Romans 8:26-27 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."
Prayer is an important element of a Christian’s devotion and communion with God. Effective prayer gets answers and moves things. For this to happen, we should pray rightly, and this includes praying according God’s will. John says such a prayer in line with God’s will, secures definite answers (1 John 5:14-15).
We are weak and limited in many ways. Sometimes we don’t know God’s will for some situations we are praying about. We may not know the timing or what God thinks. And so we pray amiss. Paul says the Holy Spirit helps our weakness in prayer by interceeding for us according to the mind of God and without words. He guides our prayers through known and unknown languages – in tongues.
Keeping in step with the Spirit means praying as guided by Him. Such prayers are right at the will of God, specific to the situation and the timing of God. They strengthen us in the faith and keep us connected in communion with God. They are extremely powerful prevailing prayers that can’t be hindered by the enemy. Any great prayer warrior who touches heaven and shakes hell, prayed in the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:18 "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 Lord’s people."
Luke 10:38-40 "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
Martha opened her home and welcomed Jesus as their guest. Her sister Mary sat at His feet listening to Jesus, but Martha was distracted by the preparations. Sitting at the feet was a posture of learning and submission. To Martha’s concerns of her sister not helping with the work instead of just sitting and listening, Jesus said Mary had made a good choice He wouldn’t tell her to change.
So many have opened their lives to God, but are so busy and distracted by many things from actually sitting and listening to Him. It’s not enough to be a believer, and to have Christ in your life. He desires communion. This requires deliberate time of putting aside everything else, focusing on and listening to Him. That’s how we learn and grow in Him. Growth isn’t accidental.
Martha got irritated at her inconsiderate sister and appealed to Jesus for intervention. Mary was calm. When we are not listening and getting guidance from God for daily living, we get frustrated. In God is all the wisdom we need for fruitful and peaceful lives. But we can only benefit from it if we choose to sit and His feet, listen and learn through prayer, study and meditation. Are you a Martha or Mary?
Proverbs 8:10-11"Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her."
Ephesians 4:30 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
This warning came amidst Paul’s instructions to the Ephesians on right Christian living, differentiating between life before Christ and after coming to Him. The Holy Spirit is the person behind our coming to Christ, and the resultant transformation we experience. His presence in us is the guarantee of of our sonship and the hope of our redemption when Jesus comes back.
But He can be grieved! Being a person, He is gentle and has feelings and emotions. Grieving the Holy Spirit comes from a continuous stubborn and rebellious attitude. He speaks to guide us in what we should or shouldn’t do. But when men choose to disobey and insist on their own evil ways, the Holy Spirit is grieved and silently withdraws.
This is how the conscience of professing believers slowly dies. They live in sin while claiming to honour God. A contradiction! The Israelites did the same. They witnessed so many miracles God did. But in rebellion, they grieved God over and over again. There are self styled Christians whose hearts have been hardened by rebellion.
May God give us a tender responsive heart that willingly obeys the Spirit. We can’t keep in step with the Holy Spirit if we are grieving Him! He withdraws.
Psalm 78:40-41 "How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the wasteland! Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel."
Luke 10:40-41 "But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things…"
As Martha complained to her guest, blaming Him for not caring that her sister wasn’t helping her, Jesus identified the root of the problem. The issue was not what she was complaining about. It was a worried and upset mind full of many things which were not priority. One of this was how to best take care of the guest. Jesus called her name twice to emphasis the weight of the matter.
So much fills and goes on in people’s minds. The reactions to situations reveals alot of these things. This is what leads to over reaction to some situations. Situations only become a means of letting out what has filled the minds. Some even blame God as Martha did blame Jesus. But the God who searches our hearts and minds knows exactly what the root of the problem is, and not where we are directing our anger.
Jesus warned that worries and the cares of this life can make us less fruitful. It blocks a meaningful relationship with God and others. We see, interpret and respond to situations from the things that have filled our minds. This results in love, peace or hate, blame, frustration, anger, etc. But we can conquer all these things through Him Who loved us. Allow God to reveal the true issues in your heart, deal with them and heal you. Cast your cares, those many things, to Him.
Romans 8:37 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
Matthew 13:22 "The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful."
Luke 12:54-56 "He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?"
Discernment is interpreting happenings. It is seeing beyond what catches the eye into hidden and deeper meanings behind the scenes. Jesus used a common analogy of how people see the cloud and wind patterns in the sky and could tell whether it will rain or not. And it does. He rebuked them for interpreting weather accurately but not discerning seasons and times they lived in.
With the help of modern technology, more precise predictions can be made for several aspects of human existence. Experts and scientists use this to improve life. Beyond acquiring knowledge to guide certain decisions through these predictions, the interpreting of times should direct humanity to God our Creator. God set season s and times and uses them to accomplish His purposes.
By discerning the present times, one can tell that the trends are pointing to something significant. Jesus said (about the signs of the end of the age), that when you see these things, know that the end is near. It is right at the door. How does this inform one’s relationship with God?
Jesus described as hypocrites those who can interpret everything else well, but forget about their relationship with God and preparation for His soon return. Don’t be one of them!
Luke 21:31 "Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near."
Luke 10:41-42 "The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her.” - GNB
The Lord gave a remedy to the many things Martha was troubled about. He referred to what Mary had done as the right thing. She had chosen to sit and listen to Him. It would not be taken away from her. That was stamp of approval of Mary’s approach, and that whoever would want to escape the lure of many things that fill and trouble people’s minds, should do the same.
The reason behind the many things could be competition, to meet genuine human needs, to become like others and conform to the culture around. But the Lord has the best way for each of us. He knows what is best, when it is best, and how to best do it. If we seek His counsel as the one thing, it would streamline all the other things.
Instead of do so many things and fail, why not do the one thing, wait on the Lord, and succeed in all the rest. He is more than willing to guide us in the right fulfilling paths of life. He knows it all. He may not do it or lead us in the way we wish, but if we obey the end result is peace. He never misleads. Do the one thing and live a purposeful enriching life!
Proverbs 3:5-7 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong."
Psalms 27:4 "I have asked the Lord for one thing; one thing only do I want: to live in the Lord's house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness, and to ask for his guidance."
Matthew 15:16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them…"
He had just explained to His disciples what actually defiles and what doesn’t. It was about food and words. What appeared so obvious to Jesus wasn’t that obvious to the disciples. He expected them to have acquired some deeper understanding of things by now, but they hadn’t yet. They were still dull in the spirit.
Discernment requires sensitivity and ability to see and interpret things beyond what is obvious to the eye. But dullness of mind, especially in grasping insights into spiritual things, makes people miss out on what God is communicating or doing. This is why to some, Jesus was/is any other specially gifted man. They get offended in Him. While to those who have known Him, He is their life and everything.
People’s hearts and minds become dull to God through sin, deception of wealth and the cares of life, and a diminished devotional life. Sensitivity and discernment is cultivated, learnt and developed over time. God can’t release much to those too obsessed with other things and dull to understand and take in more. And yet there is unlimited treasure in the spirit for those yearning and hungry enough for more.
John 16:12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear."
Hebrews 5:11 "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand…"
Shalom children of God
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WHILE THERE’S STILL TIME! (R)
WHILE THERE’S STILL TIME! (R) (18/6/2023)
Isaiah 55:6-7 "Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously." - NLT
Many people tend to trivialize, postpone, ignore or reject certain actions and decisions with a feeling that there is still time. In the end, many opportunities are lost, remorseful regrets experienced later in life, and destinies affected, some of them eternally!
This is true in every aspect of life, our relationship with God inclusive. Many along the way look back with much regret at lost chances. Worse still, will be the eternal regret for those who are now postponing, or ignoring their commitment to God!
God still pleads with us to seek Him while He can be found, to call on Him while He is near. This call will not be so forever. A time comes when it will not be possible to call or seek and find Him any more! Even those in God who keep disobeying or postponing what God tells them to do in His service, should rethink their ways. Hear what David said in Psalm 32:6 “… Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgement.” NLT
Apostle Paul wrote about the same; “As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (ÑLT)
And Jesus, about the irresponsible unprepared virgins at His coming, had this to say; “… Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.” (Matthew 25:10)
So, while there is still time and opportunity to give your life to Jesus, be reconciled, and start a relationship with God, and to serve Him, make use of it NOW. One day, it will not be there. It will be too late!
Hebrews 4:2 "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it]." - KJV
The written word of God is the most universally available book in the world. But even with its availability, few take time to read it. They have all the time for other priorities, but not the word. And even with its reading, few more see the word coming alive and working in their lives, yet it is living and active, powerful beyond measure. Why is this so?
The scripture above gives some reasons. When those who hear don’t mix it with faith, the word will not profit or have effect. The word works by faith in those who believe. It is also by the Holy Spirit Who annoints it to make it sharp and powerful in effect. The apostles preached the word of God under the power of the Spirit and it cut into the hearts of the listeners, deeply convicting them. It is more than experience or head knowledge.
Whether a preacher or listener, the word affects both, being a double edged sword and searching people’s hearts and secrets. The Spirit makes the word come alive, touching real issues of life. This is how true transformation from the word comes. And a person will never be the same again. One reason the preaching becomes dull and the word appears lifeless, is that the preacher has left out the Holy Spirit Who empowers the word to convict and effect change.
Faith and the Holy Spirit make the word of God a powerful dynamite.
Acts 2:37 "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Romans 13.11- 13 “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.” – NIV
In the Bible, sleep stands for death or living in darkness. Darkness represents evil. It’s a position where the mind and actions have been overtaken by evil. Light represents being honest, holy, alert, and sober. The call to wake up, therefore, is a call to forsake the evil works of darkness, the kind Paul mentioned above, and to walk in holiness and righteousness as one bears fruit to the glory of God.
Involvement in things that don’t glorify God dulls our minds, reduces spiritual alertness and sends us to slumber. To wake up is a choice to realise and forsake what’s ungodly. The lifestyles of some Christians shows they are asleep and need to wake up. They have blended with worldly ways and so comfortable with what is clearly ungodly.
This requires self examination with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Have you lost sensitivity, passion and commitment to God? Do you love the ways of the world, freely participate in them and yet called by God’s name? Do godly devotional practices now bore you and skipping them is no big deal? To you the call to awake comes.
Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Shalom children of God.
Awake from slumber! (R) (22/7/2023)
Romans 13.11- 13 "And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy." - NIV
In the Bible, sleep stands for death or living in darkness. Darkness represents evil. It’s a position where the mind and actions have been overtaken by evil. Light represents being honest, holy, alert, and sober. The call to wake up, therefore, is a call to forsake the evil works of darkness, the kind Paul mentioned above, and to walk in holiness and righteousness as one bears fruit to the glory of God.
Involvement in things that don’t glorify God dulls our minds, reduces spiritual alertness and sends us to slumber. To wake up is a choice to realise and forsake what’s ungodly. The lifestyles of some Christians shows they are asleep and need to wake up. They have blended with worldly ways and so comfortable with what is clearly ungodly.
This requires self examination with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Have you lost sensitivity, passion and commitment to God? Do you love the ways of the world, freely participate in them and yet called by God’s name? Do godly devotional practices now bore you and skipping them is no big deal? To you the call to awake comes.
Revelation 16:15 "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."
