Thank You - Instant Replay

 This is the second study I did when I first started writing my studies out on here. I hope you enjoy it. (From March 2, 2012)

    Thank you. How many times do we say this to one another? More than can be numbered? Or less than a handful? Do we mean it when we say it? Or is it automatic (thanks)? Sarcastic (Gee, thanks.)? Questioning (thank you?) 

     Why do we say "thank you"? We say 'thank you' to show our appreciation for the service which has been rendered us. Whether the words are said to the waitress, the clerk, the minister or the teacher, we say them. 

     If we are merely being polite, the words do not really resonate from our hearts. It is etiquette and nothing more. If we are being sarcastic, we are not really exhibiting thankfulness, we are showing them that they have no value to us and do not appreciate their service. If we question the sincerity of their work, we reveal our inability to say 'thank you'.

     Since we appear to have difficulty saying 'thank you' to each other, it must be really hard to say 'thank you' to God. How sad is that? There are so many, many things to be thankful to God for every single day that it would more than fill our waking hours to be thankful for them. We usually generalize our thankfulness, when we tell God how much we are thankful to Him for. 

     When we pray over our meals, saying grace, we thank God for the food placed before us; thank God for the hands that prepared it and ask Him to bless those hands. We ask God to bless the food to the nourishment and healing of our bodies, that we might continue to serve Him when He calls us. We thank God for the blessings of the day. In Jesus' Name. Amen. 

     The blessings of the day is a generalization. And that is, for most of us, the one time of day we are saying 'thank you' to God. But for my husband and I, thankfulness to our God is spread out throughout our day. God applies His love to us through His Word and we apply His Word to our lives. Beginning with our mornings: O give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercy endures forever. This line of thankfulness is repeated 8 times in the Book of Psalm. (Psalm 105:1; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1,9; 136:1,2,3,26) 

     In fact, the words 'thank(s) thanked thankful thankfulness thanksgiving(s)' appears in the Bible (KJV) 137 times. Of these 137 verses referring to 'thankfulness' in all its forms, 131 tell us to give 'thanks' to God. And they tell us how and why to give 'thanks', also.

John 11:41      the why      "because You heard me"
Romans 1:8     the how       "through Jesus Christ"
1 Corinthians 1:4     the why     "always on your behalf"
1 Corinthians 14:18     the why     "that I speak in tongues"
Philippians 1:3      the why     "upon every remembrance of you"
1 Thessalonians 1:13     the how     "without ceasing"
1 Thessalonians 1:13     the why     "because the Word of God was received and applied"
2 Thessalonians 1:3     the how     "always"
2 Thessalonians 1:3     the why     "your faith grows exceedingly and your love for one another is in abundance"
1 Timothy 1:12     the why     "Jesus Christ enabled me, because He counted me faithful, and put me into the ministry"
2 Timothy 1:3     the how     "I serve with pure conscience"
2 Timothy 1:3     the why     "without ceasing I have remembrance of you in my prayers night and day"

2 Chronicles 5:13     the how     "the singers and the musicians sang and made noise as one voice"

2 Chronicles 5:13     the why     "He is good: His mercy endures forever"

2 Chronicles 5:13, 14     the result    "the glory of the Lord filled the house so full, there was no room in it for anyone else"

2 Samuel 22:50     the why    "therefore (because He has delivered me from my enemies v49)

2 Samuel 22:50     the how     "I will sing praises unto Thy name"

1 Chronicles 16:8     the why     "make known His deeds among the people"

I Chronicles 16:34     the why     "for He is good; for His mercy endures forever"

1 Chronicles 16:35     the why      "He is the God of our Salvation, our deliverer, He gathers us together"

1 Chronicles 16:41     the why     "because His mercy endures forever"

1 Chronicles 25:3     the how     "musicians handpicked by the king to give thanks to the Lord and to praise Him"

2 Chronicles 31:2     the how    "appointed by the king to minister the offerings, give thanks and praise the Lord"

Ezra 3:11     the how     "sing together"

Ezra 3:11     the why     "because He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel"

Ezra 3:11     the how     "with a great shout"

Ezra 3:11     the why     "because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid"

Nehemiah 12:24, 31, 38, 40     the how     "upon the walls, the gates and to the towers"

Nehemiah 12:43     the why     "so that the Joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off"

Psalm 6:5     the how     "alive"

Psalm 6:5     the why    "because I have life and everything that life entails"

Psalm 18:49   the why      "v48 He delivers me from my enemies, lifts me up above they that rise against me: delivers me from the violent man"

Psalm 18:49     the how     "among the heathen, sing praises unto Thy name"

Psalm 30:4     the why     "at the remembrance of His holiness"

Psalm 30:12    the why    "v11 You turned my mourning into dancing: You removed my grief, and girded me with gladness"

Psalm 30:12     the how    "to the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. I will give thanks forever"

Psalm 75:1     the why     "for Your name is near Your wondrous works declare"

Psalm 79:13     the why    "we will show forth Your praise to all generations"

Psalm 92:1-4    the why     "v2 to show Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night" "v4 You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work: I will triumph in the works of Your hands"

Psalm 92:1-4     the how     "v1 sing praises to Your name" "v3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, upon the psaltery, upon the harp with a solemn sound"

Psalm 97:12     the why     "at the remembrance of His holiness"

Psalm 105:1     the why     "make known His deeds among the people"

Psalm 106:1     the why     "for He is good: for His mercy endures forever"

Psalm 106:47     the why     "to triumph in Your praise"

Psalm 107:1     the why     "for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever"

Psalm 118:1, 29     the why     "for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever"

Psalm 119:62     the why     "because of Your righteous judgments"

Psalm 122:4     the why     "unto the testimony of Israel" (the commandments of God)

Psalm 136:1-3,26   the why     "for He is good: for His mercy endures forever"

                              ~ Have you ever read this chapter? There are 26 verses and each verse ends 

                                             with "for His mercy endures forever" ~

Daniel 6:10     the how     "facing Jerusalem, praying on his knees 3x day, in supplication (making his needs known before God)"

Daniel 6:7     the why     "disobeying the king's order to worship a different god than our God would cause the king to send that person to their death in the lions' den"

Matthew 15:36     the how     "simply"     the why     "to feed the need"

Luke 17:15, 16     the how     "with a loud voice glorified God" and "fell on his face at Jesus' feet"

Luke 17:14, 15     the why    "healed completely of leprosy"

Luke 22:17, 19     the why   "Christ declaring that both cup and bread were representative of His body and His blood and that when we take them it is a remembrance of Who He is and What He did for us"

Matthew 15:36     the how     "simply"     the why     "to feed the need"

Luke 17:15, 16     the how     "with a loud voice glorified God" and "fell on his face at Jesus' feet"

Luke 17:14, 15     the why    "healed completely of leprosy"

Luke 22:17, 19     the why   "Christ declaring that both cup and bread were representative of His body and His blood and that when we take them it is a remembrance of Who He is and What He did for us"

1 Corinthians 15:57     the why     "God gives us the victory {over death and the grave} through our Lord Jesus Christ"

2 Corinthians 2:14    the why     "Who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes known the sweet taste of His knowledge by us to every place."

2 Corinthians 9:15     the why     "for His unspeakable gift {every good and perfect gift [James 1:17] is from God)"

Ephesians 5:3, 4    the why     "because an unclean life and unclean words do not adorn the saints of God" v2 "walk in love, as Christ loves us, and gave His life for us an offering and a sweet smell to God"

Ephesians 5:20   the how     "always"    the why     "for all things unto God and the Father"

Colossians 1:3, 4     the why     "praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of His love which you have for all the saints"

Colossians 1:12     the why     "God has qualified us to partake in the inheritance of the saints in light"

Colossians 3:17    the how    "whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus"

1 Thessalonians 1:2-4   the why    "making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of our God and our Father; knowing beloved brethren, your election of God."

1 Thessalonians 5:18     the why     "for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you"

2 Thessalonians 2:13     the why     "because God has chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth"

1 Timothy 2:1     the why     "intercede on everyone's behalf"

Hebrews 13:15   the how"     offer a sacrifice of praise to God continually"

Revelation 11:16, 17   the who "the 4 and 20 elders" the how   "falling on their face and worshiping before God"   the why   "because God has taken to Himself His great power and has reigned"

    The remaining verses are in regards to the word 'thanksgiving(s)'. All of which are offered up to God individually. It is by our choice, our will, our decision. Each time the word 'thanksgiving' is mentioned it is with sacrifice, with praise, with singing, with offerings. 

     However, each of the preceding verses are also instructive verses. They tell us how the person gave thanks AND why the person gave thanks. We, too, are instructed even now; for the Word of God is constant, never changing, ever flowing. As we apply these truths to our lives, we learn to embrace God not from a distance, but ever nearer and nearer. 

     Thank You, Lord, for saving a wretch like me. For loving me so much You died for me, then fought death, hell, and the grave and overcame them for me. For loving me enough to create in me a clean heart every time I fall short of overcoming temptation. For filling me with Your Holy Spirit, Who comforts me and guides me in all Your ways. For giving me a desire to draw close to You, so close that our hearts beat as one. For using me in Your kingdom, to lead other people to Your well of Living Water, which flows from the throne of God. Thank You, Lord, thank You so much.

    Psalm 136:1 sums it all up quite nicely:

O give thanks unto The LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever.

Be Faithful

 

Revelation 2:10

Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. Be aware that the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested [in your faith], and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful to the point of death [if you must die for your faith], and I will give you the crown [consisting] of life. 

FEAR NOTHING WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT TO SUFFER

Matthew 10:28

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

    Having been called to salvation and sanctification, we find ourselves called to suffer, as well. Unseen targets are now on our person and our soul. Not just on our backs, where we cannot see who is aiming for us, but also on our minds {attacking how we think, how we reason and what we think about}. Targets are on our hearts attack our emotions (in the physical realm) and our spiritual fruit (in the spiritual realm).  

    It is why we are warned at every turn of life to be wary, be alert, be aware. However, even knowing who and where our enemies might lie, is not enough to forego being a believer. We find we are able to both stand and fight this spiritual battle that is now raging around us, instead of in us. The darkness tries to take us out, because our lights are turning people to Jesus Christ.

    When we are accosted, we are to speak Jesus. When we are assaulted for His Name's sake, we are to respond in silence or in love, however The Spirit leads us. When we are lied about, we do not retaliate. Nor do we sling mud in their direction. We do not rise up in anger, nor do we engage in physical assaults with those who seek our demise.  God will fight for us in many cases. But sometimes God will allow our deaths to take place, when we die proclaiming our faith in The Name of Jesus Christ. 

    For when God's people die speaking The Name of Jesus, many times the people who are doing the killing of us come to Jesus. Such faith and obvious love of God draws people to this loving God Whom we have put our hope and trust in. Physical death is a minor inconvenience. Spiritual death is permanent.

FEAR GOD ONLY

    Luke 16:19-31 tells us of two men who died. One went to Paradise and one went to hell. And while not much is known of Lazarus' time in Paradise, much is known of the rich man's time in hell. We do know that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. So in reading this passage, we are made aware of Lazarus' comforts and the rich man's lack of comforts.

Verse 23: He was aware in hell. He was in torment. He could see into Paradise, but could not get there. He recognized Lazarus and Abraham, even though the first he never acknowledged and the second he never knew. He could move and see.  

Verse 24: He could speak in hell. He was still selfish. He knew thirst, he knew pain. 

Verse 25: He could hear in hell. 

Verse 26: He was made to understand his position: no one in hell can cross into Paradise and no one in Paradise can cross into hell. Death is final.

Verse 27, 28: He begged for Lazarus to be sent back to his family to warn them of the dangers of not believing. 

Verse 29-31: He was informed by Abraham that that desire, too, was not going to be done. Those who will not listen to Moses and the prophets of God have only themselves to blame for their ignorance and unbelief.

Verse 30: The rich man in hell thought that if someone was risen from the dead, then surely his brothers would believe. He labored under a false hope.

    For we know that Someone has risen from the dead. That Someone is Jesus Christ. However, not everyone believes that Jesus Christ is God's Only Begotten Son. Nor do they believe that He rose from the dead. The lie from then persists even now: his disciples came in the night and stole His body away [Matthew 28:11-15]. Therefore, too many people have died in their sins, including the sin of unbelief, and now await their final judgment in hell. They cannot get out. Don't find yourself in their predicament. Come to Jesus today. 

    

BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH

Revelation 12:11

They have conquered him by The Blood of The Lamb and by The Word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.

    Have you ever read Jesus Freaks? I have. The squeamish may have difficulty reading it. But once you start reading it, it is hard to stop. Foxe's Book of Martyrs lists the names of many who had died for the sake of the cross and the resurrection in his time. When Faith Is Forbidden is on my shelf as we speak. It is underlined, bookmarked and highlighted. At the end of each chapter is a missionary's request for how to pray for them. 

    You are all in my prayers. And I pray for your faith to be strong in these trying times. I pray for your families, your churches, your testimony to be a strong witness of the saving power of God through Jesus Christ. I plead the blood of Jesus over each and every one of you in your walk with Christ.

"Fear not, for I Am with you; Be not dismayed, for I Am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with the right hand of My Righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

God Is Love

 

1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is Love, and he that dwells in Love dwells in God, and God in him. 

Romans 13:10

Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore Love is the fulfillment of the law.

GOD IS LOVE

    What is this Love that God is? It is more than any kind of love you have ever known. This Love goes beyond brotherly love, which is outlined here in 1 Peter 3:8-9 "Finally, you be all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be tenderhearted, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing." 

    This Love that God is, is deeper than any intimate relationship love we have known with another person. It is more than a sentimental love, more than a familial love, more than a spousal love, more than a best friend love. It is all-encompassing and divinely unconditional. It is AGAPE.

    Agape, as described in The Topical Lexicon: 'denotes a holy, self‐giving disposition that originates in God, is displayed perfectly in Jesus Christ, and is implanted in believers by the Holy Spirit.'

    This Love that God is flows so deep that when our sins are washed in it, they are never seen again. In this Love God blots out our sins and they become like mist [Isaiah 44:2; 1 John 1:9]. 

    This Love which God is fills us with The Hope of His Salvation through His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. This Love is a poured out Love, poured into our hearts.

    Romans 5:5

And hope makes us not ashamed; because The Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by The Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

    This Love Whom God is, is Grace in Action. It is Jesus' ministry, Jesus' gospel message, Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead given to anyone who will hear it; everyone who will receive it and believe it and live it. 

    As Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus, this, too, is my prayer for you:

    Ephesians 3:16-21

16. I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 

17. so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18. will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth

19. of the Love of Christ, and to know this Love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

21. to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Warrior of The Word - The Tongue of Discipleship

 

Isaiah 50:4 (ESV)

The Lord GOD has given Me 

the tongue of those who are taught,

that I may know how to sustain with 

a Word him who is weary. 

Morning by morning He awakens Me; 

He awakens My ear to hear 

as those who are taught.

    Though the prophet Isaiah is speaking here, it is Christ who speaks through him. That's prophecy, The Word foretold through the writings of one of God's faithful servants and friend, Isaiah. Because Isaiah was willing to learn what God had to say. 

    Are we in a place where we are willing to learn what God wants to say to us? The word 'disciple' means learner, one who learns what is being taught. In other words, disciple is student. 

    A disciple listens to the teacher, taking in the words of wisdom and instruction, as a thirsty man slakes his thirst at a cool spring. The thirsty never get their fill of godly instruction. The hungry are never satisfied with just the crumbs. The true disciple goes back to the teacher for more instruction, more learning, more learning to apply what is being learned. 

    Here Jesus Christ is telling us that He is learning the tongue of discipleship. The tongue that He will speak to the weary soul, calling that soul to strengthen it and give it rest, true rest. Rest in Christ Himself. 

    Matthew 11:28

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

     Just as Isaiah learned to listen to God, to hear what He had to say through Isaiah's mouth and writing, so, too does Jesus listen to God that He may speak what The Father would have us to know.

    John 12:49, 50

“I have not spoken on My own, but The Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what The Father has told Me to say.”

    Hebrews 4:9, 10

There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

    The  tongue of discipleship has a learning ear. Instruction enters it when morning awakens the listening soul. O soul, are you eager to rise when the voice of The Lord enters your hearing? Slumber falls into the shadows of dawn and the listening heart rejoices to hear its Master's voice.

    But too many hear The Word of The Lord without hearing The Word of The Lord. Their ears are deaf and their hearts are hardened. They receive about as much instruction from The Word as a wooden idol. A pebble hears better than they do. 

    The tongue of discipleship drips like honey. Each Word that The Teacher speaks enters sweetly into the ear of the learner. Proverbs 16:24 says it best. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. 

    The Law of The Lord comes from The Lord GOD. For He it is Who gave us The Law to begin with. And note, it is ONE LAW. One Law composed of many regulations. And this Law of The Lord GOD is sweet and desirable to the faithful disciple. The Law is The Word, and The Word is Jesus Christ. One Law, One Word, One Savior.

    Psalm 19:10

More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

    Psalm 119:72

The Law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. 

    How can The Law come from The Lord's mouth unless that Law is spoken. In order for that Law to be spoken, The Words must be orated. And The Word accomplishes Itself, for It does not return to The Father without having done so. 

    Isaiah 55:11

So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But It shall accomplish what I please, And It shall prosper in the thing for which I sent It.

   John 19:30

 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

    Mark 16:19

After The Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

    We praise You, God, for all that You speak to Your disciples. O Lord, help us to be able learners of Your Word, applying it to our daily lives. Open our ears and our hearts to receive Your instruction, that we might become holy vessels of honor for Your use. Fill us with Your precious Holy Spirit right now, O Lord, that You may find us faithful servants and friends. You have made us Your sons and Your daughters through the precious blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. We have received Your Word knowing the consequences of such obedient faith and we long to see Your face when we have run our course. 

    To You be all the glory and honor and praise! Amen. 

     

    

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Nineteen

    

 

Psalm 83:16, 18

 Fill their faces with shame, 

That they may seek Your Name, O LORD.

That they may know that You alone, 

Whose Name is The LORD, 

are The Most High over all the earth.

    Israel being under attack is nothing new. But there is coming a time when all of Israel's enemies will cease to exist. Until that time, knowing who they are may be a big help in aiding her. And while it may not seem  so on the surface of The Word, Asaph is, indeed, praying for Israel's peace. But in order for Israel to be at peace her enemies must be destroyed. 

    In Psalm 83, Asaph sings a prayer to God, asking first off that God not be silent at this time. 
Psalm 83:1
A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. Do not keep silent, O God; Do not hold Your peace or be still, O God. 

    Second, he asks God to see the tumult going on down here. And who is making all this great noise against Israel.

Psalm 83:2

For behold, Your enemies are in tumult, And those who hate You have raised their heads [in hatred of You]. 

    The word 'tumult' is derived from the Aramaic word 'hamah', which means: clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar;  roar, boisterous, become disturbed, disturbed, howl, make an uproar;  to be in great commotion, to rage, war, moan, clamor. 

    Does any of this sound familiar in our day now? Those who hate God will always come against God's people, both His elect and His church. When they raise their heads, they are not humbling themselves to God. God's enemies defy Him and refuse to recognize His Authority. They repent not, nor do they see any reason to. 

    Asaph tells God how their enemies have come against them. 

Psalm 83:3, 4

They concoct crafty schemes against Your people, And conspire together against Your hidden and precious ones. They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation; Let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”

    Scheming and conspiracies always begin in the dark, in the hidden realms, where men's eyes cannot see clearly, and the heart holds deceit and treachery. A person may say one thing with their lips, but their true self is hidden. However, when many oppose the few, the many congregate and plan their modes of attack and domination together.     Since they care not for Israel's God, they care little for Israel and Israel's allies. 

But God knows all hearts, and even Israel's enemies will eventually fail and fall permanently. Until then, we must stand together against them and with her. 

    Asaph speaks of alliances formed amongst the ten nations who have come against Israel. They are people of one mind: destroy Israel and wipe it off the face of the earth (vs4). The desire of Israel's enemies will never be fulfilled. Though many of us will die in conflicts with her enemies, we will never fully be destroyed, for we are God's people and Christ is our Hope and Salvation.

Psalm 83:5-8

For with one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against You—the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagarenes. Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; they have become an arm for the sons of Lot. Selah. 

    Ten nations, ten kingdoms, whose uniform desire is to destroy Israel. And ultimately The Holy God she worships. These kingdoms Asaph is praying against. He lists her enemies and in so doing tells God that all of these nations have formed an alliance against Him, against His God. (God knows who His enemies are, but this last prayer of Asaph is for our benefit, as well).

    God's desire is for all to be saved from eternal damnation. That's why He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross. [2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16-18] But not all will desire God's salvation plan because God is Holy and His people need to be holy to stay in His holiness. That's why we are given God's Holy Spirit, Who reveals God to us through God's Word. 

    Our enemies do not want to be holy and they rage against us in every evil way they can. Not just in warfare with guns and knives, but in warfare of the mind and heart. If the enemy of our souls can get a foothold in the door of how we think and what we think, then his whispers penetrate our decision-making. Our enemies use words that incite violence and death to be perpetrated upon us. 

    But let's return to the ten kingdoms here. The descendants of these nations who were fighting against Israel in Asaph's time are still fighting against Israel in our time. Their kingdoms were of great size and their armies were strong. But in their unified goal to destroy Israel, their armies and armaments increased. They were 'Goliath' against 'David'. They still are. And we know how that battle turned out. What is there to fear when God fights for His people? 

    In Psalm 83:9-17 Asaph asks God to bring down these ten nations, to destroy them completely. Not just for Israel's benefit, but that these kingdoms would 'ever be ashamed and terrified' of Israel's Holy God. But just before that verse (17), Asaph says something about these nations that seems to be out of context, but isn't. 

    Psalm 83:16

Fill their faces with shame, That they may seek Your Name, O LORD.

    Asaph prayed for deliverance on God's enemies. He prayed for their salvation through God. He prayed for them to know the shame of their ways and to repent of their wicked ways. He prayed that they would seek God's Name. Seek to know God. Seek to know God for their God, that they would be God's people. He prayed for them to come to the knowledge of saving grace. For all of these things happen when we seek The Name of The LORD. And speak It. [Romans 10:9-13]. 

    Those who refuse to seek The Name of The Lord even today are only seeking their own undoing. Their time will come when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. Every eye will see Him Whom they pierced. [Revelation 1:7; Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 53:5]. Those who seek to destroy God will find themselves destroyed in the end, unless they repent now and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, is God's plan of salvation, is God's only begotten Son, is God's Right Arm of Righteousness. 

    Psalm 83:18

That they may know that You alone, Whose Name is The LORD, are The Most High over all the earth.

    We, like Asaph, are to pray for our enemies. We are to ask God to bless them with our blessings. Namely, salvation and deliverance. But also in ministering to their needs: with food, drink, and clothing; with medicine and shelter; with visiting the imprisoned. To console and comfort. To share what we have been given by God with those who do not yet know Him personally. [Matthew 25:31-40]. Why? That they may KNOW that God Is The Lord. 

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Eighteen

     This is actually the 72nd installment. Some of these were just verses, but quite a few turned into studies like this one. Some studies were more detailed, some less. If you follow my prayer group, The Inner Circle, on Facebook, all of these studies are posted there, as well. 

Daniel 6:10

When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, 

he went into his house. 

The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, 

and three times a day he got down on his knees, 

prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 

    'Just as he had done before'. Talking with God wasn't a new thing for Daniel. He didn't wait until times got hard or impossible before he knelt in prayer. Spending time speaking with His God was more than a good habit he kept, more than mere self-discipline. Praying to, and thanking, His God was a joy; for he did this three times a day. He enjoyed spending time with His God. What better use of our time is there?

    And, note also, that Daniel prayed in the upper room of his house, facing the window that looked west to Jerusalem. (For me to pray in the direction of Jerusalem I would have to look east, for I am west of Jerusalem, the city of God.) Here in this place Daniel always prayed. And the people where he lived knew it. 

    No bells rang out. No one called him to prayer. No one complained about the noise emanating from his windows, for Daniel was not loud. There is no need to shout to God when He is as close as a whisper. 

    If your prayer life is not what it should be, it's not too late to begin being a faithful, faith-filled, prayer warrior. For that is what Daniel was: a prayer warrior. He fought his battles on his knees. He sought out communion with his God and he gave God thanksgiving. He cared not that the law of the land forbade him to pray to his God. Nothing should interfere with our time with God, not even manmade laws. 

    We do not pray defiantly. We want to hear our God speak to us and God wants to hear us speak to Him. Because of Christ in us, we can approach God with humble hearts, knowing that it is only because Christ died for us and rose again to bring us into new life in Him, that God will hear our prayers. 

    The Christian speaks to God in love, in sincerity, in truth. For nothing is hid from God, so it is better to be honest about it (Acts 5:1-11).  

    By this time, Daniel was serving a third Babylonian king, King Darius. No longer a young man, yet still kneeling before his God. Having interpreted dreams for various kings, he now was being given dreams from God that God would interpret for him. 

    In his lifetime Daniel was faithful in pursuing a dedicated, strong relationship with his God. Would that we are so faithful in joyful obedience in our prayer relations with our God! Let us, even now, kneel before our God and commune as friend with Friend. 

FOREVER -Chris Tomlin

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Sixteen

 

1 Corinthians 13:5

Love is neither rude, nor selfish,

nor provoked; thinks no evil.

    To Love like Christ is to always put the other person first. Even on the cross, He wasn't thinking of Himself, for He asked God His Father to forgive the ones who had put Him there. In their unmitigated refusal to believe, categorically denying that He was The Messiah Who had been prophesied as testified by the prophets, the religious leaders, scribes and the Roman leader in that place took part in a mock trial.

     He was questioned, but gave minimal answers. He was whipped to the point where His back was in shreds. He was pummeled on His face repeatedly by the guards. His beard was pulled out of His face. A crown of thorns was forced into the top of His head, causing the blood to rush down His face and His neck. 

    A scarlet robe was thrown over His shoulders and back. And when the blood dried, they ripped the robe off of His back, which caused the newly formed scabs to open, allowing fresh blood to run down His back and His legs. 

    On that day Love ran red. The Love of God in Christ did not fight back. He raised no hands nor fists in His own defense. The Love of God in Christ did not talk back to His tormenters. He spoke nothing. The Love of God in Christ did not cry out until He was on the cross, until Life was leaving His body. 

    This is our example of how to Love like Christ when being tormented, teased, judged, condemned by the world for our faith in The Name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. 

    Say nothing. Think The Love of God in Christ. For there is no room in the body of Christ for revenge. There is no room to play tit-for-tat games. Nor is there room in this body of which we are a part of  for paybacks. There is no room for offenses; we cannot allow ourselves to be easily provoked, nor should we lose our temper and try to defend ourselves. 

    Speak forgiveness for every little offense and every major offense. Think forgiveness. Think about how much we have been forgiven. And still are being forgiven when we mess up. Because mess up we will. But even then we admit the imperfection to the one we have spoken against (if possible); admit the offense to God and ask forgiveness for it, then try not to do that again (whatever the offense may have been). 

    To Love like Christ is to think of others before yourself. When Jesus sat down at Jacob's well in Samaria, He was tired and needed to rest. But He also knew that the woman He would be speaking with needed to hear His Word and drink His water more than He needed a break and a drink. 

    This Love of God in Christ is for anyone who asks for it. Many people want to go to heaven, but not everyone wants to go through Christ Jesus. That's why we need "to be about The Father's business": telling people about the Love of Christ. That there's only one Way to get to heaven and that's through the blood of Christ which washes away all of our sins when we believe that He died for us, overcame death for us and walked into a new life for us. 

    We need to pray for each other to have more Strength in God through Christ. We need to pray for one another to have a walk so faithful and true that The Love of God in Christ is evident to those who see us, speak to us, follow us, watch us, and hear us. We need to pray that our words are sweet, our attitudes are humble, and our thoughts are focused on the beauty of God's Word. 

"Lord, help us to Love like You. Unselfishly, unconditionally; wisely and compassionately. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, Who helps us to guard our mouths and our hearts, that nothing wicked may enter our hearts and then flow out of our mouths. Lord, if we are going to speak before we think, may our minds and our thoughts always be on You, of You, that The Word given in due time may be Your Word spoken in Your Love to the ones who need to hear It. Thank You for Loving us the Way You Love us. Be our Strength to repel the fiery darts which try to get past our spiritual armor. Be glorified, Lord, by our words and our actions, that Your Name would be praised and Your kingdom increased. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

    

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Fifteen

 

1 Corinthians 13:4e

Love is not prideful.

    Finishing off this verse in 1 Corinthians is a word that rounds off the previous two words into one word: envy and boastfulness lead to pridefulness. Pridefulness is arrogance. Arrogance in the way we speak to one another, arrogance in our attitudes towards God, arrogance in the way we treat other people and the lands we live on. 

    Pridefulness is the evidence of self-righteousness, of putting one's own desires, its own lusts, above another's. It is the refusal to submit to God's Authority and Ownership of His creation: us. We did not create ourselves, nor can we uncreate ourselves. Our souls are eternal. Though our bodies die and decay, our souls either live or die eternally. 

    Love is humble. Love wears the garment of humility, choosing to reject tradition and following after godly obedience instead.

    1 Peter 5:5, 6

"Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you."

    Submission is the opposite of pride. But submission should not be given to just anyone who demands submission to them, unless we first understand what submission is. After all the word alone catches our attention and gets our emotions wound up. 

    To submit to God is to: Obey God and God's Word. It is to hear The Word of The Lord, and act upon It. It is to make one's self subject to His Authority and Rule. It is to approach the throne of grace with a humble heart, a broken and contrite heart, a repentant heart, a willing heart. 

    To submit to God is to recognize the Love He has for His creation. It is to see and begin to understand just how much our heavenly Father really loves us. John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9, 10; Ephesians 2:1-9; Colossians 1:21, 22; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15; Titus 3:4, 5; 1 John 3:16. 

    It is to receive this Love into our hearts and spread this Love into the hearing, the seeing, of the people we interact with. It is to know the Love of God is in Christ Jesus and that this Love needs to be in us, as well. Therefore, let us submit to God in Christ that God's Love will be perfected in us.

    Unless we first submit to God and accept His perfect will for our lives, it will be impossible to submit to any other authority in our lives with the grace that God provides to all who surrender themselves to Him. 

    Pride got Lucifer kicked out of heaven. God created Lucifer in heaven when He was creating His angels. There are passages in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28:12-17 that describe fallen kings, who failed to submit to God, because of their pride in their accomplishments, who gave not the glory to God but took it upon themselves. Yet in these passages, we see the downfall of Lucifer, Satan, as well. (cf) Revelation 12:7-8, 12.

    Submission to evil and wickedness and unrighteousness will take us away from God and His Word and His Spirit. Choosing to live a life of separation from God's Love is choosing to walk in darkness and destruction. Sin is fun. Everyone says so. Not it isn't. And just who is this Everyone that is referenced? Sin is not fun. Sin's pleasures and enjoyments are only a mask, a disguise that covers the true nature of sin: rebellion against God. 

    "O Lord, You know our hearts and can see what needs fixing and replacing. Please continue to reveal Yourself to us in the areas we need You most. Holy Spirit, make us holy; for without holiness we know we will not see God and live. Make us sheep and not goats. Cleanse us and renew us right now. We surrender how we think (our thoughts), how we speak (what we say) and how we behave (what we do) to the Authority of our heavenly Father. Lead us where we need to be, and help us not go where we should not be. In Jesus' Matchless Name, Amen."

    

    

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Fourteen

1 Corinthians 13:4d

Love does not boast.

    To boast means to be prideful; it is self-glorification. What do I have to boast about? Everything we have, we have because God has given it to us. From the moment life is created in the womb to life's last breath is God-ordained. For God set life in motion when He began creating the earth and everything on it, in it and under it. 

   1 Corinthians 4:7

 Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. 

    Paul was warning the church in Corinth not to be puffed up over any one individual, setting them up on spiritual pedestals. We are all equal in merit, for our merit is of God through Christ. We deserve no praise on our salvation, for we did not save ourselves. Nor should we place one person's position within the church above another's, as God has appointed us, not we ourselves, if we are being obedient and faithful in our service to God.

    If there is anything in us worthy of praise, let it be God Who praises and not we ourselves. If there is anything in us that deserves a reward, let it be God Who rewards us and not we ourselves. Yes, the workman is worthy of his or her hire, and pay increases must be made when deemed proper. But if cleaning the bathroom is beneath their pay grade, then they are not worthy to be behind the pulpit, either. 

    Since Loving like Christ is not boastful, it must be humble. We maintain a quality of modesty in our speaking to and of one another. We are meek. This does not mean we are weak in any sense. We are meek like our Savior. Meekness is gentleness. When appropriate, meekness is silence when being judged by others. 

    Meekness is restraint. Think about that for a moment. It is self-control, temperance. Unboastful Love controls its emotions and responses. Sometimes we are not even aware that some of our responses to antagonism are coming from our mouths. Habitual behavioral responses from us need to be repented of and grinded off of these crusty hearts. 

    The Wisdom of God (The Holy Spirit) teaches us to be like Christ, not only in our hearts, but in every woven moment in life. Our responses, our actions, our thoughts are all accountable to God every day. We encourage each other with The Word of God: we sharpen the rough edges from each other with The Word of God. That's Love. 

    Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. 

    Colossians 3:16

Let The Word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

    Hebrews 10:24, 25

And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

    1 Peter 4:10

As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 

    Let us continue to "Love one another" as Christ has loved us.  

 

"Father, You are my reason for living. You are The One Who has shown me how to Love like You Love: unconditionally. Without condemnation, but with hope. Without judgment, but with mercy. Without retribution, but with grace. Not withholding Your Love from anyone, but giving to all generously. Even when such generosity is rejected, still we must extend Your Lovingkindness to everyone. And I believe, Lord, that the more often we do that, You will increase within us. May we all Love like Your Son Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives. In Jesus' Wonderful Name, Amen."