The Value of Unanswered Prayer

Moses said to the LORD, "Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,' to the land that you swore to give their fathers? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, 'Give us meat, that we may eat.' I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness." -Numbers 11:11-15

Tonight is Prayer Service at our church. Some will gather and offer up prayers requests for perceived needs and praises to the Lord for who he is and how he has answered our requests. This is a regular practice of our church and many believers around the globe. We often gauge the value of these prayer times by how many times God has said "yes" to our requests. In short, if we see many affirmative answers, we conclude that the Prayer Service is valuable and worth going to. Unfortunately, we often conclude that if our requests are not being answered, that means there that God must not hear us and there is therefore little or no value in continuing the practice of prayer. But I'd like to submit to you that unanswered prayers don't mean that God isn't listening. And unanswered prayers certainly don't mean that we should give up praying.

In these verses in Numbers 11, we see Moses approach the Lord with his troubles and requests. The Children of Israel were complaining again. Moses was taking the brunt of their complaints and was feeling quite overwhelmed. As he lays out his burden before the Lord, he asks the Lord if it was meant for him to bear the burden of the people alone, to kill him at once. This is an honest prayer. Moses can't take the heaviness, the extreme weight of the complaining, the stress of trying to meet the needs of all these people. So he simply asks the Lord to kill him to spare him the pain of this great burden. 

Have you ever prayed this way? I know that I have. Maybe the circumstances were a little different. Maybe I was not praying concerning the complaints of people. But I have prayed in times of heaviness and sorrow and stress that the Lord would spare me the pain by "taking me out". I don't know about you, but as I look back on these times I sure am glad that God didn't answer all my prayers with a "yes". I often don't pray for things as I ought. I often pray selfishly and pray for solutions that are feasible only in my mind. God wants us to pray, and he wants us to pray honestly, but he wants us to pray with a "Your will be done" attached to all our requests.

Unanswered prayer has more value than you think. Moses didn't get a "yes" answer to his request here. God didn't kill him. Instead, God appointed 70 elders to help Moses bear the burden of the people. God gave an answer according to Moses need, rather than giving a blanket answer to his misinformed request. The Lord does the same for us today. He hears our prayers and sees our needs. When our prayers don't align with our needs, he sovereignly meets the needs instead of answering the prayer we pray. You might pray for what you think is best, but then God provides something far better. Moses was not meant to bear the burden of leading alone, but the answer was not to take Moses out of the picture. No, the answer was to give support and encouragement through a team of leaders. An answer far better than the request, wouldn't you say?

Yes, tonight is Prayer Service at church. Yes, God will hear our prayers. And yes, God will meet our needs. But sometimes our prayers and our needs are not the same thing. Don't be disappointed by unanswered prayers. Be thankful that God didn't answer your every request. Chances are, you might not be happy with the results if he did.

Why Do We Suffer?

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." -1 Peter 5:8-10

Why do we suffer? It is a valid question. It is a question that has been asked for millennia by those who claim to follow the true God and by those who claim not to be religious at all. It is a question that can be answered simply, and it is a question that can be answered in a complex way. It is a question for the believer in Jesus Christ and it is a question for the atheist. Why do we suffer?

Why do we suffer? It has to be acknowledged, first and foremost, that suffering is caused by sin. Suffering is universal because sin is universal. The Bible states clearly, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." The first sin of disobedience by Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden welcomed suffering into the world. Remember, God promised that the day that Adam and Eve at of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they would surely die. They disobeyed God and they suffered the consequences for their sin and the rest of humanity was cast into a state of suffering as a result. Since that time, the sinful nature of mankind has continued to cause suffering universally.

Why do we suffer? The believer in Jesus asks this question from a unique perspective. Unlike the atheist or the agnostic, who asks the question and searches endlessly for a satisfactory answer, the Christian can ask the question "why?" and see the answer on the pages of the Scriptures. In the above verses from the apostle Peter's first letter, we read part of the answer to the question. The devil is...seeking whom he may devour. It is important to realize the the devil is a master of destruction. He wants to destroy what God has created. The devil wants to destroy nations, cities, families, marriages, humanity itself. The devil would destroy God if he could. He is rightly called "a murderer". So be on your guard Christian. Watch out, resist, stand strong, be faithful. You are not alone. Peter says that you are part of a brotherhood that is also experiencing the same sorts of suffering at the hand of the wicked one.

Why do we suffer? Part of answering this question is understanding that if you have trusted in Christ, you are headed for heaven. God has called you to His eternal glory, and He will bring you there. Notice verse 10. Peter says that God will perfect you. That means He will give you what you need to make it all the way to heaven. God will establish you. That means He will give you right directions. God will strengthen you. That means He will give you courage. God will settle you. That means He will ensure you experience final victory over the suffering in the world.

Why do we suffer? It is a necessary part of living in a fallen world. God will use suffering to accomplish his ultimate purpose in bringing the believer to heaven to enjoy God's eternal glory forever. The God of all grace will see that what He calls you to, He equips you for. Yes, you will suffer. But your suffering is not pointless. It is working for you a far more eternal weight of glory in Christ Jesus.

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards #61-70

This is our final day reflecting on Jonathan Edwards 70 resolutions. Here are the last 10:

"61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it–that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. 

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Ephesians 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully "as unto the Lord, and not to man; knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord."

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. 

64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered," of which the Apostle speaks [Romans 8:26], and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalms 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. 

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and everything, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th sermon on the 119th Psalm.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. 

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak."

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards #51-60

Have you made any resolutions for 2017 yet? Consider the next ten resolutions Jonathan Edwards made for himself:

"51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. 

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation⁴ of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, resolved to endeavor to imitate it.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. 

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill-nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. 

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination."

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards #41-50

This is the fifth day considering Jonathan Edwards' 70 resolutions. Here are the next ten for your consideration and reflection:

"41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this 12th day of January, 1722—23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were anyway my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, Jan. 12, 1723.

44. Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. 

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. 

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eye: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world." 

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards #31-40

In an attempt to begin 2017 by committing ourselves to godliness in our lives, we have been considering the resolutions that Jonathan Edwards made to himself in his own personal quest for godliness. This is Day 4. Here are the next 10 resolutions:

"31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the Golden Rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Proverbs 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining and establishing peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects.

34. Resolved, in narrations never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. 

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous,³ or matter of laughter on the Lord's day.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no: except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking."

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards #21-30

We are trying to begin 2017 by committing ourselves to pursuing godliness in our lives. This is our third day of considering the resolutions that Jonathan Edwards made to himself in his own personal quest for godliness. Here are the next 10:

"21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself (as much happiness, in the other world,) as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God's glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.]]

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before."

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards #11-20

We are trying to begin 2017 by committing ourselves to pursuing godliness in our lives. This is our second day of considering the resolutions Jonathan Edwards made within his own heart in his own personal quest for godliness. Here are the next 10:

"11. Resolved, when I think of any¹ theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don't hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking."

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards #1-10

As we begin the new year of 2017, it is fitting for us to consider the 70 resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. Most of us make resolutions that involve losing weight, exercising more, and eating healthier, yet few of us consider making resolutions to pursue godliness in our lives as Jonathan Edwards did. Over the course of the next week, we'll consider 10 of Jonathan Edwards' resolutions each day. Here are the first 10:

"Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the forementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell."

Bringing Glory to God

"And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me." - Galatians 1:22-24

The Apostle Paul had an amazing conversion experience. The Lord Jesus appeared to Paul (who was named Saul at the time) on the road to Damascus in a bring light and challenged what Paul was doing in persecuting and imprisoning Christians. You see, Paul thought that he was doing God's work. As a Jew, he was zealous for following the law and for protecting his religion. But the Lord showed up and showed Paul that he was fighting against the work that God was doing through Jesus. You'll remember that Paul was then blinded until he found a man named Ananias who would help him. After that Paul began to preach the gospel and to defend what he once sought to destroy.

Paul's is truly an amazing conversion experience. Chances are that you didn't come to Christ after being blinded and spoken to by a voice from heaven. And chances are that when you came to Christ the world didn't stop and look in amazement when they first noticed you were going to church. No, probably very few people even knew that you had placed your trust in Christ's death and resurrection as satisfactory payment for your sins and received God's justification. Even though your conversion to Christ probably went unnoticed by the world, when you, as a Christian, faithfully proclaim the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, others will glorify God because of you. Others will see the difference between who you once were and who you have become--who you are becoming in Christ.

The challenge for us today is to live faithfully to what God has called us to. As Christians, God has called us to a life that proclaims the good news of salvation by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. That is the purpose. No matter the context, as you fulfill this purpose, you will bring glory and praise to God. Others will glorify God because of you. Make it your goal, not to make a name for yourself, but to make a name for the Lord. Let others see how great a salvation you have in Jesus.

Be An Example

"Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us." -Titus 2:7-8

Being an example is a daunting, yet necessary task. The Lord wants to put on display what He is doing in your life, namely changing you into a person that shows true godliness of character. He does this not so that you will receive the accolades of men, but so that you can have influence on the lives of those around you. Paul tells Titus here to model good works--godliness--in all respects. In every aspect of life Titus was to show himself to be a model Christian. He was to teach with integrity, dignity, and soundness of speech. Wouldn't it be great if every Christian lived with this kind of resolve? Your neighbors would be well-served if you lived with consistency of character, respect and respectfulness of others, and if you use the sort of speech that shows truth and grace.

Your example is a powerful thing. It has the power to lift someone up. As others look to you (and they are looking), you can encourage them and strengthen them in the Lord. Your example has the power to teach truth. Your life puts on display the measure of truth that you understand from God's Word. Whether you understand little or much of the Bible, your life will show it. Either you will display the godliness that the Lord desires, or you will display the sinfulness of the flesh that comes naturally and easily to you. Your example has the power to silence an opponent and prove accusations wrong. Opponents will come. Accusations will be thrown at you. Your way of life will either confirm the accusations or it will extinguish them. Seek to live showing yourself to be a model of good works, integrity, dignity, and soundness of speech.

Past, Present, and Future

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:" -Colossians 1:21-22

Remember your past. There was a time when you were God's enemy. There was a time when you were estranged from the life of God. But then there was a change. By the blood of Christ's cross, your sin debt was paid and by faith you received cleansing, the forgiveness of sins, and have now been reconciled to God.

Call to mind the present. God is conforming you to the image of His dear Son, that you may be like Him in your thoughts, words, and actions. Every task you face, every trial that is patiently endured, every struggle, and every victory is being used to further this work.

Now look to your future. One day Christ will present you to the Father in heaven perfectly holy, perfectly blameless, and perfectly unreproveable in His sight--no more accusations, no more sin, no more regrets, no more pain.

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Reclaiming A Vision of God's Majesty

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts." Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged." Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." -Isaiah 6:1-8

Isaiah records for us a most awesome experience--Isaiah saw the Lord. He saw the Lord in all His majesty. He saw the Lord sitting on the throne of heaven. Isaiah heard the voices of the angels constantly singing God's holiness. Smoke, trembling doorposts, singing. Isaiah's vision of God was truly a most awesome experience.

Notice, first of all that Isaiah's vision of God came after the death of King Uzziah. You will remember that King Uzziah was a tremendous leader for Israel. He was the sort of king that people followed. He was strong, a good leader, and a godly man. Uzziah built cities, strengthened his army, and overthrew his enemies. However, near the end of Uzziah's life, he failed miserably when he attempted to do something that which was reserved only for the priests. Because of this failure, he lived as a leper the rest of his days. For Isaiah, Uzziah's death would have been a milestone, a date to remember. Uzziah would have been a hero of sorts for Isaiah. After Uzziah's death, Isaiah saw the Lord. Sometimes God has to remove our heroes before we can truly see the Lord in His majesty.

Secondly, notice Isaiah's response to this vision. Isaiah acknowledges his utter sinfulness in the presence of a holy God. Here we see a man that is broken because of his sin. Isaiah is literally undone at this revelation of God's holiness. Repeatedly in the Scriptures we see this same pattern. Joshua fell on his face before the commander of the armies of the Lord. Moses fell on his face at the burning bush. Paul fell on his face before the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. Isaiah see himself for who he really is as he sees the majesty of God. This is true of us as well. As we look to the Lord of hosts and see him in all his splendor and holiness, we get a very accurate picture of our own sinfulness and inadequacy to stand before a holy God. 

Third, I want you to notice Isaiah' cleansing. This angel brought cleansing to Isaiah's unclean lips by the coal from the altar. As Isaiah saw this vision of God and reeled back because of his own sinfulness, God extended grace to Isaiah and cleansed him, forgiving Isaiah of his sin. If we are to truly see God's majesty, we must do so on the basis of God's grace in Christ Jesus. In Ephesians 2 we are told that by Jesus Christ we have access to the Father. We can be forgiven of our sins and experience fellowship with God because of grace. God has done something for us that we could not do ourselves. Isaiah was undone--there was nothing Isaiah could do to fix his sinfulness. We to are undone before the holiness of God, but in Christ we can be forgiven and cleansed just as Isaiah was. 

Last, notice Isaiah's willingness to serve. When he saw the majesty of God and recognized his own sinfulness and received forgiveness of sins, Isaiah responded by offering himself in the service of the true King of heaven. Uzziah was dead. The earthly hero was no more. But Isaiah learned that God is the King and that He was looking for a messenger. 

Believer, I urge you to see the majesty of God. Don't settle for a small view of God. See him in all His glory. He is the only true God, the God of whom the angels sing night and day, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts: The whole earth is full of His glory!" Only when we see the Lord in all His fullness do we understand who we are in all our sinfulness. Lord break us, undo us, and forgive and cleanse us. Make us suitable for your service.

Perseverance and Prayer

“So I say to you, 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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” –Luke 11:9-10

Perseverance is a quality that we must develop in prayer. When a need arises, the natural tendency in prayer is to pray once or even to neglect prayer altogether. In the weakness of our flesh we often succumb to the pressures to start striving on our own apart from God. Our flesh wants to attempt to control the circumstances we face. God would have us pray and rely upon Him as we go through each trial. When things get difficult and we are tempted to give up in prayer, we are to keep on praying and keep on relying on God.

The Bible has much to say about continuing and being constant in prayer. We are told that it is God’s will for us to pray without ceasing. We are commanded to pray. In another place, we are told to be watchful in prayer. Here in Luke 11, we are told to ask, seek, and knock when it comes to prayer. These verbs are in the present tense, which indicates that we are supposed to keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking. Perseverance is continuing in that course of action with little or no indication of change. Prayer often feels this way. We pray and expect God to act immediately, but He doesn’t operate on our time schedule. We pray and then wait, and then pray, and then wait some more. Sometimes this results in us giving up on praying. But when we persevere in prayer, we begin to see God answer and fulfill our prayers in ways that we could never imagine.

Jesus is a prime example to us of perseverance in prayer. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed with perseverance. Remember, He was agonizing over the impending suffering that He would face on the cross. He prayed for another way but He also submitted Himself to the Father’s will and not His own. He didn’t leave the place of prayer until He had prayed three times and sweat drops of blood as He prayed. The disciples were not so diligent. They couldn’t even stay awake and watch as Jesus prayed. This is a great picture of the struggle we face in prayer. Jesus is the ideal. We want to pray with endurance and perseverance like He does, but we usually end up asleep like the disciples.

Lord, teach us to pray and to pray with perseverance.

Perseverance and Persecution

What does it mean to persevere? The word itself means to “continue in a course of action in spite of difficulty or with little or no indication of success.” Perseverance is an action word that describes the way a person lives. It is the action of the one who has the qualities of endurance and patience. It communicates to us that the one who perseveres has endured a task or trial for a period of time with some measure of difficulty or distress. We have many examples of perseverance given to us in the Scriptures or illustrated for us in society. It could be the marathon runner, the gladiator fighting to the death, or the soldier in battle. It also could be the mother raising her children, the father working hard to provide for his family, the pastor shepherding his church, the firefighter extinguishing the flames of a house fire, or the politician taking a stand for morality in a Godless culture. In the passage below, we have the idea of perseverance illustrated.

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” –Matthew 24:9-14

What you've just read is a small portion of the Lord Jesus instruction to his followers on the idea of persecution. Persecution means that Christians will suffer at the hand of unbelievers because of their faith. Jesus promised this to all those who would follow him. Paul echoes the same thing to Timothy by saying that “all who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Here Jesus says that there is coming a time when the unbelieving world will be angry with Christians, they will hate them, and the world will will afflict them physically, and they will even kill Christians for their faith. There is coming a time when Christians won’t even trust each other. Instead professing Christians will betray and hate other Christians. There will be deception by false teachers, and Christian love will grow cold. There is suffering in store for Christians in the world. Jesus says here that the one that endures to the end will be saved. Jesus is not advocating that in order to be saved eternally you must endure to the end. This would be a works-based salvation. Rather, he is describing a future time of persecution called the great tribulation. During this time persecution will become so intense that there will be many professors of Christianity that will apostatize and leave the faith. What Jesus means here is that those who endure—those that persevere through this time of intense tribulation—shall be saved at the second advent of Jesus Christ. Jesus will return to the earth and put an end to all the fighting and persecution that will occur.

While this passage describes for us a yet future time of suffering for Christians, we can be encouraged right now to learn to persevere. Perseverance is connected with the Christian life. After all, once a person trusts in Christ for salvation, they begin a journey that will last the rest of life. Perseverance means that you will continue in your Christian faith until your dying breath. It means that you will remain faithful to the Lord your whole life. Perseverance is the idea of continuance. It is the idea of moving forward, running the spiritual race, walking with the Lord with patience and endurance. In the Scriptures God clearly communicates that He wants Christians to persevere. Peter tells us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul told Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews urges us to go on to perfection, to keep moving forward and not to draw back. James tells us to let the trials of life perfect us by giving us endurance.

Think of the coming tribulation and of those who will suffer to the point of death for the Lord Jesus. Christians we need to pray that we will gain that sort of perseverance in our faith. Are you persevering? Are you gaining the qualities of endurance and patience in your life? Let the trials of your life and the suffering at the hands of unbelievers encourage you to keep moving forward and not to draw back. Don’t be discouraged. Be a good soldier. Endure hardship for the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Legacy of Spiritual Growth

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." -Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus commanded his disciples to go and make disciples of the nations. He commanded baptism, and teaching with the goal that these new disciples would be able to observe everything that Jesus commanded. In the early church we see this in action. On the day of Pentecost Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, preaches the good news about Jesus Christ and three thousand people were added to the church. In subsequent days, weeks, and months many more were added to the number of believers. But it wasn't just numerical growth that occurred as a result of Peter's preaching and the ministry of the other apostles. We also see spiritual growth in these people. Consider that just a few short chapters later, we see believers all praying together, giving of their possessions to support each other, distributing to widows, more leaders are chosen, and believers--not just the apostles--go everywhere preaching the word of God. This is the result of believers growing into spiritual maturity.

Spiritual growth is never meant to be exclusive to one person. And it is not meant to be contained to the span of your life. It is meant to be spread to others and to be carried through many generations. Your spiritual life is designed to reach out to others with the gospel of Jesus Christ. As you grow into spiritual maturity, you are to pass the truths you have learned on to others. Paul commanded Timothy in this way: "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." -2 Timothy 2:2 Spiritual growth is passed on through the teaching of the doctrines of Scripture and the instilling within believers to teach others also.

This growth should span generations. Not only are we to find those faithful men that Paul said to Timothy, but also fathers and mothers are commanded in the Scriptures to teach their children the word of God and bring them up in "the nurture and admonition of the Lord." The family can and should be a powerful tool for promoting spiritual growth. Parents teach children to know and love the Lord, then children get married, have children, and teach their children to know and love the Lord. It is an ongoing process. Spiritual growth is as much a legacy that you can leave behind after you are gone as it is a process that you should see in your life. If we stop and think about it, all believers today are part of a spiritual legacy that has been left by those who have lived spiritual lives before us. The writer of Hebrews put it this way: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," -Hebrews 12:1

Believers, your spiritual growth can be passed on to others by faithfully proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and by teaching believers to observe all that He has commanded. May we all "..grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." -2 Peter 3:18

The Context of Spiritual Growth

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity...for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore." -Psalm 133:1, 3

Spiritual life is not meant to be lived alone. Christians are not supposed to live in monasteries and seclude themselves from other Christians. Neither are Christians supposed to stick to themselves and try to 'go it alone' without going to church and fellowshipping with other Christians. No, Christians are supposed to dwell together. We are supposed to live this live in unity and oneness. We are supposed to growth spiritually in the context of community. David says that this community is pleasant. In fact, David concludes that when brethren dwell in unity is when the Lord commands blessing. The blessing described is life for evermore.

Your spiritual growth hinges upon your involvement at church with other believers. In Ephesians 4:15 the Apostle Paul speaks of not being children any longer but speaking the truth in love to each other so that we can grow to maturity in Christ. Christianity was designed by God to be a community made up of people who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and who are striving to live like Jesus in every aspect of life.

There are scores of passages in the New Testament that point to the spiritual life in context of community. In fact, most of the epistles of the New Testament are written to churches, not individuals. So the instructions given within those epistles are in the context of community, not singular life. Consider the instruction to the Thessalonian church to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Most people, myself included, often think of these three verses as instructions for the individual Christian's life. But when we stop and think about what it means in the context of the community of believers, it takes on a whole new level of understanding. How does a church rejoice always? How does a church pray without ceasing? How does a church give thanks in everything?

Even in the earliest beginnings of the church we learn that spiritual growth was meant to happen in a culture of community. Acts 2:42 says, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." Here in the early church where the majority of the church had only been saved for a matter of hours, we learn that they continued together. They learned the apostles' doctrine together. They had fellowship--community--with each other. They ate together and prayed together. They were a church that was growing together.

So how about you? Are you growing in the context of community? Or are you attempting to go it alone and do this whole spiritual growth thing by yourself? Remember, you might increase in knowledge on your own, but you will not grow spiritually on your own.

The Lifestyle of Spiritual Growth

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” -Romans 12:1-2

We’ve considered where spiritual growth begins and the foundation upon which spiritual growth is built. Now let’s turn our attention to the lifestyle of spiritual growth. Spiritual growth is not so much an event as it is a process throughout the course of your life. I think this is a point of frustration for many. A Christian might expect to follow a few steps from the Bible and then—poof!—spiritual maturity is yours! After all, so much of our society operates this way. Eat this pill—poof!—you lose weight! Buy this new deodorant—poof!—everyone will like you! Pay this new tax—poof!—the country’s problems will be solved! There are even false teachers and so-called pastors today that proclaim that you can have your best life right now! But that is not how God has designed our spiritual growth. God designed growth to be much slower. Growth in your spiritual life is comparable to physical growth. Just as we don’t grow to be physically mature in a day or in a week, we don’t grow spiritually in an instant either. Yes, there may be times of rapid spiritual growth where we have great victories and successes towards maturity. But there are also seasons of slow plodding that may seem to drag on and on. But don’t get discouraged, God is still at work, even in the slow seasons.

Here in Romans 12:1, Paul suggests here that spiritual growth is, in fact, a long process. He urges believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to God. We would do well to notice that Paul is encouraging us to make a decision that has ongoing effects. Make a presentation of your life to God, then live daily in service to Him. How long should we serve God with our lives? Paul doesn’t put a time limit or a number of days on this command. He simply says, “Do this.” All the days of our lives are to be lived in service to God. Whether it be 5 more days, 5 more years, or 5 more decades, we are to live in service to the Lord.

This offering that Paul speaks of is not like in many churches today where people might give of their money but they want a say in where it goes. That is not an offering. That is manipulation and a struggle for power and control. Presenting our bodies to God means that we place our life before God and leave it to be used at His discretion. An offering means surrendering something to another completely free of charge and without stipulation. We can’t put our life before God and then just as He begins to use it we take it back and say, “No Lord! This is not what I gave you my life for!” or “I’ll let you do this, Lord, as long as you compensate me fairly!” We must place our lives before the Lord and humbly live our lives in a holy and acceptable way.

Paul says living this way is our reasonable service. Some translations say here that it is our “spiritual act of worship”. I like this because it points to spiritual growth. If you want to be spiritual and worship the Lord, then you must present your bodies—your entire lives—to Him. If you want to be spiritual, you must live a holy life. If you want to be spiritual, you must live in an acceptable way before God. What does all this mean? It means that we surrender completely to God’s will in our lives and relinquish all rights and desires to Him.

Isaiah prayed, “Here am I Lord; send me.” We would do well to pray this prayer in response to Paul’s command.

The Foundations of Growth

"The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple." - Psalm 119:130

Yesterday we looked at the beginnings of spiritual growth. Undoubtedly, spiritual growth begins with that desire for God to search us, to know us, and to lead us in the way everlasting. Now lets consider the foundations of spiritual growth.

God's Word, the Bible, is the foundation for our spiritual growth. It is the firm foundation, the solid ground. It is the revelation of God's instruction to mankind. It stands to reason that if a Christian desires to grow spiritually, that the Word of God is the place they must turn to find instructions on how to grow. God has chosen to reveal His instructions to us in a special way in His Word. While its true that God has revealed himself to us through creation in a general way, if we want to know specifics about who He is and what He wants from us as human beings, we must turn to his special revelation.

This verse in Psalm 119 tells us that the way to get understanding is through the entrance of God's Word. As you and I read the Bible and gain an understanding of what it means, we learn how to live. You don't need to know much to become a Christian. You need to understand that you are a sinner deserving God's punishment for sin, that Christ died for your sin and rose again, and that if you place your faith in what Jesus did you can be declared righteous and have eternal life as God's free gift. After salvation, God would have you learn and grow to understand much more than this. As a new Christian learns God's Word, he gets to see this verse in action in his life. God's Word gives understanding to the simple. This chapter also tells us that "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (v. 105). As Christians walk through life reading and learning God's instructions, the path to walk on is literally lit up by the Word of God. This process of growth that we desire and need as Christians is laid out for us in the Bible.

It is impossible to grow spiritually without the Bible.  Job said that he considered the words from God "more than my necessary food." That means that Job saw God's Word as more important that even the physical food that he needed to stay alive. Do you feel like you are stuck? Not growing? Frozen in your spiritual life? Let me ask you, are you trying to grow without the Bible? Are you trying to find instruction for your spiritual life outside of God's special revelation to you? Christians, we must read the Bible, study what it says, commit it to memory and practice in our lives. This is the foundation to build our spiritual life on. This is the foundation of growth. Neglect it and you neglect the source of your spiritual growth.

The Beginnings of Growth

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." -Psalm 139:23-24

Spiritual growth is an interesting concept. Most Christians would agree that they need spiritual growth. And most of us acknowledge that we are not fully mature spiritually. In fact, when we take a look deep inside our hearts, we have to admit that we are desperately far from where we often perceive ourselves to be.

Spiritual growth can also be somewhat elusive. How does one grow spiritually? Is there a formula to follow? Are there a set of clearly defined steps that, when taken systematically, lead to maturity? Or is spiritual growth more fluid, adaptive to your situation and needs? Can you grow spiritually on your own? Does it happen automatically? Is it a steady growth or rapid growth? These are valid questions.

These two verses in Psalm 139 strike me as the starting place for spiritual growth. The first step is a desire--a request: search me. The psalmist asks God to search his heart. This is a sincere request and an acknowledgement of imperfection. The psalmist lays his heart before the Lord openly and honestly acknowledging sinfulness and the need for change. "I'm not where I need to be Lord. My heart is wicked. My thoughts are inconsistent. I don't measure up."

In order to grow, we must desire to grow. Its not something automatic, as if we simply float along through life moving towards maturity. No, spiritual growth happens when we first desire it and ask God for it. We must humble ourselves. We must admit we need growth. Pride would have us close up our hearts from God's searching. Pride would have us hide the wickedness and sin that we harbor inside. This hinders and stops us from growing. Humility lays everything out on the table before God. Humility says, "Search me, O God."

Finally, in order to grow, we must pray for God's leading. "lead me in the way everlasting." God's initiative is required for our growth. God must bring us along in the process. We can't run ahead of God and expect to grow. We must follow his leading. Again, this requires humility. You cannot lead yourself to your own spiritual maturity. You must trust God's leading and follow him.

Can you see the starting place of growth? Desire it, ask God for it, and then follow his leading into the way everlasting.