Faith will bring change in your attitude and love for God and life! What kind of faith do you have?
Some people believe in predestination. Some have faith in faith itself, while others understand true faith is born in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and it grows as we read God's Word, develop a prayer life, and act on His Word.
PREDESTINATION. Some people believe in predestination. They believe "what will happen, will happen and it cannot be changed." They forgot the scripture, "Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son." (Romans 8:29.) It is God's plan that HE has foreknown and predestinated us to receive salvation and His good gifts, but the individual himself has not been called to say the things that happen in his life were meant to be and and could never be changed. "All things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9.23) Situations can change in answer to fervent prayer.
Remember Hezekiah! Through Isaiah,the Lord said to Hezekiah, "Set thy house in order for thou shalt die." (2 Kings 20:1.) But Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to God for life. Before Isaiah left the palace grounds, the Lord told Isaiah to return to King Hezekiah and tell him ".....I have heard thy prayer. I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee." (2 Kings 20:5.) A powerful truth here is that God heard his servant Hezekiah's cry and prayer and He will hear the cries of all of His children when they are in need! Just ask, hold on, trust and and prove Him!
Hezekiah asked Isaiah how would he know he would live. Isaiah asked him to make a request and Hezekiah said if the sun dial would be turned back, (if time would be turned back) he would know he would be healed. Isaiah prayed and God turned back the dial on the sun! Amazing! Scientists today recognize something strange happened on the earth many years ago, relating to "time."
Fifteen years were added to Hezekiah's life and reign. This is an example of a definite prophecy being changed in answer to prayer! Hezekiah did not accept the words that he was destined to die. This tells us if negative things happen to us, we are not predestined to be defeated, for hope to be snatched, dreams and plans for our children to be buried or for us to sucumb to death! Maybe the reason some prayers are not answered is because some people do feel that "what will happen, will happen" and they are not able to change the situation. There is no scripture to support this. When you are in need, be encouraged. Pray! God works when we pray. Nothing happens when we don't pray.
Remember first that we are living in the New Covenant with Christ Who died that we might live victoriously and not in defeat! "All things are possible to him that believeth!" Then remember to "Come BOLDLY to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16.) "We have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." (Ephesians 3:12.)
People may have thought Hezekiah was destined to die if the Lord sent a message to tell him he would die...but notice the faith in Hezekiah's heart. Though he did not have the scriptures you and I have today, he "reminded" God how he had served Him and His people with all his heart. Reminding God helped to strengthen his faith.
God will hear your desperate cry for yourself, a family member or for our nation, too. Remind Him of your walk and obedience before Him. Though you have prayed through for your needs and you know your answer to prayer is on the way, you can still "remind" God that you are standing in faith for your answer to be manifested. There was no predestination to death here!
How's your faith? If you have lived for God faithfully, don't accept negative reports. You can change the course of your life through prayer, too!
FAITH IN FAITH. Some people have no explanaion for this kind of faith but when you listen to them, you can discern that they just believe in the good changes that can come. Their response is, "I'm just believing God for this need." They just hold on to a belief that those things will happen but they have little or no prayer life nor are they faithful to attend church. There is little in their spiritual life that would give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to teach them with facts from scripture.
TRUE FAITH. True faith is in God and His Word. Faith comes by hearing the Word, meditating on it and rehearsing it in your heart until spiritual understanding develops in your spirit man. This believer will be able to discern twisted teachings circulating around him, but recognize the strong guidance of the Holy Spirit when questionable issues are proclaimed as permissible.
Every Bible believing Christian can and should have this kind of faith! It does not come quickly. When you practice believing and acting on the Word, and develop a deeper relaionship with the Lord even in times of trouble, disappointment or chaos, your faith will be nourished and you will grow during your Christian journey. Unfortunately we grow the most when we are in trouble or are being tested, --not when all is well! Feed faith with facts from the Word and grow because "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6.) What kind of faith do you have?
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Resist him!
Strongholds will come down when you stand on God's Word and resist the devil!
Living with dreams in an imperfect world, there are times when a Christian's joy seems to disappear and he can only see problems! Sometimes the disappearance of his joy may have been caused by such a little thing as congested traffic every day. It might have been caused by struggles with doubts about God's promises that did not come to pass yet, or it may be his personal sickness. Whatever it is, Jesus knows all about our struggles and He wants you to have peace! Remember His Words, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27.) He is Peace, and He gives His peace freely. It is our choice whether we receive it or hold on to the things that trouble us.
Your heavenly Father wants you to know when the cares of life and daily living become greater than His Grace, those are the times when you need to go to Him and make a decision. You can choose to believe God is still in control of your life or you can choose to allow the negative thoughts to be in control. Choose to be an overcomer. To be an overcomer you have to have something to overcome!
Here are some truths I learned during my prayer times concerning negative issues:
1. Resist Satan and go to the Word. When the enemy would try to discourage you, resist him and go to the Source for all answers, God's Word. Find the scripture that will speak to your need and stand on it. There's power in the Word! Speak it aloud. Remind God you are standing on it. When Satan hears the Word he will flee. One scripture that helped me maintain control of many situations is, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. (then...) Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7.) Submitting to God for everything enabled me to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to teach me the power of God's Word to trust Him, understand His plan for my life, walk in faith, know His protection on the mission field and to resist doubts, fears and much more! I submit myself to the Lord every day and when problems or sickness attacks, I quote the Word back to him, "Satan, it is written, 'Resist the devil and he will flee.' I don't receive your pain, problems or confusion. I believe God's Word on this situation and I command you to depart from my path now, in Jesus' Name" and he does depart.
2. Resist negative thoughts quickly. If you suddenly begin to feel ill, don't let half of the morning pass without addressing your need to your Father. Take control within minutes, "I resist your pain, Satan. I don't receive it. I have nothing in you and you have nothing in me. I don't receive this report and I command you to take your symptoms and return to the one who sent you. It is written, 'The prayer of faith shall save the sick nd the Lord shall raise him up....'" (James 5:15.) "They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." (Mark 16:18.)"Now...Father, according to your Word I lay hands on my sickness; I pray the prayer of faith, and declare according to your Word that I am healed and the mnifestation of my healing is on the way, in Jesus' Name!" Amen.
3. Renew your mind immediately. "Father, I resist the negative thoughts that would try to disturb my peace. I renew my mind with gratefulness, praise and thanks for your protection over my family and me, for your provision, for your guidance in new decisions I must make and the assurance that other answers are on the way. Thank you for the victory I have in you today!"
4. Close your ears to words of defeat. When it is possible, refute negative words that were heard, by speaking to the one who spoke them, and reassure that one that there is great victory in speaking the Word when the enemy would try to come in like a flood.
5. Know there is a reason why people live with trouble. It is because the Word has become neglected in their hearts. It does not come to their minds when it is needed. They have forgotten Paul's admonition, "LET (you...permit) the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16.) The scriptures point the way to a joyful and spirit-filled life: Sing the spiritual songs and quote the Word so that it will come back to you when it is needed. It is by continually submitting to the Lord and continually resisting the devil that victories will be consistent and you will live in His Peace!
Living with dreams in an imperfect world, there are times when a Christian's joy seems to disappear and he can only see problems! Sometimes the disappearance of his joy may have been caused by such a little thing as congested traffic every day. It might have been caused by struggles with doubts about God's promises that did not come to pass yet, or it may be his personal sickness. Whatever it is, Jesus knows all about our struggles and He wants you to have peace! Remember His Words, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27.) He is Peace, and He gives His peace freely. It is our choice whether we receive it or hold on to the things that trouble us.
Your heavenly Father wants you to know when the cares of life and daily living become greater than His Grace, those are the times when you need to go to Him and make a decision. You can choose to believe God is still in control of your life or you can choose to allow the negative thoughts to be in control. Choose to be an overcomer. To be an overcomer you have to have something to overcome!
Here are some truths I learned during my prayer times concerning negative issues:
1. Resist Satan and go to the Word. When the enemy would try to discourage you, resist him and go to the Source for all answers, God's Word. Find the scripture that will speak to your need and stand on it. There's power in the Word! Speak it aloud. Remind God you are standing on it. When Satan hears the Word he will flee. One scripture that helped me maintain control of many situations is, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. (then...) Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7.) Submitting to God for everything enabled me to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to teach me the power of God's Word to trust Him, understand His plan for my life, walk in faith, know His protection on the mission field and to resist doubts, fears and much more! I submit myself to the Lord every day and when problems or sickness attacks, I quote the Word back to him, "Satan, it is written, 'Resist the devil and he will flee.' I don't receive your pain, problems or confusion. I believe God's Word on this situation and I command you to depart from my path now, in Jesus' Name" and he does depart.
2. Resist negative thoughts quickly. If you suddenly begin to feel ill, don't let half of the morning pass without addressing your need to your Father. Take control within minutes, "I resist your pain, Satan. I don't receive it. I have nothing in you and you have nothing in me. I don't receive this report and I command you to take your symptoms and return to the one who sent you. It is written, 'The prayer of faith shall save the sick nd the Lord shall raise him up....'" (James 5:15.) "They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." (Mark 16:18.)"Now...Father, according to your Word I lay hands on my sickness; I pray the prayer of faith, and declare according to your Word that I am healed and the mnifestation of my healing is on the way, in Jesus' Name!" Amen.
3. Renew your mind immediately. "Father, I resist the negative thoughts that would try to disturb my peace. I renew my mind with gratefulness, praise and thanks for your protection over my family and me, for your provision, for your guidance in new decisions I must make and the assurance that other answers are on the way. Thank you for the victory I have in you today!"
4. Close your ears to words of defeat. When it is possible, refute negative words that were heard, by speaking to the one who spoke them, and reassure that one that there is great victory in speaking the Word when the enemy would try to come in like a flood.
5. Know there is a reason why people live with trouble. It is because the Word has become neglected in their hearts. It does not come to their minds when it is needed. They have forgotten Paul's admonition, "LET (you...permit) the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16.) The scriptures point the way to a joyful and spirit-filled life: Sing the spiritual songs and quote the Word so that it will come back to you when it is needed. It is by continually submitting to the Lord and continually resisting the devil that victories will be consistent and you will live in His Peace!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
It Happens Through Prayer
Prayer is the only pathway into the direct presence of God where one can receive salvation, followed by life on the highest plateau of peace and fulfillment.
Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and earth..." (Matthew 28:1) and later in Luke 10:19 He said, "Behold, I give unto you power...(translated in Greek as "authority")...over all the power of the enemy" but you will never experience this power until you learn to pray!
Jesus said, "All things are possible to him that believeth," (Mark 9:23) but you will never have this kind of faith to believe until you learn to pray!
A successful Christian life depends on prayer because it is the only path into the presence of God. Prayer is a special time of communion and fellowship with our Creator, Who said, "Let us make man in our image." It is the time when we learn how the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit continually changes us and we grow into being better citizens as well as stronger believers.
During prayer the following things are taking place in your life:
1. You are learning to know God as Father, intimately.
2. You begin to comprehend how much He loves you and desires that you experience salvation, peace, wellness and wholeness, and how to maintain it every day.
3. You are growing and developing a stronger relationship in your walk with God.
4. You are learning to talk with Him from your heart in praise and worship and in finding answers to your daly needs.
God knows your life's history. He knows the areas of your life that may have been wounded or neglected. He knows the emotional nourishment that may not have been enough when you were growing up and He wants to restore that during your prayer time. He knows the joys, struggles, disappointments and unfulfilled longings. He knows the social handicaps you may have discovered in your life or your spouse's life after you reached adulthood and He wants to restore wholeness even now. He knows your physical condition and wants you to know He purchased healing for you when He went to the cross, carried your sins upon Himself, became the sacrifice that pleased God, paid for sin and its penalty and included healing for your body too.
How can you cope if there are issues or dreams that you cherished and hoped for, for many years but they are still unfulfilled . You can bring them all to your heavenly Father in the name of Jesus, in prayer, because He can fulfll and/or restore them all, one by one. He knows all this and more, and He will show it back to you in greater detail during prayer.
Before you were born, you were in God's mind. He had a special DNA for you that is so unique, that not one of the billions of people on earth have quite the fine-tuned make up of your body! Psalm 139:15 says, "My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret... and in thy book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them." Why do you suppose this was recorded in the Word of God? It was to encourage you and many generations yet unborn to know how precious His thoughts are of you and how great is the sum of them. The scriptures adds, "They are more in number than the sand." (Psalm 139:18.)
When I was a little girl, our family lived in Miami, Florida. Every summer, our parents took all six of us children to the well-known Miami Beach. I remember putting a pinch of white beach sand in the palm of my hand and trying to count the grains. I wanted to see how many could be in one pinch because they could actually be counted if one had the patience. My attention span was so short then, I usually counted to 100, threw the sand in the air and ran to the water as the tide came rolling in. As the years went by and I discovered the verse of scripture in Psalm 139:18, I remembered my pinch of sand and I was overwhelmed to know God's thoughts about me were compared to the number of the grains of sand! What a thought! There could have been at least 1,000 grains in one pinch if not more. Looking down the beach that stretched for miles and miles north and south from where I stood, told me there was no way to even begin to estimate how many grains of sand were there. I believe the truth our Father wants us to know is that we could never estimate how much and how often He is thinking of each of His children throughout the world, and how much He is watching over them with love and care. What a profound truth!
It is in prayer that we learn to associate these truths to our lives personally and perceive the Holy Spirit speaking them into our spirit for comfort and reassurance from time to time.
Your times of prayer are doing more in your life than you could possibly know. They are times when He speaks clearly, simple messages just for you. The more time you spend in prayer, the more He will speak and minister to your specific needs for each day, and in the meantime you will grow to be a spiritual giant that causes weaker believers to desire what you have! It is awesome, and it all happens through prayer!
Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and earth..." (Matthew 28:1) and later in Luke 10:19 He said, "Behold, I give unto you power...(translated in Greek as "authority")...over all the power of the enemy" but you will never experience this power until you learn to pray!
Jesus said, "All things are possible to him that believeth," (Mark 9:23) but you will never have this kind of faith to believe until you learn to pray!
A successful Christian life depends on prayer because it is the only path into the presence of God. Prayer is a special time of communion and fellowship with our Creator, Who said, "Let us make man in our image." It is the time when we learn how the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit continually changes us and we grow into being better citizens as well as stronger believers.
During prayer the following things are taking place in your life:
1. You are learning to know God as Father, intimately.
2. You begin to comprehend how much He loves you and desires that you experience salvation, peace, wellness and wholeness, and how to maintain it every day.
3. You are growing and developing a stronger relationship in your walk with God.
4. You are learning to talk with Him from your heart in praise and worship and in finding answers to your daly needs.
God knows your life's history. He knows the areas of your life that may have been wounded or neglected. He knows the emotional nourishment that may not have been enough when you were growing up and He wants to restore that during your prayer time. He knows the joys, struggles, disappointments and unfulfilled longings. He knows the social handicaps you may have discovered in your life or your spouse's life after you reached adulthood and He wants to restore wholeness even now. He knows your physical condition and wants you to know He purchased healing for you when He went to the cross, carried your sins upon Himself, became the sacrifice that pleased God, paid for sin and its penalty and included healing for your body too.
How can you cope if there are issues or dreams that you cherished and hoped for, for many years but they are still unfulfilled . You can bring them all to your heavenly Father in the name of Jesus, in prayer, because He can fulfll and/or restore them all, one by one. He knows all this and more, and He will show it back to you in greater detail during prayer.
Before you were born, you were in God's mind. He had a special DNA for you that is so unique, that not one of the billions of people on earth have quite the fine-tuned make up of your body! Psalm 139:15 says, "My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret... and in thy book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them." Why do you suppose this was recorded in the Word of God? It was to encourage you and many generations yet unborn to know how precious His thoughts are of you and how great is the sum of them. The scriptures adds, "They are more in number than the sand." (Psalm 139:18.)
When I was a little girl, our family lived in Miami, Florida. Every summer, our parents took all six of us children to the well-known Miami Beach. I remember putting a pinch of white beach sand in the palm of my hand and trying to count the grains. I wanted to see how many could be in one pinch because they could actually be counted if one had the patience. My attention span was so short then, I usually counted to 100, threw the sand in the air and ran to the water as the tide came rolling in. As the years went by and I discovered the verse of scripture in Psalm 139:18, I remembered my pinch of sand and I was overwhelmed to know God's thoughts about me were compared to the number of the grains of sand! What a thought! There could have been at least 1,000 grains in one pinch if not more. Looking down the beach that stretched for miles and miles north and south from where I stood, told me there was no way to even begin to estimate how many grains of sand were there. I believe the truth our Father wants us to know is that we could never estimate how much and how often He is thinking of each of His children throughout the world, and how much He is watching over them with love and care. What a profound truth!
It is in prayer that we learn to associate these truths to our lives personally and perceive the Holy Spirit speaking them into our spirit for comfort and reassurance from time to time.
Your times of prayer are doing more in your life than you could possibly know. They are times when He speaks clearly, simple messages just for you. The more time you spend in prayer, the more He will speak and minister to your specific needs for each day, and in the meantime you will grow to be a spiritual giant that causes weaker believers to desire what you have! It is awesome, and it all happens through prayer!
Friday, October 5, 2007
God Is There All the Time!
All Christians have experienced times when they could not sense God's presence.
Sometimes God is just silent and wants us to know it does not necessarily mean something is wrong; we are just maturing in our walk with Him and He is still with us. Sometimes it may be that we stepped out of His will, especially if we have no direction and God's voice cannot be heard. Whether we "feel" His presence every moment or not, God is always there! He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us! When the silent times come, it is good to say, "This too, shall pass"
Our faith is often strengthened when we read about great men that God used. All of them experienced times when it seemed God was distant, yet God was very present and often worked miracles through them. Elijah was known to be one of the most outstanding prophets of his time. He was one who was mightily used of God! When he prayed, God heard and answered. His prayer held back invading armies and supernaturally defeated those that were determined to destroy the Israelites who were moving into their Promised Land. But the new residents were becoming interested in the life styles of heathen nations around them and they slowly began to drift into their sinful practices. Because of their great sins, Elijah called for a drought for three years and it did not rain for three and a half years. His concern for Israel was so great he called for a contest between Baal and God, declaring "Whoever answers by fire, let Him be God." The backslidden Israelites agreed that whoever answered by fire would be proclaimed as God.
The contest began. First, the Baal worshipers called on Baal to send down fire from heaven, but nothing happened. Then it was Elijah's turn. First, Elijah repaired the altar! (This is important to remember before we ask God to perform a miracle for us.) Then, placing the wood, sacrifice and water on the altar he prayed for fire! The fire not only came down and consumed the sacrifice but also the altar, water, dust and the rocks used to form the altar! It was surely an awesome sight.
When the Israelites saw the demonstration of God's power again, they remembered the miracles God had performed in the past and they fell on their faces at once declaring that Jehovah was God. (I Kings 18:39). Seeing the Israelites were in the mood to obey God, Elijah commanded that they take all the prophets of Baal and the groves and kill every one, and they did. It was a mighty demonstration of God's power and victory that day. In his zeal and victory, Elijah then announced an abundance of rain and went to the mountain to pray.
But we read when King Ahab's wife, Jezebel, heard that her prophets were killed, she ignored the powerful demonstration of God's power that consumed Elijah's sacrifice and in anger, she declared that Elijah would be killed the next day about that time! The news got back to Elijah and..... suddenly, he fled for his life!
We may wonder why Elijah fled. Elijah, the mighty servant of God with power to save and destroy, had fled from a woman.... because of a threat? Yes. Though God demonstrated His power through him, Elijah was still human. He was weary. He felt his calling and responsibility to God, but he may have struggled with discouragement because his messages were ignored. In a moment, weariness caused him to lose focus and the news gripped his heart; he forgot the great success. He may have even wondered if God was there to hear Jezebel's threat,...and he fled 18-30 miles toward Horeb.
How easy it is for us to become discouraged too when we see friends and family ignore the God Who performed mighty answers to prayer in their lives. Notice the facts about Elijah's response that are so human and are so much like ours sometimes, even though we love God as Elijah loved God.
1. He forgot to inquire of God what he should do. He just fled! God could have protected him from Jezebel, yet He allowed his servant to flee. The reason this response is recorded in God's Word is to teach us that much time can be wasted when we run with our own plans that did not have God's approval! Though we can always return to God after making wrong decisions, wasted years can never be redeemed! Listen, and remember!
2. Because he had no direction from God, he came to a "wilderness." He didn't think ahead that there would be no water, no food, no direction or people while he was running without God's directive. In today's world, a person who would run from God will run into the snare of the devil who has no living water, no food to nourish his soul, no direction to share with him, no answers for comfort or direction and no person available who would be interested to help. People are a million miles from the gates of peace when they're one little step from God. Yet, God is there waiting for a call!
4. But God followed His weary prophet and watched as Elijah sat under a juniper tree and asked to die.
6. Being weary, Elijah fell asleep. At meal time, God dispatched an angel to bring a flask of water, to make a fire and bake a hot lunch. Then the angel tapped him on the shoulder and told him to "Arise and eat. The journey is too hard for thee." Sometimes you may become weary too, but reading of God's tender care over his weary prophet, will restore your faith to know that God is there with you and He knows you have reached a point where your "journey is too great" for you." It's time for a rest whether you feel His presence or not. In His unique way, He will give you rest. Then He will encourage you, too: "Don't be weary....I have prepared a special table in the presence of your need!" At a time like that recall God's Word, "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9) And follow Him to His special table prepared just for you. It will be located in your time of communion and prayer with Him.
7. Elijah fled quickly! If we run, we will have run FROM God and we will always have to RETURN TO where we left off following the direct will of God, if we want Him to lead and guide us. Elijah had to.
8. There was no need for Elijah to go to Horeb because when he reached Horeb (about 180 miles south of where he sat under the juniper tree), he was sent right back, and further north than the place he had started from. It took him 40 days to arrive at Horeb, then another 80 days to arrive at his next assignment.
9. As he continued traveling those 40 days and nights in the strength of only two lunches, he found a cave and entered. He was still in a wilderness but God was following him. With tender compassion God asked: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Elijah answered, "I was jealous for the Lord God....for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant and have thrown down thy altars and slain thy prophets and I only am left." In other words, "I gave them the Word you gave me, and diligently fulfilled all of your assignments to me, but they forsook you, God." God listened. He understood Elijah's heart cry and instructed him to go stand on the mountain.
In his cave on the mountain, discouraged Elijah heard the strong wind; he felt the earthquake rock the mountain and saw the fire that broke out, but they didn't get his attention. He knew God was not in them. But then.... suddenly he heard a still small voice, and recognizing that voice from many years of close fellowship and service with God, something stirred within him again as it had many times before, and he arose! He knew God was near! God made the difference in a moment, and Elijah came out of the cave when he heard God's voice! You will come out of your cave of life's temporary situations too, when you hear God's voice!
When Elijah stepped out of the cave, he was refreshed and restored again! He was ready to follow God's next assignment. Isn't it good when you can hear God's voice after a time of struggle, or feeling temporarily out of focus? It is reassuring to know God is always there.
Has God asked you, "My son, my daughter, what are you doing here?" He followed you to the place where you are right now! He knows your address or the location of your wilderness! Through the preaching of your pastor or spiritual leader, He will speak to you. Like Elijah, when you hear His voice you too, will come out of your cave of discouragement, disappointment or weariness! Stay in close fellowship with Him through prayer and meditation on His Word until your way becomes clear! You are just passing through to the next level of information related to the assignment He gave you! Call! He's there!
Do you feel you may have reacted too quickly to information and drawn your own conclusion that you missed God? Do you feel you delayed His plan for your life? He knows what's happening and He will talk with you about any issue on your mind if you call. He is still there, waiting to speak and restore! Call!
"God hath not promised skies always blue; flower strewn pathways all our lives through. He hath not promised sun without rain, joy without sorrow or peace without pain. But God hath promised strength for the day; rest for our labors, light for our way! 'Grace for each trial, help from above, unfailing sympathy and undying love!" Yes, God promised, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5).
Sometimes God is just silent and wants us to know it does not necessarily mean something is wrong; we are just maturing in our walk with Him and He is still with us. Sometimes it may be that we stepped out of His will, especially if we have no direction and God's voice cannot be heard. Whether we "feel" His presence every moment or not, God is always there! He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us! When the silent times come, it is good to say, "This too, shall pass"
Our faith is often strengthened when we read about great men that God used. All of them experienced times when it seemed God was distant, yet God was very present and often worked miracles through them. Elijah was known to be one of the most outstanding prophets of his time. He was one who was mightily used of God! When he prayed, God heard and answered. His prayer held back invading armies and supernaturally defeated those that were determined to destroy the Israelites who were moving into their Promised Land. But the new residents were becoming interested in the life styles of heathen nations around them and they slowly began to drift into their sinful practices. Because of their great sins, Elijah called for a drought for three years and it did not rain for three and a half years. His concern for Israel was so great he called for a contest between Baal and God, declaring "Whoever answers by fire, let Him be God." The backslidden Israelites agreed that whoever answered by fire would be proclaimed as God.
The contest began. First, the Baal worshipers called on Baal to send down fire from heaven, but nothing happened. Then it was Elijah's turn. First, Elijah repaired the altar! (This is important to remember before we ask God to perform a miracle for us.) Then, placing the wood, sacrifice and water on the altar he prayed for fire! The fire not only came down and consumed the sacrifice but also the altar, water, dust and the rocks used to form the altar! It was surely an awesome sight.
When the Israelites saw the demonstration of God's power again, they remembered the miracles God had performed in the past and they fell on their faces at once declaring that Jehovah was God. (I Kings 18:39). Seeing the Israelites were in the mood to obey God, Elijah commanded that they take all the prophets of Baal and the groves and kill every one, and they did. It was a mighty demonstration of God's power and victory that day. In his zeal and victory, Elijah then announced an abundance of rain and went to the mountain to pray.
But we read when King Ahab's wife, Jezebel, heard that her prophets were killed, she ignored the powerful demonstration of God's power that consumed Elijah's sacrifice and in anger, she declared that Elijah would be killed the next day about that time! The news got back to Elijah and..... suddenly, he fled for his life!
We may wonder why Elijah fled. Elijah, the mighty servant of God with power to save and destroy, had fled from a woman.... because of a threat? Yes. Though God demonstrated His power through him, Elijah was still human. He was weary. He felt his calling and responsibility to God, but he may have struggled with discouragement because his messages were ignored. In a moment, weariness caused him to lose focus and the news gripped his heart; he forgot the great success. He may have even wondered if God was there to hear Jezebel's threat,...and he fled 18-30 miles toward Horeb.
How easy it is for us to become discouraged too when we see friends and family ignore the God Who performed mighty answers to prayer in their lives. Notice the facts about Elijah's response that are so human and are so much like ours sometimes, even though we love God as Elijah loved God.
1. He forgot to inquire of God what he should do. He just fled! God could have protected him from Jezebel, yet He allowed his servant to flee. The reason this response is recorded in God's Word is to teach us that much time can be wasted when we run with our own plans that did not have God's approval! Though we can always return to God after making wrong decisions, wasted years can never be redeemed! Listen, and remember!
2. Because he had no direction from God, he came to a "wilderness." He didn't think ahead that there would be no water, no food, no direction or people while he was running without God's directive. In today's world, a person who would run from God will run into the snare of the devil who has no living water, no food to nourish his soul, no direction to share with him, no answers for comfort or direction and no person available who would be interested to help. People are a million miles from the gates of peace when they're one little step from God. Yet, God is there waiting for a call!
4. But God followed His weary prophet and watched as Elijah sat under a juniper tree and asked to die.
6. Being weary, Elijah fell asleep. At meal time, God dispatched an angel to bring a flask of water, to make a fire and bake a hot lunch. Then the angel tapped him on the shoulder and told him to "Arise and eat. The journey is too hard for thee." Sometimes you may become weary too, but reading of God's tender care over his weary prophet, will restore your faith to know that God is there with you and He knows you have reached a point where your "journey is too great" for you." It's time for a rest whether you feel His presence or not. In His unique way, He will give you rest. Then He will encourage you, too: "Don't be weary....I have prepared a special table in the presence of your need!" At a time like that recall God's Word, "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9) And follow Him to His special table prepared just for you. It will be located in your time of communion and prayer with Him.
7. Elijah fled quickly! If we run, we will have run FROM God and we will always have to RETURN TO where we left off following the direct will of God, if we want Him to lead and guide us. Elijah had to.
8. There was no need for Elijah to go to Horeb because when he reached Horeb (about 180 miles south of where he sat under the juniper tree), he was sent right back, and further north than the place he had started from. It took him 40 days to arrive at Horeb, then another 80 days to arrive at his next assignment.
9. As he continued traveling those 40 days and nights in the strength of only two lunches, he found a cave and entered. He was still in a wilderness but God was following him. With tender compassion God asked: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Elijah answered, "I was jealous for the Lord God....for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant and have thrown down thy altars and slain thy prophets and I only am left." In other words, "I gave them the Word you gave me, and diligently fulfilled all of your assignments to me, but they forsook you, God." God listened. He understood Elijah's heart cry and instructed him to go stand on the mountain.
In his cave on the mountain, discouraged Elijah heard the strong wind; he felt the earthquake rock the mountain and saw the fire that broke out, but they didn't get his attention. He knew God was not in them. But then.... suddenly he heard a still small voice, and recognizing that voice from many years of close fellowship and service with God, something stirred within him again as it had many times before, and he arose! He knew God was near! God made the difference in a moment, and Elijah came out of the cave when he heard God's voice! You will come out of your cave of life's temporary situations too, when you hear God's voice!
When Elijah stepped out of the cave, he was refreshed and restored again! He was ready to follow God's next assignment. Isn't it good when you can hear God's voice after a time of struggle, or feeling temporarily out of focus? It is reassuring to know God is always there.
Has God asked you, "My son, my daughter, what are you doing here?" He followed you to the place where you are right now! He knows your address or the location of your wilderness! Through the preaching of your pastor or spiritual leader, He will speak to you. Like Elijah, when you hear His voice you too, will come out of your cave of discouragement, disappointment or weariness! Stay in close fellowship with Him through prayer and meditation on His Word until your way becomes clear! You are just passing through to the next level of information related to the assignment He gave you! Call! He's there!
Do you feel you may have reacted too quickly to information and drawn your own conclusion that you missed God? Do you feel you delayed His plan for your life? He knows what's happening and He will talk with you about any issue on your mind if you call. He is still there, waiting to speak and restore! Call!
"God hath not promised skies always blue; flower strewn pathways all our lives through. He hath not promised sun without rain, joy without sorrow or peace without pain. But God hath promised strength for the day; rest for our labors, light for our way! 'Grace for each trial, help from above, unfailing sympathy and undying love!" Yes, God promised, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5).
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Your Check-up
Every believer is on a different level of Christian growth and development!
Why are some Christians a joy to be around? They are full of faith, zeal, joy, inspiration and are always talking about the positive side of life. They are growing. They are a good example of a Bible believing Christian. The Christian life is a growing life. Every grace and blessing of the gospel is in seed form and is implanted in the new child of God to grow. "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18).
A Nutritionist is often consulted to examine the condition of sick people with certain diseases or physical weaknesses. At times, he may make certain recommendations that restore health and prolong life. Sometimes the only thing that is needed is for the sick person to change to a new diet and life style. If an evaluation is made and the sick person begins to make the change, it is amazing how quickly the body will respond and life will be restored again! It began with a check-up.
At times all of us need to take a check-up of our walk with God. Are we spiritually healthy and are we continually growing? Where are we in our daily commitment and obedience? How is your periodic check-up today? Ask yourself the following questions:
1. "Do I expect to meet God when I attend church, or do I attend only out of a sense of duty without any expectations?"
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised." (Hebrews 10:23) If you attend church expecting to meet God, He will be sure to meet you. Hold fast to your faith. Expect Him to speak into your spirit with His Word. There will be a special Rhema Word just for you in every sermon, but you must be attentive and listening to know when it is spoken for you! Though the message may be a subject you think is not relative, it will actually minister not only to you but to everyone, differently, according to the many situations represented in that service. Why? Because much prayer by your pastor, church staff and prayer group drew the Holy Spirit into your service to meet people and their needs. Go to church expecting God to meet you. He is faithful.
2. "Do I prepare my heart for the preaching of God's Word before I attend the next service or do I at least pray for the service on my way to church?"
Praying for the service on the way to church will make a difference in your life and in the service you attemd!
In Korea, the 800,000 members of the Yoido Full Gospel (Assemblies of God) Church pray for Dr David Yonggi Cho and all 700+ pastors of their church during the week and especially before they enter the sanctuary for the next service. It is no wonder that when Dr Cho preaches, the anointing is so powerful on God's Word that many people are saved, healed or received answers to prayer in each of the seven services on Sunday. The Rhema Word that came forth strengthened many people and gave answers they needed. As they prayed for their pastor, his ministry back to them was with power which caused them to pray for him more, --which continued the anointing upon the Word and ministry! Think of what could happen in your church if everyone prayed during the week for your pastor and then prayed on their way to church too! It would bring the presence of God into the sanctuary for the service. People would be saved. Others would be healed or delivered of bondages and depression. God desires to work but He works only when we pray! If this thought stirs your heart you could be the first to be the example of praying for your pastor during the week or for a ministry that was entrusted to you! YOU can make a difference! Pray for the next service you attend.
3. "Do I take notes of the sermons and meditate on them during the week?"
Pastors spend a lot of time in prayer to know the leading of the Holy Spirit for each service. They spend time, sometimes even hours, in prayerful meditation before the Lord to receive a confirmation or to be sure they have the right sermon for that specific day and know what more God desires to do for His people in that service. The Holy Spirit knows who will be present. He knows every intricate detail and time deadline of needs present in each service. Though people may not share information with anyone, they go to church to hear from God. The Holy Spirit who sees all, knows they will be present so He directs the message for that service to be a special Word for someone. Knowing this, how wonderful it is to know that a special Word from God has come for a person and it is meeting a definite need for him in that service. If you have taken notes, God can use the notes to bless you or someone else who may cross your path that week. That would be a ministry assignment planned by God for you. Take notes of your pastor's sermons.
4. "Do I diligently seek to obey the instructions and commandments given in God's Word as being specific truth for me?"
I feel sad when I hear a lukewarm Christian say she believes God will make an exception for her if she does not obey the Word because God knows her weakness. God's Word is straightforward and true. "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34.)"To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.' (James 4:17.)and sin will not enter Heaven. Examine your obedience to all of God's Word. If you are following his Word diligently with no exceptions, God wants to use you to speak a special Word at the right time to the right person in the right place that will convict, bring repentance and guide someone back to the truth again. Continue to be diligent to obey all of God's Word
5. "Have I made a commitment to be faithful to my church?"
Being faithful to worship with other believers is not an option. It is a command: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." (Hebrews 10:25.) The New Testament believers became an example for us to follow. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and prayers." (Acts 2:42.) God led you to the church you are attending and caused you to grow there. He has plans for you to continue to grow there. It happens as you continue to walk steadfastly in doctrine taught by your church, in fellowship with other believers in your church (both strong Christians and weak ones because you were also weak at one time), taking the elements of communion together in your church, and participating in the prayer groups that pray one for another.
At times you may see inconsistencies that trouble you, but because you see them, it means the situation is your personal assignment to pray for them until God solves the problem. He can solve anything when God's people pray. Everyone has a part in the building of God's kingdom. He meant that to include you. Though an issue may appear insignificant, if it disturbs your peace, it usually means God has assigned you to pray for that issue! That is a sign of growing and developing to the next level of God's trust in you!
David said in Psalm 72:13, "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall FLOURISH in the courts of our God." God's design for a church is to minister nourishment to you and for you to minister nourishment to others from the nourishment you received. His desire is for your spiritual man to flourish, --grow spiritually, mature steadily, be an encourager faithfully and be an example of the believer always. A steady diet of spiritual nourishment from the same church will bring more solid, steady growth to a believer than if one moves from church to church where the spiritual nourishment may not be what your soul needs. God looks for faithfulness while He takes care of you. Someday, when we stand in His presence He will know the grade on your report card for the issues in His Word that He desired you to take care of for Him. Make a new commitment to be faithful to your church.
Just as it takes time for a new born infant to grow to manhood, or for the sun to rise in the morning, or for a beautiful rose bud to bloom in all of its beauty, it also takes time for you to experience growth in your Christian walk with God. But it is definitely happening as you are faithful to remain planted in the church where the Holy Spirit led you. There, you will flourish
________________________________________________
To send a comment regarding an article, please feel free to press on the word "comment" at the end of an article, or send an email. I would like to hear from you. (LS)
________________________________________________
Why are some Christians a joy to be around? They are full of faith, zeal, joy, inspiration and are always talking about the positive side of life. They are growing. They are a good example of a Bible believing Christian. The Christian life is a growing life. Every grace and blessing of the gospel is in seed form and is implanted in the new child of God to grow. "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18).
A Nutritionist is often consulted to examine the condition of sick people with certain diseases or physical weaknesses. At times, he may make certain recommendations that restore health and prolong life. Sometimes the only thing that is needed is for the sick person to change to a new diet and life style. If an evaluation is made and the sick person begins to make the change, it is amazing how quickly the body will respond and life will be restored again! It began with a check-up.
At times all of us need to take a check-up of our walk with God. Are we spiritually healthy and are we continually growing? Where are we in our daily commitment and obedience? How is your periodic check-up today? Ask yourself the following questions:
1. "Do I expect to meet God when I attend church, or do I attend only out of a sense of duty without any expectations?"
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised." (Hebrews 10:23) If you attend church expecting to meet God, He will be sure to meet you. Hold fast to your faith. Expect Him to speak into your spirit with His Word. There will be a special Rhema Word just for you in every sermon, but you must be attentive and listening to know when it is spoken for you! Though the message may be a subject you think is not relative, it will actually minister not only to you but to everyone, differently, according to the many situations represented in that service. Why? Because much prayer by your pastor, church staff and prayer group drew the Holy Spirit into your service to meet people and their needs. Go to church expecting God to meet you. He is faithful.
2. "Do I prepare my heart for the preaching of God's Word before I attend the next service or do I at least pray for the service on my way to church?"
Praying for the service on the way to church will make a difference in your life and in the service you attemd!
In Korea, the 800,000 members of the Yoido Full Gospel (Assemblies of God) Church pray for Dr David Yonggi Cho and all 700+ pastors of their church during the week and especially before they enter the sanctuary for the next service. It is no wonder that when Dr Cho preaches, the anointing is so powerful on God's Word that many people are saved, healed or received answers to prayer in each of the seven services on Sunday. The Rhema Word that came forth strengthened many people and gave answers they needed. As they prayed for their pastor, his ministry back to them was with power which caused them to pray for him more, --which continued the anointing upon the Word and ministry! Think of what could happen in your church if everyone prayed during the week for your pastor and then prayed on their way to church too! It would bring the presence of God into the sanctuary for the service. People would be saved. Others would be healed or delivered of bondages and depression. God desires to work but He works only when we pray! If this thought stirs your heart you could be the first to be the example of praying for your pastor during the week or for a ministry that was entrusted to you! YOU can make a difference! Pray for the next service you attend.
3. "Do I take notes of the sermons and meditate on them during the week?"
Pastors spend a lot of time in prayer to know the leading of the Holy Spirit for each service. They spend time, sometimes even hours, in prayerful meditation before the Lord to receive a confirmation or to be sure they have the right sermon for that specific day and know what more God desires to do for His people in that service. The Holy Spirit knows who will be present. He knows every intricate detail and time deadline of needs present in each service. Though people may not share information with anyone, they go to church to hear from God. The Holy Spirit who sees all, knows they will be present so He directs the message for that service to be a special Word for someone. Knowing this, how wonderful it is to know that a special Word from God has come for a person and it is meeting a definite need for him in that service. If you have taken notes, God can use the notes to bless you or someone else who may cross your path that week. That would be a ministry assignment planned by God for you. Take notes of your pastor's sermons.
4. "Do I diligently seek to obey the instructions and commandments given in God's Word as being specific truth for me?"
I feel sad when I hear a lukewarm Christian say she believes God will make an exception for her if she does not obey the Word because God knows her weakness. God's Word is straightforward and true. "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34.)"To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.' (James 4:17.)and sin will not enter Heaven. Examine your obedience to all of God's Word. If you are following his Word diligently with no exceptions, God wants to use you to speak a special Word at the right time to the right person in the right place that will convict, bring repentance and guide someone back to the truth again. Continue to be diligent to obey all of God's Word
5. "Have I made a commitment to be faithful to my church?"
Being faithful to worship with other believers is not an option. It is a command: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." (Hebrews 10:25.) The New Testament believers became an example for us to follow. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and prayers." (Acts 2:42.) God led you to the church you are attending and caused you to grow there. He has plans for you to continue to grow there. It happens as you continue to walk steadfastly in doctrine taught by your church, in fellowship with other believers in your church (both strong Christians and weak ones because you were also weak at one time), taking the elements of communion together in your church, and participating in the prayer groups that pray one for another.
At times you may see inconsistencies that trouble you, but because you see them, it means the situation is your personal assignment to pray for them until God solves the problem. He can solve anything when God's people pray. Everyone has a part in the building of God's kingdom. He meant that to include you. Though an issue may appear insignificant, if it disturbs your peace, it usually means God has assigned you to pray for that issue! That is a sign of growing and developing to the next level of God's trust in you!
David said in Psalm 72:13, "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall FLOURISH in the courts of our God." God's design for a church is to minister nourishment to you and for you to minister nourishment to others from the nourishment you received. His desire is for your spiritual man to flourish, --grow spiritually, mature steadily, be an encourager faithfully and be an example of the believer always. A steady diet of spiritual nourishment from the same church will bring more solid, steady growth to a believer than if one moves from church to church where the spiritual nourishment may not be what your soul needs. God looks for faithfulness while He takes care of you. Someday, when we stand in His presence He will know the grade on your report card for the issues in His Word that He desired you to take care of for Him. Make a new commitment to be faithful to your church.
Just as it takes time for a new born infant to grow to manhood, or for the sun to rise in the morning, or for a beautiful rose bud to bloom in all of its beauty, it also takes time for you to experience growth in your Christian walk with God. But it is definitely happening as you are faithful to remain planted in the church where the Holy Spirit led you. There, you will flourish
________________________________________________
To send a comment regarding an article, please feel free to press on the word "comment" at the end of an article, or send an email. I would like to hear from you. (LS)
________________________________________________
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Fasting and Prayer
Faith needs the Word of God AND prayer for its full development and growth!
Prayer needs fasting to gain power to bring deliverance to people and circumstances that are difficult! Fasting has produced wonders when prayer and faith came together! They are MIRACLES and they are happening in this century today! They will still happen when people fast and pray because fasting with prayer will break the power of evil! Isaiah 58:6 says, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness!"
In Korea, Christians go often to "Prayer Mountain," owned and operated by the Yoido Full Gospel (Assemblies of God) Church in Seoul, Korea. I have heard many testimonies of diseases totally healed and/or circumstances completely reversed. Are the Korean people the only people who experience these phenominal answers to prayer? No! People from many countries who heard of Prayer Mountain made application to rent a room at Prayer Mountain and traveled to Korea to spend quaility time in prayer with other believers who are also fasting and praying. On any given day, as many as 2,000 people from all over Korea and/or other countries will have visited Prayer Mountain to spend quality time in prayer.
One outstanding incident that happened while I was still a missionary in Korea, concerned a businessman. He had just returned from the bank with the payroll for his employees when the entire money bag disappeared. Stunned and frightened as to what he should do, he called his Christian associates who worked with him and told them he was going to Prayer Mountain to fast and pray. He would return when he had an answer. This is a common decision among believers in Korea when there seems to be no other recourse. It was the middle of the week. He fasted and prayed asking God to supernaturally intervene and cause the person who took the payroll to return it. By that weekend he received a call. The person on the other end of the line confessed he was the one who stole the money and asked his boss, "If I return the entire amount will you forgive me and not turn me over to the police?" When he was assured he would be forgiven, the thief drove the 30 miles to Prayer Mountain and surrendered the payroll, still in the same bag, in the same amount of bills and change as the owner had received it from the bank. "Why didn't you spend it?" the owner asked. "Every time I put my hand in the bag," the thief said, "my hand began to tremble uncontrolably and I knew this was something different....maybe God was telling me to return it." The boss forgave the thief and led him to the Lord and today the would-be thief is a born again spirit-filled believer and one of the elders of the church! What a lesson! But the greater lesson was that fasting and earnest prayer brought the answer! Today, miracles are still happening when people are desperate and serious enough to fast and pray for their answer.
"ALL things are possible to him that believeth!" Mark 9:23.
Fasting is not abstaining from meats except fish. It is not drinking only juices but continuing with a heavy daily schedule, or abstaining from some pleasures but not others. It is coming away from the cares of life to pray, especially during the time you would normally have your meals. It is making a sacrifice of your time for God Who alone can bring a supernatural answer! It was said of the Israelites, "When you fast, you still do the things you enjoy. There is no self-denial. You fill up your day with things, business or pleasure. In other words, you set your own plans how you will fast!" It is best to follow the plan God directed Isaiah to give us. The question is "To see our family born again and have healing in our life, are we serious enough to fast and pray for it?"
In Isaiah 58:6, we read of God's purposes in fasting and praying:
1. To loose the bands of wickedness, perhaps over your family, city or from witchcraft.
2. To undo heavy burdens such as your need for finances to pay bills, to find a job that will last or family squabbles and bickering.
3. To let the oppressed go free. Today many people suffer from depression, being overcome with grief, working with ungodly work partners and experiencing defiance with children.
4. To break every yoke such as drugs, alcohol, perversion, unfaithfulness, sickness, a spreading disease or weakness, continual poverty and/or bad habits.
Isaiah 58:7-8 adds, Before you begin a fast "Hide not thyself from thy own flesh." Don't pretend all is well if you know it is not. Take care to confess, repent and mend family disputes first and then when you fast and pray, your prayers will not be hindered.
God has given us solutions in His Word to every situation: how to live in divine health, see our family return to the Lord, make us strong in the calling He placed in us, give direction when we don't know what to do and to break every bondage. The answers lie within our reach. The answer is to fast and pray!
Prayer needs fasting to gain power to bring deliverance to people and circumstances that are difficult! Fasting has produced wonders when prayer and faith came together! They are MIRACLES and they are happening in this century today! They will still happen when people fast and pray because fasting with prayer will break the power of evil! Isaiah 58:6 says, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness!"
In Korea, Christians go often to "Prayer Mountain," owned and operated by the Yoido Full Gospel (Assemblies of God) Church in Seoul, Korea. I have heard many testimonies of diseases totally healed and/or circumstances completely reversed. Are the Korean people the only people who experience these phenominal answers to prayer? No! People from many countries who heard of Prayer Mountain made application to rent a room at Prayer Mountain and traveled to Korea to spend quaility time in prayer with other believers who are also fasting and praying. On any given day, as many as 2,000 people from all over Korea and/or other countries will have visited Prayer Mountain to spend quality time in prayer.
One outstanding incident that happened while I was still a missionary in Korea, concerned a businessman. He had just returned from the bank with the payroll for his employees when the entire money bag disappeared. Stunned and frightened as to what he should do, he called his Christian associates who worked with him and told them he was going to Prayer Mountain to fast and pray. He would return when he had an answer. This is a common decision among believers in Korea when there seems to be no other recourse. It was the middle of the week. He fasted and prayed asking God to supernaturally intervene and cause the person who took the payroll to return it. By that weekend he received a call. The person on the other end of the line confessed he was the one who stole the money and asked his boss, "If I return the entire amount will you forgive me and not turn me over to the police?" When he was assured he would be forgiven, the thief drove the 30 miles to Prayer Mountain and surrendered the payroll, still in the same bag, in the same amount of bills and change as the owner had received it from the bank. "Why didn't you spend it?" the owner asked. "Every time I put my hand in the bag," the thief said, "my hand began to tremble uncontrolably and I knew this was something different....maybe God was telling me to return it." The boss forgave the thief and led him to the Lord and today the would-be thief is a born again spirit-filled believer and one of the elders of the church! What a lesson! But the greater lesson was that fasting and earnest prayer brought the answer! Today, miracles are still happening when people are desperate and serious enough to fast and pray for their answer.
"ALL things are possible to him that believeth!" Mark 9:23.
Fasting is not abstaining from meats except fish. It is not drinking only juices but continuing with a heavy daily schedule, or abstaining from some pleasures but not others. It is coming away from the cares of life to pray, especially during the time you would normally have your meals. It is making a sacrifice of your time for God Who alone can bring a supernatural answer! It was said of the Israelites, "When you fast, you still do the things you enjoy. There is no self-denial. You fill up your day with things, business or pleasure. In other words, you set your own plans how you will fast!" It is best to follow the plan God directed Isaiah to give us. The question is "To see our family born again and have healing in our life, are we serious enough to fast and pray for it?"
In Isaiah 58:6, we read of God's purposes in fasting and praying:
1. To loose the bands of wickedness, perhaps over your family, city or from witchcraft.
2. To undo heavy burdens such as your need for finances to pay bills, to find a job that will last or family squabbles and bickering.
3. To let the oppressed go free. Today many people suffer from depression, being overcome with grief, working with ungodly work partners and experiencing defiance with children.
4. To break every yoke such as drugs, alcohol, perversion, unfaithfulness, sickness, a spreading disease or weakness, continual poverty and/or bad habits.
Isaiah 58:7-8 adds, Before you begin a fast "Hide not thyself from thy own flesh." Don't pretend all is well if you know it is not. Take care to confess, repent and mend family disputes first and then when you fast and pray, your prayers will not be hindered.
God has given us solutions in His Word to every situation: how to live in divine health, see our family return to the Lord, make us strong in the calling He placed in us, give direction when we don't know what to do and to break every bondage. The answers lie within our reach. The answer is to fast and pray!
Friday, September 21, 2007
When God is Silent
It's interesting to note that there were times when God was silent to the very people whom He chose to use for special assignments.
Hezekiah was a great King who did all that was right in God's sight but he experienced God's silence when God's word to him may have changed the course of history in his day. God wanted to know if he would always consult Him in all of his decisions. "And God left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart." (II Chronicles 32:31). When the Caldean astronomers came to inquire about the God who could turn the sun backward, instead of giving praise to God for the miracle,Hezekiah unwisely showed them all of his treasures. Later, Judah was invaded and all the rich treasures were taken to Assyria.
Though Hannah prayed to God earnestly for a child, she experienced grief and sorrow and God's silence. Careful reading of her life, we can conclude God had to prepare a Hannah before He could prepare a Samuel. Though not recorded in scripture, I perceive her strong intercessory prayer included her promise to pray for Samuel all the days of his life if God granted her request. She may have forseen his leadership role as a prophet and she may have vowed a promise to never take him away from his calling. Samuel became the second most outstanding prophet of his day. This is the power of a praying Mother!
Job was a man of great wealth and influence. He was blameless and a man of outstanding character. He suffered with unimaginable pain and loss yet God was silent during this period. He lost his family and wealth and his wife even told him to curse God and die. His life style of serving God and praying for each of his children tell us he was a righteous man. Through it all he maintained his integrity and said, "Though He slay me yet will I trust Him!" Job did not know that God had given permission to Satan to severely test him. He steadfastly confirmed that God does not forsake His children. When the testing time was over, God graciously restored twice as much as Job had before, but the great contest between Satan and God proved that Job loved God through all of his severe testing.
Can you say that?
Every believer will meet a time in his life when God will be silent but the silence should bring a time of soul searching to find out the reason. One comforting scripture for everyone who is being tested today, is God's promise: "There hath no temptation (or test) taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God's silence in our lives causes us to search for Him until we reach Him in prayer. Sometimes the silent period is the most important tool God uses to draw us unto Himself. If you are passing through a period when God is silent to you, don't be discouraged. It's testing time! When God is silent is the time to pray and ask Him to reveal the reason, if any, for His silence.
Hezekiah was a great King who did all that was right in God's sight but he experienced God's silence when God's word to him may have changed the course of history in his day. God wanted to know if he would always consult Him in all of his decisions. "And God left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart." (II Chronicles 32:31). When the Caldean astronomers came to inquire about the God who could turn the sun backward, instead of giving praise to God for the miracle,Hezekiah unwisely showed them all of his treasures. Later, Judah was invaded and all the rich treasures were taken to Assyria.
Though Hannah prayed to God earnestly for a child, she experienced grief and sorrow and God's silence. Careful reading of her life, we can conclude God had to prepare a Hannah before He could prepare a Samuel. Though not recorded in scripture, I perceive her strong intercessory prayer included her promise to pray for Samuel all the days of his life if God granted her request. She may have forseen his leadership role as a prophet and she may have vowed a promise to never take him away from his calling. Samuel became the second most outstanding prophet of his day. This is the power of a praying Mother!
Job was a man of great wealth and influence. He was blameless and a man of outstanding character. He suffered with unimaginable pain and loss yet God was silent during this period. He lost his family and wealth and his wife even told him to curse God and die. His life style of serving God and praying for each of his children tell us he was a righteous man. Through it all he maintained his integrity and said, "Though He slay me yet will I trust Him!" Job did not know that God had given permission to Satan to severely test him. He steadfastly confirmed that God does not forsake His children. When the testing time was over, God graciously restored twice as much as Job had before, but the great contest between Satan and God proved that Job loved God through all of his severe testing.
Can you say that?
Every believer will meet a time in his life when God will be silent but the silence should bring a time of soul searching to find out the reason. One comforting scripture for everyone who is being tested today, is God's promise: "There hath no temptation (or test) taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God's silence in our lives causes us to search for Him until we reach Him in prayer. Sometimes the silent period is the most important tool God uses to draw us unto Himself. If you are passing through a period when God is silent to you, don't be discouraged. It's testing time! When God is silent is the time to pray and ask Him to reveal the reason, if any, for His silence.
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