And
whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it - John 14:13-14.
In
all our praying, however, it is important that we keep in mind that God
will not alter His eternal purposes at the word of a man. We do not
pray in order to persuade God to change His mind. Prayer is not an
assault upon the reluctance of God, nor an effort to secure a suspension
of His will for us or for those for whom we pray. Prayer is not
intended to overcome God and "move His arm." God will never be other
than Himself, no matter how many people pray, nor how long nor how
earnestly.
God's love desires the best for all of us, and He
desires to give us the best at any cost. He will open rivers in desert
places, still turbulent waves, quiet the wind, bring water from the
rock, send an angel to release an apostle from prison, feed an
orphanage, open a land long closed to the gospel. All these things and a
thousand others He has done and will do in answer to prayer, but only
because it had been His will to do it from the beginning. No one
persuades Him.
What the praying man does is to bring his will into
line with the will of God so God can do what He has all along been
willing to do. Thus prayer changes the man and enables God to change
things in answer to man's prayer. A. W. Tozer. The Price of Neglect, pp. 51-52
Spending Yourself On Yourself
This is definitely not the Christian life, yet committed followers of Christ are sometimes viewed this way. “Get a life!” they say. Spend your money on yourself. Spend your vacation on yourself. Spend your retirement on yourself. You deserve it. You’ve earned it. Spend yourself on yourself!
But Jesus also speaks to us. In all four Gospels He warns, “The best way to destroy your life is to ‘get’ it!” (John 12:25). Matthew, Mark, and Luke similarly record, “What good does it do to get a life, and then lose it?” (e.g. Mark. 8:36)
We see how irrational this is when we understand that none of the things in life that we handle so casually are even OURS to begin with. Yes, we are talking stewardship here because according to the Bible, a steward cares for someone else’s property.
“Get a Life!” is then bad advice for a Christian on two counts: it is anti-discipleship and it is just plain wrong to steal or misuse another’s property.
This is something that we all spend our lifetimes learning and relearning but we make great strides when we acknowledge these two things and intentionally allow God to direct us. He will then lead us to places and into situations where we “get” the life God has for us – one of richness and abundance of blessing.
by Ray Shive in the Heartbeat section of Vital Signs newsletter
the quarterly update of TEAMS for Medical Missions
The Spirit's Sword - There Is None Like It
In I Samuel 21, when David was running from Saul, he came to
Ahimelech and asked for a weapon. When the priest had nothing to offer him but
the sword of Goliath, David said to him, "There is none like that. Bring
it to me" (21:9). Later in the Scriptures, the writer of Hebrews speaks of
another sword; one that is alive, powerful, and sharper than any other (4:12).
Oswald Chambers
spiritualizes a parallel between these two weapons: "When Christian
workers use the Word of God, they do not damage themselves or hurt others'
souls, but they do great damage to the kingdom of the Devil and bring benefit
to the souls of human beings."
Some years ago, my
wife and I visited a place - a kingdom - where Satan’s control is virtually
uncontested; a kingdom of 32 million where 99.8% are Muslim. Only 0.010%
profess to be born-again Christians. This was, and is still today, a place shut
up tight against avowed missionary work and any open preaching of the Gospel.
The Devil's
control of that part of his kingdom is pervasive; the religion that enslaves
these millions seems monolithic and indestructible. It is unquestionably
rock-like, but it is also one that is just waiting to be smashed in pieces by
the mighty hammer (another wonderful metaphor) of God's Word. It does seem to be
invulnerable, but it is really an obstacle to be thrust through . . . cut down .
. . utterly destroyed by the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
And it has begun
to happen. Even in that impregnable fortress of Islam we met people and
families who had been themselves penetrated with the sword of God's Word. We
also met some who right at that time were starting to feel its keen edge.
After that trip I
was more certain than ever that the mighty Word of God is the only means by which
damage can be done to an Islamic kingdom . . . or any other realm where the
Enemy holds sway. And it is the ONLY way that eternal benefit can be brought to
the souls of human beings.
It is “the power
of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.” It is “the Sword of the Spirit”
(Romans 1:16; Ephesians 6:17).
What are you up
against today? Is there something of the Devil's kingdom that for you seems
unassailable . . . invincible . . . unconquerable?
Say then of the Sword
of the Spirit: “There is none like it. Bring it to me.”
More Wisdom from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The practice of discipline in the community of faith begins with friends who are close to one another. Words of admonition and reproach must be risked when a lapse from God’s Word in doctrine or life endangers a community that lives together, and with it the whole community of faith. Nothing can be more cruel than that leniency which abandons others to their sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than that severe reprimand which calls another Christian in one’s community back from the path of sin.
When we allow nothing but God’s Word to stand between us, judging and helping, it is a service of mercy, an ultimate offer of genuine community. Then it is not we who are judging; God alone judges, and God’s judgment is helpful and healing.
My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit
should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Galatians 6:1
Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us. Psalm 85:4
From 40-Day Journey With Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Copyright © 2007 Augsburg Books
The Christian's Real Safety
"The Christian's real safety is not in the absence of danger
but in the presence of a Protector."
A few weeks ago
some missionary friends returned to their Central America field after a short
furlough. On the three-hour drive, somewhere between the airport and home, gunshots forced them to pull over. They and the other missionary family, also just returning to the field, were
threatened, tied up and separated - men from the women and children. All of
their belongings were searched and everything of value was taken - a laptop, clothes, home school materials, everything, right down to
wedding rings. They were finally released unharmed - very much sobered by what had just happened
but also rejoicing that what might have happened did not.
Some time ago a
missionary wrote: "Our security meeting today with 30 mission leaders was a
time of prayer, many tears, and rejoicing to see God working in spite of the
danger here. However, it has been confirmed that ours is the most violent
country in the world. The crime, per
capita, is eight times that
of the United States. North Americans still are a real target. The guerrillas
have increased attacks and are focusing on our city . . . We have learned that
the MK school where our children attend is under guerrilla surveillance."
With this in mind
I began to think of all the missionaries I know or have known that have faced
great dangers or difficulties.
- Some, with their children are in actual physical danger.
- Others have experienced serious automobile accidents, physical injury, or life threatening sickness - often with only prehistoric treatment (as one missionary described it).
- Some have seen spiritual children and whole churches - a whole lifetime of work - destroyed by an attractive but false gospel.
- And there are always the more personal, quiet tests and trials.
The list goes on and it's a long one but in all of
this - for the servant of Christ - there is peace,
rest, security.
Our hymns and
gospel songs speak of it: "The Lord's our Rock in Him we
hide; a shelter in the time of storm." Or, Till the Storm Passes By -
"In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face, While the storms howl
above me, And there's no hiding place. In the crash of the thunder, precious
Lord hear my cry, 'Keep me safe till the storm passes by.'"
The Scriptures
take up this theme time and time again: Isaiah wrote, "For you have been a .
. . strength to the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm" (25:4). We
read in Proverbs that, "The fear of man brings a snare but whoever puts
his trust in the Lord will be safe." And here, to be safe literally means,
"set on high"; in one translation, "inaccessibly high"
(29:25). The write of Hebrews quotes the Old Testament: "He has said, 'I
will never leave you nor forsake you.' So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is
my Helper, and I will not fear what man can do unto me'" (Hebrews 13:5b, 6).
The missionary's
letter went on to ask: "Are we ending our mission here?" The answer:
"No. We're just beginning."
He's not in denial. There's no boasting here; nothing cavalier. He says this with confidence because,
"The Christian's real safety is not in the absence of danger
but in the presence of a Protector."
Self-Discipline Serves the Community
For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function,
so we, who are many, are one body in Christ,
and individually we are members one of another. Romans 12:4-5
Every act of self-discipline by a Christian is also a service to the community. Conversely, there is no sin in thought, word, or deed, no matter how personal or secret, that does not harm the whole community.
When the cause of an illness gets into one’s body, whether or not anyone knows where it comes from, or in what member it has lodged, the body is made ill. This is the appropriate metaphor for the Christian community. Every member serves the whole body, contributing either to its health or to its ruin, for we are members of one body not only when we want to be, but in our whole existence.
This is not a theory, but a spiritual reality that is often experienced in the Christian community with shocking clarity, sometimes destructively and sometimes beneficially. - Bonhoeffer
Tozer on Pastoral Ministry: A Shaky Foundation
Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me...." —Jeremiah 9:23-24
It is true that much church activity is thrown back upon a shaky foundation of psychology and natural talents. It is sad but true that many a mother-in-law is actually praying that her handsome son-in-law may be called to preach because "he would have such a marvelous pulpit presence."
We live in a day when charm is supposed to cover almost the entire multitude of sins. Charm has taken a great place in religious expression. I am convinced that our Lord expects us to be tough enough and cynical enough to recognize all of this that pleases the unthinking in our churches: the charm stuff, the stage presence in the pulpit, the golden qualities of voice....
I feel sorry for the church that decides to call a pastor because "his personality simply sparkles!" I have watched quite a few of those sparklers through the years. In reality, as every kid knows at Fourth of July time, sparklers can be an excitement in the neighborhood—but only for about one minute! Then you are left holding a hot stick that quickly cools off in your hand. Tragedy in the Church: The Missing Gifts, 32-33.
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