Believe and Receive

The Holy Spirit – Part 1

“Believe and receive” is a potentially controversial phrase so I need to put these words into context.

The Bible says in Romans chapter 10 verse 9 “…. if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

In Ephesians chapter 1 verses 13 we read: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit…”

Also in Acts chapter 2 verse 38 we read: “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Believe and Receive.

When we became a Christian we received the free, undeserved, unearned, gift of the Holy Spirit living in us.

What an awesome, often unutilized, resource all Christians have living inside of them.

More about the Holy Spirit in future blogs.

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Just ASK

Does it sometimes feel like God is not answering your prayers? Does it seem like obstacles are popping up all around you?  Do you sense that doors are being closed in front of you?  If that is the case for you, remember to ASK.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV)

Just ASK

• Ask: Keep on asking

…. pray without ceasing, …. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV)

• Seek: Keep on seeking

 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (1 John 5:14 ESV)

  …. be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)

•  Knock: Keep on knocking

Don’t give up.

And he (Jesus) told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1 ESV)

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:6 ESV)

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Happy Labor Day

Labor Day was created as a way to acknowledge and pay tribute to the workforce for all they have done to make our country prosperous and strong.

Remember:

• We were created to work.

Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work,  ….. (Exodus 20:9-10 ESV)

…. aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, (1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV)

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.  For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.  As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 ESV)

• Hard work is profitable

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. (Proverbs 12:11 ESV)

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23 ESV)

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24 ESV)

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV)

• We should be working for the Lord.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalm 90:17 ESV)

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!  You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. (Psalm 128:1-2 ESV)

• Our work should benefit others.

You yourselves know that these (Paul’s) hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.  In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:34-35 ESV)

• Our labor should be enjoyable.

….  also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. (Ecclesiastes 3:13 ESV)

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 ESV)

Happy Labor Day

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My Prayer for You

It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, ….   Philippians 1:9a

“And he (Jesus) said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39 ESV)

It is my prayer that you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

I pray that you also love the people around you.

…. with knowledge and all discernment,  …. Philippians 1:9b

I pray that your love is not simply an emotional love, but rather it is love that comes from embracing the truths found in scripture.

…. so that you may approve what is excellent …. Philippians 1:10a

I pray that your growing love for God and others, as well as your love for Biblical truths, enables you, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to know right from wrong.  I pray that you will become better equipped to make right decisions and good choices.

…. and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, …. Philippians 1:10b

I pray that you have a right relationship with God.  I pray that you relate to others in such a way that you do not cause them to stumble.

….  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, …. Philippians 1:11a

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

I pray that your life is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

…. to the glory and praise of God.   Philippians 1:11b

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV)

I pray that your life glorifies God.

This is my prayer for you.  Feel free to pray this for me.

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God, Hold My Hand

A Model Prayer – Part 6

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Matthew 6:9-13 ESV

…. fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 ESV)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8 ESV)

Lead us …. Deliver us from evil

A Model Prayer

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God will forgive us, but …..

A Model Prayer – Part 5

Will God forgive us when we confess our sins to Him? Yes, of course!

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 ESV)

Yes, God forgives our sins, but we need to look carefully at what we are saying if we pray the words in Matthew 6:12.

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Matthew 6:9-13 ESV

In this prayer we are asking God to forgive us as we have forgiven others.  If we are thinking about the words we are praying, we would only pray this phrase if we have in fact already forgiven those who have offended us.

Now look at the two verses that follow this model prayer.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15 ESV)

If we want a right relationship with God and with others we really do need to be willing to forgive anyone for any offense they may have committed against us.

One final passage:

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” [22] Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22 ESV)

We need to be praying for God’s forgiveness for our sins, and we also need to be forgiving those who have sinned against us.

Lord forgive my sins and help me to forgive those who have sinned against me.

A Model Prayer – To be continued in a future blog.

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Let Your Needs be Made Known

A Model Prayer – Part 4

Jesus teaches us to address God the Father as “Our Father.”  He also teaches us to address God as a perfect and holy God.   We are taught to pray for God’s will to be done on earth and in heaven.

Jesus’ model prayer also teaches us that it is o.k. to ask for personal needs.

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Matthew 6:9-13 ESV

….  your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:8 ESV)

Since God already knows what we need, we should feel free to let our needs be made known to God.

[6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6 ESV)

A Model Prayer – To be continued in a future blog.

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Your Will Be Done

A Model Prayer – Part 3

In His model prayer, Jesus taught His disciples (us) to pray, “…. Your kingdom come, your will be done, ….”

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Matthew 6:9-13 ESV

Many times our prayers are centered around the things we want rather than being centered on the things God wants. God uses the Bible, the Holy Spirit, nature, people, and other sources to teach us His will.  When we pray for God’s will to be done, we are praying for Biblical principles to be put into practice.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, …. . (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

…., but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, ….. (Romans 12:2 ESV)

….so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  (Colossians 1:10 ESV)

 Our prayer for today could be:

“Holy Father, 
Help me, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to put the Biblical principles you have taught me into practice today.”

A Model Prayer – To be continued in a future blog.

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Holy, Holy, Holy

A Model Prayer – Part 2

As Jesus was teaching his disciples (us) how to pray, He reminded them (us) that God is a Holy God.

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Matthew 6:9-13 ESV

Prayer provides all of us an opportunity to worship a holy, perfect, sinless God.  In our prayers we need to remember to address our God as a Holy God.

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.  Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:1-3 ESV)

We were created to worship God and a Holy God deserves our worship.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. (Psalm 29:2 ESV)

Take some time today to worship your Heavenly Father.

A Model Prayer – To be continued in a future blog.

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A Model Prayer – Part 1

Throughout His ministry on earth, Christ taught his disciples many valuable lessons.  One of these lessons is found in Matthew chapter 6.  Here Jesus was teaching his disciples (and us) how to pray.

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Matthew 6:9-13 ESV

Every time we pray this prayer we should be reminded that God is a Father to all Christians.

If we are a Christian, God is our Father.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (John 1:12 ESV) [italics added]

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. …. (1 John 3:1 ESV) [italics added]

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, …. (Romans 8:16-17 ESV)[italics added]

As Christians, we are a part of God’s family.  We need to remind ourselves that our prayers are conversations between a Father and his beloved child.

What an awesome privilege it is to have conversations with our Heavenly Father.

A Model Prayer – To be continued in a future blog.

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