to pay them far more than you normally would for an equivalent job.

Since our Lord expects us to help the those with needs, here are some practical ways to obey God in this area.

  • Give to or serve at ministries that feed and clothe the poor.
  • Give above your tithe to the church benevolence fund.
  • Give secretly to those whom God puts on your heart. You may want to ask a trusted friend or the church to pass this blessing along anonymously.
  • Participate in ministries which assist single moms to do various home and car repairs.
  • Get involved in ministries to ex-felons who are trying to earn a living and support their families.
  • Contribute toward or help with ministries to fatherless children.
  • Take a foster child into your home.

The important thing is for us to allow the Holy Spirit to make our hearts tender towards those in need, wherever we may encounter them, and then follow his leading.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Where is your heart drawn when it comes to giving and ministry to the needy?
  • Have you asked God to tenderize your heart towards “the least of these”?
  • Is the Holy Spirit putting any ministry like this on your heart?
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Chapter 56: Worship

Worship is the natural response of a heart aligned with God. If our hearts have been enlightened through revelation and reading the Bible to understand at least a little of who God is, worship and praise will come forth from our hearts and mouths quite effortlessly. However, we do not always feel like worshiping God, and this makes worship one of the most important spiritual disciplines.

We can worship without regard to our feelings because God is worthy.

We sometimes lose sight of God’s worthiness and glory and take for granted how much he has blessed us. Sometimes we experience heaviness because of the tests and difficulties of everyday life or some particularly difficult circumstance. It is during these times that we can discipline ourselves to worship God because it is the right thing to do.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, 12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!  Psalm 30:11–12 (NLT) —

King David commanded his soul (mind, will, and emotions) to worship God, and so can we. We can choose to worship even when we may not feel like it, because God is worthy. We can praise the Lord because of what He has done, is doing, and what he promises to do on our behalf.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Psalms 103:1-5 (NASB)

Our ultimate desire should be to bring glory to Him because he is glorious and worthy.

"I love You, O LORD, my strength." 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. Psalms 18:1-3 (NASB)

Focusing on God’s glory helps us to go beyond ourselves and our own needs. Worship can become more about who he is rather than what he had done, but both are important.

During good times and difficult ones, God remains the same; therefore, the appropriateness for worship is constant.

Our worship is like the aroma of a sacrificial burnt offering that is able to bless the heart of the Almighty.

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15 (NASB)

Worship includes all we do in loving obedience to God and begins with the surrender of our hearts, but the vocal component is essential.

We are privileged to use our voices to magnify God.

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Psalms 104:33 (NASB)

It takes breath to sing and speak praises. God wants us to use this ability to bring glory to Him. It is a way of acknowledging him both privately and publicly. Those who do not know and serve God often refuse to acknowledge him, which is an affront to the Creator.

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Romans 1:21 (NASB95) —

Even though the world tries to suppress the truth about God, we are privileged to acknowledge his glory in worship.

People are going to speak and sing about something. It is built into our nature. The devil hijacked this beautiful ability and often uses it for evil. Our fleshly propensity to sin is all too cooperative. Followers of Christ have the enormous privilege and responsibility to bring our vocal gifts back under the sway of the Holy Spirit. We can do our part by regularly offering up the sacrifice of praise throughout the day.

In the Bible grumbling and complaining against God and our circumstances is a serious sin which is fueled by unbelief and rebellion. We don’t like what is happening to us and cannot see how God can use it for good; so, we grumble and complain. When we are tempted to do this, we can command our souls to give praise instead. We will be amazed at the difference it makes in our lives and the glory it will bring to God.

Praise helps us maintain a faith orientation toward God and his promises.

Spiritual Warfare

Worship also has a spiritual warfare component. It is a powerful way to combat the enemy of our souls.

Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands— 7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, 9 to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones. Praise the Lord!  Psalm 149:6–9 (NLT) —

We know that our battle is not against humans, but against spiritual principalities and powers. Sometimes spiritual wickedness finds expression in people. This happened often in Israel’s history, and still does. When King Jehoshaphat faced a seemingly overwhelming enemy army, through Jahaziel the prophet God promised that Israel would not have to fight, but God would battle for her. The king believed the promise and put praisers out in front of the army. God kept his promise and routed the enemy without the Israeli army having to engage. This is recorded in the following passage.

When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 22 When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.  2 Chronicles 20:21–22 (NASB95) —

Praising God in the face of an enemy assault is a first line of defense and offense. Another similar passage is found in Exodus when Israel was fighting Amalek. As long as Moses kept his hands lifted, which is an attitude of worship and praise, Israel was victorious. When Moses let down his arms, Israel suffered defeat.

So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.  Exodus 17:11–13 (NASB95) —

If we maintain an attitude of worship as a regular discipline, it will elevate our faith and focus on God and protect us against the enemy.

Worship in Tongues

Jesus told the woman at the well that God wants us to worship in spirit and in truth.

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”  John 4:23–24 (NLT) —

Worshiping God in truth requires us to know and confess the truth about God written in the Bible. We worship him for who he is, not who we want him to be. Worshiping in truth also means that we come to him honestly, not hypocritically. We open our hearts to him, instead of pretending to be someone we are not. He sees through us already anyway. 

Worshiping in spirit means we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in or worship and service to God.

This includes allowing the Spirit to speak and sing through us with heavenly words.

For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.  1 Corinthians 14:2 (NASB95) — 

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  Romans 8:26–27 (NASB95) —

Speaking and singing in tongues is a wonderful way to worship.

Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. 1 Corinthians 14:15 (NLT) —

The gift of speaking in tongues is one of the most important and useful of the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12. When we speak, pray, or sing in tongues, the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is speaking through us in a language known to God but not us. The words are untainted by human bias or misunderstanding. They are in perfect alignment with God’s will, too. I teach more on that in another article entitled, “What’s So Great about Tongues?”

Normally tongues are spoken directly to God and is for our personal benefit or the benefit of someone for whom we pray. If tongues are spoken aloud in a meeting in a way that focuses all attention on the speaker, the message should be interpreted so that our hearers will derive some benefit, too.

In a time of worship, when our focus is entirely on the Lord, it is appropriate for people to sing or speak in tongues to the Lord. We are not trying to edify one another. We are glorifying God.

Paul wrote the following.

What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.  1 Corinthians 14:15–19 (NASB95) —

In other words, when everyone is singing in English, we should sing along in the same language. There is a time, however, when the entire congregation can worship together in the spirit or tongues. I have heard some of the most beautiful harmonies while participating in congregational singing in tongues. It is as if we were a heavenly choir being directed by the Holy Spirit.

When I was a new believer, I remember feeling as if I had a “lid” on my worship. I would frequently reach a place where I wanted to express myself further but was unable. After receiving the gift of tongues, I never felt that way again.

Singing in the spirit enables us to perfectly express our worship without being limited by the human mind.

The Widow’s Offering

It is important for us to understand that God wants us to give what we have. Jesus praised the widow who gave a very small amount, but it was all she had.

Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”  Mark 12:43–44 (NASB95) —

Some of us have been given immense vocal and musical talent, such as King David. Others of us cannot carry a tune in a bucket. Thankfully, the Bible says to “make a joyful noise to the Lord.” (Psalm 66:1 KJV) This noise may be spoken words, a shout, singing aloud, or something musical. All God wants is the best we can give. He wants our hearts more than anything else.

O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.  Proverbs 23:26 (NLT) —

If we give God our hearts, we will worship the way he desires.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Have you ever made the decision to praise God during a difficult situation? What was the result?
  • Have you ever received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and spoken in tongues?
  • Have you ever worshiped God in the spirit (tongues)?
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Chapter 55: Fasting

Fasting is an important spiritual discipline practiced by people in the Old Testament, our Lord, and followers of Christ. It is a form of self-denial that helps us focus on the Lord and prayer. Fasting does not earn “points” with God or make us more acceptable in His eyes. Instead, it is meant to help us grow relationally with the Lord.

Jesus taught that fasting is a normal part of kingdom life.

In his sermon on the mount, he told us how to fast. 

And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get.17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18 (NLT)

Fasting helps us understand that what we need most in life is God Himself, not what He provides.

It helps us to step back from what usually fills our time and thoughts during a normal day so that we can come aside to seek the Lord without distraction. It is a reminder that, “MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.” (Matthew 4:4 NASB)

God has no difficulty speaking to us, but we often have a hard time accurately hearing what He is saying because we are so distracted with the business and cares of ordinary life.

Fasting helps to open our hearts and minds to God.

God wants us to hunger for him more than for food. He will fill the hungry heart.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.  John 6:35 (NASB95) —

Usually, we must be desperate to be motivated to deprive ourselves of food. This desperation may stem from our facing an emergency or having a pressing need, but what a blessing it is if our desperation originates from a deep desire to know God better.

Whatever might be our motivation to fast, God promises that if we seek him, we will find Him.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Matthew 7:7–8 (NASB95) —

We get insight into God’s purpose for fasting in Isaiah 58.

"Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? 7 "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 "Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, 10 And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday. 11 "And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. 12 "Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell. Isaiah 58:6-12 (NASB) 

Fasting is meant to turn our hearts toward the things that move God to compassion and away from what bring grief and pain to Him, such as our selfishness and sin.

Fasting temporarily separates us from the food that brings comfort and nourishment to us so that we might become part of God’s solution for those who are hurting and helpless. Fasting can be a gateway into practical service, which is evidence the gospel is having sway in our lives. 

It is a good idea to fast when faced with critical needs and challenges that only God can meet.

It helps us come to terms with how much we need God’s help. Old Testament saints frequently fasted and prayed when only God could save them, and He did.

So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.  Ezra 8:23 (NASB95) —

Fasting helps to hone our spiritual “edge” so that we can avoid becoming “dull of hearing” and slow to obey.

Daniel the prophet sought the Lord regarding Israel’s return from Babylonian captivity. He wanted the Lord to reveal to him more about his plan.

During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the Lord, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.  Daniel 9:2–3 (NLT) —

God sent his angel with the answer.

I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain. 21 As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding.  Daniel 9:20–22 (NLT) —

Often fasting is appropriate prior to taking some big step of faith. We want to make sure that we are hearing God correctly before launching out.

Jesus fasted for forty days before launching his public ministry. Paul spent time fasting after his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus, after which he received his commission to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas were part of a group which was fasting and worshiping when they received a commission from the Holy Spirit to go on their first missionary journey.

There are all sorts of ways to fast. One can abstain completely from all food and water or just from food. Some people fast a meal, some all or part of a day, and others fast for several days at a time. How we fast is a matter of what God is speaking to our hearts, our own choice, and what is medically wise for us. Long fasts need to be done with some knowledge of how to stay properly hydrated and nourished and how to properly conclude the fast without producing undesirable effects on our digestive system. Diabetics and those who must eat on a regular schedule may be unable to fast in a traditional sense and choose to fast from other things that will help them focus more on seeking God, such as TV, reading, hobbies, etc.

Remember that fasting is not nearly as important as connecting with God.

If we fast without devoting ourselves to the Lord, we may help ourselves health wise but miss the greater blessing.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Have you ever fasted for a spiritual purpose? What good did you derive from it?
  • Is there any reason for you to fast now?
  • How often do you think it would be good to fast as a spiritual discipline?
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Chapter 54: Prayer

Prayer is an important spiritual discipline that deepens our relationship with God. King David knew a lot about God. He wrote the following.

God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you; 12 unfailing love, O Lord, is yours...  Psalm 62:11–12 (NLT) —

Prayer is directly related to our knowing God as David did.

God wants us to know that he is loving and powerful enough to answer our prayers.

Just as a relationship between two people thrives when there is open and honest communication, a good prayer life includes speaking, listening, and honesty.

A good example comes from Acts when Peter received the vision of a sheet being lowered from heaven. (Acts 10:9-16) He saw the vision, heard God speak, and responded honestly. Then God spoke again. Peter did not immediately comprehend what God meant, but it quickly became apparent to him and guided his response to a very important request.

Our prayer life grows as we develop our ability to hear God’s voice clearly and accurately.

It is important for us to believe that God can and will speak to us in a way we can understand. Jesus said that we can hear his voice.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  John 10:27 (NASB95) —

Faith is a necessary component of an effective prayer life.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)

Faith makes us bold and persistent. We grow in confidence when we believe that God loves us and is predisposed to grant our requests. When we understand our Lord’s ways, it helps us to persevere until we receive what we requested.

God answers our prayers by granting them immediately, denying them, or delaying his response. Instead of reading his lack of immediate response negatively and giving up, God wants us to exercise our faith by being persistent.

Jesus used a parable of a persistent widow who repeatedly asked a judge to act in her behalf to encourage us to pray without giving up. (Luke 18:1-8) Jesus’ point was not that God responds to nagging. He is not an unrighteous judge. Instead, our Lord wants us to persist in the knowledge that he is loving, faithful, and eager to bless us, even if he delays his answer to our prayers.

There are reasons God may delay. Timing is a crucial element to God’s plan and is the part that we often do not understand.

God wants us to grow in patience as we confidently wait for the answer.

Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.  Hebrews 6:12 (NLT) —

By delaying his answer, our Lord may allow us to participate in spiritual warfare.

When Daniel persistently prayed and fasted for the nation of Israel, eventually an angel appeared and told him the following.

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.  Daniel 10:12–13 (NLT) —

Admittedly, our prayers rarely, if ever, rise to the level of importance of Daniel’s, nevertheless, we may encounter spiritual resistance that must be overcome by faithful persistence.

Sometimes God accumulates prayers until a “tipping point” is reached, at which time he “pours out” his answer. This principle is revealed in the following verses.

When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  Revelation 5:8 (NASB95) — 

Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.  Revelation 8:3–5 (NASB95) —

Our prayers accumulate until God’s chosen time to answer them.

If we give up before he provides the answer, it may rob us of participating in something glorious.

Our prayers precede the historical outworking of the answer; therefore, prayer, like prophecy, is always out in front of what we experience as the fulfillment.

Only people of faith can live in the tension created by persisting in prayer without seeing immediate fulfillment.

Prayer is also a clear measure of how dependent we are upon God. We often think that we can handle things on our own without turning to God first. It is sometimes only after failure and frustration that it occurs to us to pray.

Prayer reveals our reliance upon God for direction and assistance. Prayer does not provide us with an excuse not to act – far from it. As we listen in prayer, God will give us a better understanding of what we are to do and wisdom regarding how to best proceed. Prayer sharpens the ax, so to speak.

Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.  Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NLT) —

Prayer transitions us from self-reliance to God reliance.

The Lord wants prayer be one of our top priorities and a spiritual discipline that is well-established in our lives. Jesus gave us the example we are to follow, and Paul reinforced that example with his own life and these words.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

There are various kinds of prayer – praise and thanksgiving, petitions, prophetic proclamations, intercession, and praying “in the Spirit.”

We can use each kind of prayer as appropriate to the situation in which we find ourselves, and always with faith.

Praise

Offering praise and thanksgiving is almost always the right thing to do. Paul wrote:

And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 (NLT)

Praise should be made in any and every situation since we believe that God is sovereign and is working all things, even the seemingly bad things, for our good and His glory.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28 (NASB95) —
 
Prophetic Proclamations

Praise paves the way for prayers of faith. When we surrender to God afresh by giving Him the praise that is His due, despite what may be happening around us, we open our hearts to hear from Him concerning his perspective and what He wants to do. Once we gain this spiritual insight, we can make petitions based on his will and even declare prophetically what He will do.

Prophetic proclamations are possible when we have faith that God has shown us what He is wants to do.

The word of prophecy can release faith and the power of God into a situation. This all begins with our praise that comes from complete surrender to His will in our lives combined with the faith that he is at work for our good and his glory.

When we ask anything in faith that agrees with God’s will, we can be sure of receiving what we ask for.

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14-15 (NASB)
 
Petitions

Prayer is more than bringing a laundry list of petitions to God. It is coming before our Father and King to be with Him, listen to Him, and ask for what He desires to do as well as for what we need and want. It should be much more than a formalized ritual.

Prayer is based on a relationship with a real Person who governs the universe, loves us beyond comprehension, desires for us to be with him, and is predisposed to bless us.

We have every right, thanks to what Jesus did for us, to come boldly and confidently before the throne of grace with the expectation that our loving Abba Father will generously give us what we need.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NASB)

God wants us to bring our petitions to him. Even though he knows ahead of time what we need and want, there is something important about our asking him.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6–7 (NLT) —

The asking reveals a lot about our relationship with him. If we believe he loves us, we should not be hesitant to ask for his help. If we think he is reluctant or too busy for us, it reveals that we do not yet know him as we should.

Intercession

Intercession is a type of prayer in which we petition God for someone else.

We use our privileged access to God’s presence for the benefit of others. Jesus continually intercedes for us; so, it is our privilege to do the same for others.

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.  Hebrews 7:25 (NLT) —

We may be led to intercede when we begin to understand and perhaps even feel the burdens that others carry. We bring these burdens to God and make an exchange with Him – His peace for our burden.

Only God is strong enough to carry the heavy weight of the burdens of others. Prayer is our way of releasing to God what we cannot carry alone and receiving from Him the grace we need for joyful living.

Praying in the Spirit

Praying in the Spirit is when we allow the Holy Spirit to pray through us with words known only to God. (1 Corinthians 14:2)

When we pray “in tongues,” the Holy Spirit puts words in our mouths that are in perfect alignment with God’s will.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 (NASB)

Since only God knows exactly what each of us always needs, praying in the Spirit is often the most effective type of prayer we can make. While it may not always be appropriate to pray aloud in tongues, we can never go wrong by praying quietly in the Spirit.

The Prayer of Faith

James wrote that we are to pray in faith just as Elijah did.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.  James 5:16–18 (NASB95) —

God wants us to be unmovable in our faith. The alternative is to be what the Bible calls “double minded.”

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  James 1:5–8 (NASB95) —

If we lack faith, we can ask the Lord to help us “in our unbelief.”

And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”  Mark 9:23–24 (NASB95) —

The Holy Spirit is the one who develops faith in our lives as a fruit. He wants to make us “full of faith” as a lifestyle. In the final analysis, all faith derives from God and is a gift.

Prayer is a way for us to ask for faith, exercise faith, and demonstrate faith.

The important thing is for us to pray. For many of us, prayer is difficult because we tend to want to “do” something instead of coming aside to talk to and be with God. Or maybe we do not really believe that God wants us to be comfortable in his presence. Perhaps we are still afraid of him for some reason or think he doesn’t have time for us. May God deliver us from every lie that seeks to rob us of knowing God more intimately!

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • What is the easiest way for you to pray?
  • What is the most challenging aspect of prayer for you?
  • Do you feel that you understand what it means to pray in the Spirit or tongues?
  • Do you think it is right to proclaim aloud what we believe God is going to do?
  • Have you ever persevered in prayer and seen the answer eventually arrive?
  • What did that do for your faith?
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Chapter 50: The Authority of God’s Word

The Bible is God’s revealed Word and has tremendous authority in our lives, but for it to benefit us, we must embrace and submit to its truth.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)  

Every person needs to be taught the truth about God, sin, righteousness, mercy, and what it means to live in harmony with the Holy Spirit through grace. That is why I wrote this series of teachings. None of us is has the capability of going it alone. All of us need constant input from the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and one another. This can only properly happen in the context of the kind of relationships God wants us to have in the church.

In his only letter to the church, James, the Lord’s brother, wrote that we should “humbly accept the Word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.” (James 1:21b NLT)

Every follower of Christ must decide what relationship he or she will have with the Bible. This is one of the most important life decisions we will ever make.

Some regard the Bible as a book written by men that is full of errors and outdated cultural biases. Others believe the Bible “contains” the Word of God but should not be taken literally. A third “higher” view is that the Bible in its original form is the inspired and infallible Word of God. This is the one that the apostle Paul embraced, as shown in our opening Bible selection. Which view we adopt will affect everything else in our lives.

The first view is an outright rejection of God’s revealed truth.  The second leads us to the edge of the slippery slope where we get to decide what parts of the Bible to accept and what to reject. This cafeteria approach to the Bible makes us arbiters of truth, a position we are not equipped to handle. There is only one Person who is called “the truth,” our Lord Jesus. (John 14:6) He is the only arbiter of truth, and he said that scripture cannot be altered or “broken.”  

And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered… John 10:35a (NLT)

I grew up in the Catholic Church, which regards Scripture to be on an equal footing with church tradition. No one ever told me that I must believe that every Word of the Bible is the truth until after I was born again. Could I submit my life to what is written in the Bible? Could I give the written scriptures the authority to have ultimate sway in my life? How could I resolve this crisis?

The resolution came through the application of Holy Spirit logic. After the Holy Spirit opened the “eyes of my heart” (Ephesians 1:18) to the truth, I knew that Jesus is who the Bible says he is and that He rose from the dead. I figured that being the resurrected Lord of lords qualifies Him as an authority on spiritual matters. Jesus believed that the Scriptures were infallible and the literal Word of God. In fact, he used his faith in the truth of God’s Word to defeat the temptations of Satan.

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”  Matthew 4:4 (NASB95) —

Like Jesus, we are to live by “every” Word that God has spoken and is recorded in the Bible.

Since Jesus knows a lot more than I do about such matters, I decided to trust His judgment. I made the decision to accept the authority of the Bible as God’s infallible Word.

This means that when the Bible was originally inspired by God’s Spirit and written, it was without error. The Holy Spirit superintended the transmission of the scriptures down through the ages, as shown by the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls. The rule of thumb we use is that the older the original manuscript, the more reliable it is. As a result of ongoing archaeological discoveries, translators today have access to much older documents than did the men who worked on the King James Version, for example.

Regardless of how accurate the original documents are, modern translators are tasked with rendering an accurate version of the original in our own language. This has many challenges, not the least of which is what is called translator’s bias. All of us bring our own world view, presuppositions, and theological leanings into the mix. For this reason, it is advisable to know as much as we can about the original languages, read various translations, and use notes and commentaries to help us understand difficult passages. First and foremost, however, we should rely on the Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth. (John 16:13)

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.  1 John 2:27 (NLT) —

Therefore, we should never place our ultimate confidence in any one translation, such as many do with the King James Version. To do so reveals that we have put ultimate confidence in the work of a few translators using less than the best original documents. Instead, let’s put our trust in the Spirit of God who has made sure that the Word of God has been accurately transmitted down through the ages, but that all translations are subject to human error.

In conclusion, it is wise for us to rely on the Spirit of God, multiple translations, and the insights God has given to serious students of the Bible through the centuries.

Each follower of Christ must settle the issue of surrendering to the authority of the Bible, or we will be held back in our spiritual development. It is said that Billy Graham also struggled in this area as a young preacher, but after he decided to accept the Bible without reservation, his ministry took off.

The Bible’s authority is self-authenticating.

There is no higher authority to which we can turn to validate it, except to the Author himself. That is why it is profitable for us to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit who inspired it. As we read and meditate on its words, the Holy Spirit works inside us to convince us of its truth. Once we come to this point, we will be able accept its commands, warnings, and encouragement.

It is important that we accept the words of Bible without deleting or adding anything.

You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2 (NASB)

Jesus also said:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19 (NIV)

Jesus’ view of Scripture was and is extremely high. He was able to overcome the devil’s temptations by saying, “It is written.” He was able to make sense out of all the suffering He had to endure by saying, “It is written.”

God’s Word is the key to understanding and navigating life.

Jesus told us that the words written in the Bible have a spiritual component. We cannot approach God’s Word merely intellectually, as we would some subject taught in school. Unless we understand that God’s Word is “alive,” we will miss out on much. Jesus said:

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. John 6:63 (NASB)

The Word of God is not just ink on paper. Jesus is the embodiment or incarnation of the Word of God, the eternal and divine Logos, who came in the flesh as a human being.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14 (NASB95) —

When we read and meditate on the Bible, the Holy Spirit enlivens and empowers the words which are powerful and able to discern the thoughts and intents of our hearts.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:12-13 (NASB)

Peter told Jesus, “You alone have the words that give eternal life.” (John 6:68)

To reject the Bible’s authority is to reject Jesus as Lord. To accept the authority of God’s Word is to make a place for Jesus to rule in our lives.

If we reject God’s Word, we reject His means of bringing correction, faith, change, and life to us. When our hearts truly hear God’s Word through revelation, faith springs up in our hearts. The Word of God can transform us and is the means of the release of God’s power here on earth. But we must believe it. If we reject God’s Word, we question God’s infinite wisdom and awesome knowledge and understanding. In short, we elevate our puny reasoning above the mind of God! This is a serious mistake and shows that we have a dangerous independence and pride.

Accepting the authority of our Lord and his Word brings humility into our lives. We learn to put more confidence in him and the Bible’s teachings than we do in ourselves or other human authorities.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7 (NASB)

God wants us to admit that we do not know all things or are able to even think like God in many cases. His ways and thoughts very often are not like ours at all.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NASB)

Until we come to the place of leaning more on God’s Word than on our own understanding, we are not really disciples at all.

Here is how Jesus put it.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32 (NASB)

A disciple can be easily identified by his or her relationship to God’s Word. A person who highly esteems and bows before the authority of the Word of God is the real deal.

For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word. Isaiah 66:2 (NASB)

Once we submit to the authority of the Word, we can use that authority for good. God’s promises can be taken at face value and become the basis for our faith. God’s promise coupled with our faith releases God’s power. God wants his Word to be more real to us than our own reasoning and experience. When we trust in what the Bible says despite contradictory evidence, feelings, or reasoning, we pass the test that Adam and Eve failed and become overcomers. Choosing God’s truth over the lies of the devil is a form of worship. Paul wrote that we can “…walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7) The victory that overcomes the world is our faith. (1 John 5:4) God’s Word is “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Did you ever have crisis of faith relating to the authority of God’s Word?
  • Why must the Bible be self-authenticating?
  • Why is it so dangerous to reject any part of the Bible?
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