A remnant will take root...

Why do good people, God's children, have to endure persecution and suffering? There are plenty of preachers preaching prosperity, name it and claim it, preaching that if you are a child of God, you will have all that you want in your life. They preach all pain and sickness is from the devil or you are suffering because of some past sins that you are not even aware of.

The Bible does not teach you that once you become a believer, accept Christ as your savior, your life in this world will be a life of comfort and smooth sailing. In fact, my experience has been that as you desire to walk with God, he takes you through a process of causing a transformation in your life, the way you think, your desires, your wants, and how you go about achieving a means to an end.  He takes you on a path allowing for your faith to grow.  Only when our faith grows, matures, can we see the true glory of God, the LORD of LORDS, the KING of Kings, a Master over all circumstances !

King Hezekiah was a god fearing king of Israel. Though his father was the evil King Ahaz who turned Israel to idolatry, under Hezekiah's rule he undertook many religious reforms to bring Israel back to worship Jehovah, the God of their ancestor David.  Yet we read in the Bible, this god fearing king went through many difficulties in life. We read in Isaiah 37 about a siege by King Senacherib of Assyria around the kingdom of King Hezekiah.  In the beginning of the siege Hezekiah prayed to God for deliverance and God's promise of deliverance came through his prophet.  In Verse 29, we read that God said through Isaiah regarding King Senacherib, "And because of your arrogance against me, which I have heard for myself, I will put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your mouth.  I will make you return by the road on which you came.' "

Yet, God allowed the siege to continue for two years. Isaiah 37:30, "Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, 'Here is the proof that the LORD will protect this city from Assyria's king.  This year you will eat only what grows up by itself, and next year you will eat what springs up from that.  But in the third year you will plant crops and harvest them; you will tend vineyards and eat their fruit.' "  The people of Judah suffered as a result of the siege.  During those two years of the siege, the Israelites suffered starvation as there were no merchants trafficking in and out of the city walls due to the siege; agriculture must have become a second thought as I would presume all hands were on deck to defend the city from an imminent attack from Senacherib's mighty army.  As we read further down in the chapter, we see that God forced Senacherib to withdraw from his siege by sending an angel who annihilated Senacheribs army in one night. 185,000 troops died in one night at the hand of God's angel.  A God who was able to destroy Senacherib's troop in one night with one of his angel causing him to withdraw let the siege go on for a couple of years. Why?

Following the withdrawal of the siege, we read in Isaiah, chapter 38, that King Hezekiah came down with a very grave illness and was going to die.  We read in Isaiah 38:1:3, "About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him.  He gave the king this message: "This is what the LORD says:  Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die.  You will not recover from this illness." When Hezekiah heard this, he turned  his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, "Remember, O LORD, how I have always tried to be faithful to you and do what is pleasing in your sight." Then he broke down and wept bitterly.  One could feel the pathos of that prayer, the depth of sorrow, grief, in Hezekiah  plea to God.

And, God heard his prayer and healed him for He is a God who hears his child's prayer, sees his/her every tear, feels your pain, understands your doubts and though he, the omniscient God, knows what's good for you, sometimes grants you your heart's desire.  Isaiah 38:4-7,  "Then this message came to Isaiah from the LORD: "Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says:  I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.  I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city."  An emphatic declaration of healing and protection from God. To underscore His promise, God performed one of the most remarkable miracles of the Old Testament:  Isaiah 38:7-8, " 'And this is the sign that the LORD will give you to prove he will do as he promised:  I will cause the sun's shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!' "  So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.

Why would a god fearing man have to go through these trials in life, with continuous threats on his life? Why would God delay the deliverance He had promised to Hezekiah as the kingdom of Judah lay under a siege?  Isaiah 37:31 says, "And you who are left in Judah, who have escaped the ravages of the siege, will take root again in your own soil, and you will flourish and multiply.  For a remnant of my people will spread out from Jerusalem, a group of survivors from Mount Zion.  The passion of the LORD Almighty will make this happen!"  The trials in our lives are the refining process that molds our faith, create a group of survivors who will withstand anything life can throw at them for they have seen the glory of God.  His promise of deliverance had come through following the two years of the siege. During that time God did not allow Senacherib's army to enter Jerusalem. (Isaiah 37:33-35) The experience allowed for the Israelites faith to mature.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.  They are like trees planted along  a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.  Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit."

In the New Testament of the Bible, Apostle Paul who understood trials and hardships very well in his life writes, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us - they help us learn to endure.  And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.  And this expectation will not disappoint us.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."  (Romans 5:3-5)

As you get through your problems, struggles, and trials, may God's grace strengthen you and allow a remnant of you to take root on your own soil, flourish and multiply, and  produce delicious fruits, as Jeremiah wrote, for others to see the glory of God.

Draw me close to you

The Fig Tree

One day while reading the following scripture a thought occurred and I want to share this with you...

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21)

12. The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

20. The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”

Here Jesus demonstrated to his disciples that he had the power of death in his word if he found something to his disliking. A God who had the power of destruction at the tip of his tongue, never exercised this power with such haste at any man. All through the Bible we read of how Jesus healed the sick, freed those under the bondage of sin and Satan, raised up the dead to comfort the grieving families, accepted those who had been rejected by others. He had full authority over the elements of nature - wind and waves obeyed his command, demons pleaded for mercy and fled from his presence. Yet, he showed only mercy, compassion and love towards man. He showed utmost patience at man's disobedience and insolence.

Couldn't Jesus have crushed his enemies like you would crush a tiny ant under your fingers - those who harmed him, the temple high priests and their henchmen, the roman soldiers who mocked him, hurled insults at him, slapped him, tore his robes off of him, put a crown of thorns on his head, whipped him raw until his flesh tore from his body and bled, paraded him through the streets carrying his cross, all the while mocking him, hurting him, hurling insults at him, spitting in his face,  led him to Golgotha where they nailed his hands and feet to the wooden cross, hung him up like a common thief to die.

If at his word demons fled, sicknesses were cured, the lame walked, the deaf heard, the blind saw, healing of all kinds occurred, the dead rose up, waves and wind calmed down at his command, walked on water, five loaves and two fish was found to be enough to feed thousands upon thousands (at his will creation occurred!),  He did not have to even lift a finger to crush his enemies.  He could just have wished harm on his enemies and it would have happened just as he would have wished.  Yet he did not use his power to harm another man!!  He endured all sufferings like a common man without exercising his godliness.  Isaiah had prophesied, "he was oppresssed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7).

Jesus scolded Peter when he drew his sword and struck the servant of the High Priest and cut his ear off as the posse sent by the High Priest closed in to arrest Jesus, "Put away your sword. Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword.  Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (Mathew 26:53). Twelve (12) legions, that's 72,000 angels!

Do you know what the Bible says an angel of the LORD could do? In Isaiah we read that one angel of God killed in one night a 185,000 trained, battle hardened Assyrian troops.  For Isaiah 38:36 says, "That night the angel of the LORD went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian troops." Similarly, in 1Chronicles 20:14, we read that one angel of the LORD destroyed 70,000 Israelites as a punishment for David having foolishly believed in his heart that his victories were a result of the strength of his army.

If one angel could bring about destruction of this magnitude, what could the entire population of Israel and the Roman army do against 72,000 angels?  Think for a moment, Jesus could have relied on his own power, he could have called upon his Father, yet on Calvary's cross as he hung there dying rejected by all including the Father, Jesus prayed to his Father, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 26:34).

How many of us fruitless fig trees live from one day to the next not realizing that there is nothing we deserve, there is nothing that God owes us.  We go through life oblivious that the life giving breathe in our nostrils is a gift from God.  It is the result of that grace from Christ, his prayer to Father God as he hung on that wooden cross dying still resonating in the Father's ears, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing?"

Why does Father God- Jehovah - put up with our disobedient, insolent and callous attitudes and actions? The Bible says in Isaiah 53:11, "...And because of what he (Jesus) has experienced, my righteous servant (Jesus) will make it possible for many to be counted righteous for he will bear all their sins." 

I pray that you will find this God in your lifetime, for when our breathing stops, all will be lost.

Hillsongs - Lead me to the cross

A grandson's recollection...

I am blessed with a wonderful, loving, and caring family, whether it's my immediate family or my extended family. Today, I want to write about my grandparents, especially grandpa, who in life has been my spiritual role model.  The years I grew up with him have greatly influenced my christian faith. His relationship with God, I have always thought of as amongst friends, from the way I've heard him pray.  He was born and grew up in a era when the world as we know was much different technologically. My grandfather lived up to a ripe old age of 103 and passed away in 1994. His life spanned over some quite amazing discoveries and advances for mankind.

I grew up with my grandparents from age 10 through 17.  Though I was in a boarding school, as they were my local guardians, most of my vacations and holidays were spent with them. Grandma and I were very close. Grandpa, I kept a little bit of distance from as he was a no non-sense type of guy, but I knew he had a heart of gold for his grand kids because of the things he used to do for us when we were home with him.  Grandma had on occasions mentioned of grandpa's hot temper that could flare up pretty quickly if he was wronged.  As a young man, I've heard that he was tough. Though, he was of a small physical stature, he made up for it with his determination and fearlessness.  He would never back down from a challenge, man or life's circumstances. People knew him as a no non-sense guy and someone not to be messed with.  They respected him.

He came from a family of farmers.  As a young man, one day on the way back from the market, he had a divine experience that transformed his life. That experience cemented his mission in life. He became an evangelist travelling places (on foot I may add in his early days) spreading the gospel until his old age. But, then he would spread the gospel from his bed to anyone who visited him. He was also a herbal medicine man who knew the treatment for many tropical diseases.  He was well known for his expertise - treating jaundice (yellow fever).  I remember people travelling from near and far to our family home for his treatments, prayer and blessing.

He was a praying man. Reading and studying the bible scriptures and prayer was a big part of his life.  Every morning and evening there were family prayers.  He was up at 4am everyday, no matter what, and I would hear him pray through his bedroom door that was adjacent to mine.  Anytime, we (my brother, sister and i) were sick, grandpa would put his hands on our head and pray, and we would get healed.  I remember relatives and locals used to come to him for prayers for healing, for favorable weather during important occasions, and also for casting out spirits. Sometimes during the monsoon seasons when I was about to go back to my boarding, it would be raining hard making travelling quite hard and dangerous. Before setting out on my trip, Grandpa would pray and go up to the front door, look up to the sky and ask the LORD, "My LORD please stop the rain  as my child is travelling, I need you to make the weather favorable as he travels and reaches school."  I know, you may think I am making this up as I am going, but it is the truth that I know.  This truth - his relationship with God is what made God real for me as a child.  It had always stayed in the back of my mind as I was growing up and traveled the pathways of life taking in all that this world had to offer.  This truth is what made me kneel on my wooden cot in my high school dorm and pray to the God of my grandparents and parents, when I was deep in debt, lost without hope.

As I grew in to a young man, I again strayed away from God.  Yet, I would read the bible and pray whenever  I remembered or there was a need.  While my grandfather was alive, I knew that he was always praying for his children and grandchildren.  Following his death in 1994, as time went by, there were some very unexpected traumatic events and deaths in our families that broke apart families and caused me to wonder if it would have happened should my grandpa be alive.   It seemed with the passing of my grandfather misfortune started visiting our families. These events bothered me much many a nights as I lay in my bed to sleep.

With my grandpa no longer in the picture, the events that took place in our lives started making me think of God again.  I thought of my children and wondered who would pray for them as my grandpa did for us, to keep a hedge around them. It caused much concern for me.  Though we would have family prayers, it was just a routine.  My personal life was not something that would qualify for any privileges in God's view.  One night  as I lay in bed, it occurred to me that who else but I should pray for my children and family. Following our nightly family prayer as I lay in bed I would lift up my hands towards heaven and worship God as I had seen folks in our church do, just that they would do this standing.  I guess, it would be as David said, "I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night" (Psalms 63:6).  I would sit by the bed of my children as they slept and put my hands on their head and pray to God for their blessing and well being.  As a little child I remember going and kneeling in front of my grandpa and asking that he would lay his hands on my head and bless me.  I would keep doing this until grandpa would get tired and say that he had run out of blessings. I loved getting his blessings!

My desire to have a real relationship with God continued to grow. On February 25, 2007 for the first time I experienced the power of the Holy Spirit during a Sunday worship service in our church which was a watershed moment in my christian faith life. That was the beginning of a transformation in my life. Sometimes when you pray for your loved ones, you may not see the results right away, but I will say for sure Jehovah, our God is one who honors his children's prayers and ensures that their generations will not be lost.  None of your prayers for your children will ever be lost.  It may seem so sometimes, but your prayer life will have left an impression unbeknownst  to you on your children and grandchildren.  God's favor will have passed on to the next generation...

That was my grandpa's legacy to his grandson. What will yours be to your children and grand children...?

Find us Faithful

A night of great mercy that I cannot forget...

The year was 1985. I believe it was early May. My college was off for study leave.  Back in the days, colleges would close for a month or so before finals.  I was 17 years old, senior in a high school.  Kids had an option to attend a regular high school or attend high school equivalent program in a college - called Pre-Degree Course. My dad and mom were very particular that their children have the best education they could afford. I was sent to a catholic boarding school/college, one of the tops in the state.  Dad used to send me money for the college room and board, and tuition fees, and then some extra as pocket money.  Many kids in the boarding were from affluent families, and then there was myself and some others from middle class families who lived the high life off of the sweat of our parents.

You see, I wouldn't pay my tuition and boarding fees, I just blew it all on anything but education. There came a point in my senior year that I was going to be barred from taking my finals if I was not going to pay the debt I owed to the college. I believe it was about 15,000-18,000 Rupees.  The hostel warden called me to his office and warned me that within a time period of two or so weeks before the finals were to commence, I better pay all the room & board and tuition fees or else I would be kicked out of the hostel campus and barred from appearing at the finals.  I want to put this amount in context for you, just so that you would understand what I had gotten myself into...

Back in 1985,

1. 10 Rupees was enough to pay bus fare to and from from hostel to a movie theater in the city, plus movie ticket for balcony seats (the top choice), plus some snacks.
2. 5 Rupees was enough for a good lunch
3. a laborer after a full days work made about 50-70 Rupees a day
4. I think, a civil servant made 1,500 - 2,500 Rupees a month

Go figure, how a seventeen year old high school student, unemployed, was going to get out of this hole...15,000 big ones deep.  I was scared out of my wits that my dad was going to find out and I was going to face his wrath. On top of it, the shame if I was not going to make the senior year exams. The embarrassment to my family would be unimaginable.  I couldn't face my family!  I started selling my belongings, anything that would fetch me some money: my Levi's and Lee jeans, T-shirts with foreign logos, jewelry, watch and anything else of value that my parents had given me.  Locals would pay top money for foreign stuff.  I was able to pay of some of the fees.  Then, I approached two college mates who came from wealthy families for loans.  After some pleading, they were kind enough to loan me the rest to pay off the remaining fees with assurances from me that I will pay them back one way or another before finals were over and every one went their different ways. (I still don't know what made them have faith in me to loan me approximately 10,000 - 15,000 bucks.)

I was so broke, but couldn't risk asking dad.  I would have to own up to everything and then didn't know what I would gain in the end.  It was the time of study leave  leading up to the final exams. The hostel mess was closed and kids had to pay for food on the outside.  I remember days/weeks of starving or eating just to get by, because I couldn't afford to pay for food as I had to save every bit of money I could to pay off my debts.  My friends who were there when money was good, all but disappeared.  There were sleepless nights thinking of what I was going to do.  I remember everything culminating in this three day stretch where I had not slept.  I had been so stressed from thinking about the finals and all the money that I owed, not knowing what I was going to do. There were times that I wished I could end it all. It was the third night of my sleepless stretch, I remember having run out of options, kneeling down on my wooden cot in my college hostel.  I was at my wits end, and I prayed to God. I cried out to God for help. What I asked that night was that He would give me five minutes of restful sleep as I couldn't take it any more.  I don't remember finishing that prayer. Next morning I recall waking up in the same fetal position on my knees on top of my cot. I couldn't believe that I had slept through the night on my knees and I remembered my prayer from the previous night... Lord give me five minutes of restful sleep!

That morning I woke up a new person, feeling very calm. I remember feeling totally calm - my situation didn't worry me anymore; my worries were gone, didn't know how or why.  Though my situation was the same, I had this new confidence in me that I couldn't explain, but for the grace of God, that everything was going to be fine. I wasn't afraid of approaching my dad anymore. I was ready to face the consequences and I went to the phone booth in the hostel and placed a call to my dad.  He was an expat living and working in another country with the rest of our family.  I confessed to my dad of the predicament I had gotten myself into.  My dad couldn't believe his ears that he was speaking to his "innocent little son" that he knew, who apparently grew up a lot in the ways of the world in two years span.  He asked if I was addicted to any drugs and if I had blown all the money on drugs.  I could sense the pain and concern in his voice for me.  I told him that I was embarrassed and I apologized to him.  There are enough stories of children of well intentioned parents, whose lives have been ruined by the hostel culture surrounding them.  After our chat, once he was convinced that I wasn't going to blow any more of the money, he sent enough money to pay off all the debts and get some good meals.  I was allowed to take my final exams and passed all courses! Later, after the finals when I visited my parents, my dad came within inches of whooping me raw. Don't know how he held himself together!!! I love you dad and I love you mom!!!!

I have often wondered of God's tremendous mercy that night in 1985 and where my life would have been if I didn't get to sleep that night.  I could not, at the time, explain the different mood and the new attitude that I woke up the next morning while still on my knees as I had bent in prayer the night before with no where to turn and no hope.  Today, it reminds me of the story of the prodigal son from the Bible in Luke 15:11-32. My heavenly father forgave me and took me back.  Jehovah, our God, is a forgiving God. No matter what your sins, when you cry out to him, he answers your cry for help! He has laid out all the punishment for our sins upon his only son, Jesus Christ! There is a new beginning for us in him, a new chapter, a new book, eternal life!

Need God's Grace to grow in Faith...

Couple of days ago, I blogged about a plea to God to strengthen me on my journey of Faith.  I concluded the blog with the reason why I had written that post. For God reminded me of His promise when I had made the decision of trusting in His grace for a healing.

Recently, I visited a cousin of mine from my father's side, a priest, who from a young age felt the calling of God upon his life and accepted it.  I think he could have been anything he wanted to be - he could have excelled in any profession - he has the intelligence, the look, the charisma, to put it succinctly, a total package for success.  But, he chose to be a priest.

In the last few years, he has been beset by all kinds of physical ailments, complications resulting from diabetes.  He had a major heart attack, requiring bypass surgery.  While dealing with it, his kidneys failed, requiring him to have dialysis regularly.  But, I have never heard him complain. Every time I have seen him, I have not seen him worried. He speaks of God's grace in his life and how God continues to lead him in all difficulties. He is still an active servant of God despite his ailments.  As a little boy, I looked up to this older cousin of mine and admired him.

Getting back, I had not been feeling well myself for the past few weeks, my blood glucose levels have been high. Fear had crept in as I started feeling and seeing some of the side effects of diabetes. After praying to God about my fears and worries, I read the book of Daniel, chapter 3.  The chapter talks about the trials and courageous actions of three young men - Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego - in the face of death.   As I had time on my hand I started reading the Book of Hosea.  I couldn't help but notice the unquestioning obedience of Hosea to God, no matter what the personal cost.  God used Hosea and his family as a canvas or medium to send his messages to his disobedient people of Israel.

God told Hosea to marry a prostitute to send a message to Israel that they were like that prostitute, untrue to their God. The Bible says, When the LORD first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, "Go and marry a prostitute, so some of her children will be born to you from other men.  This will illustrate the way my people have been untrue to me, openly committing adultery against the LORD by worshipping other gods." (Hosea 1:2)  Hosea, unquestioningly married a prostitute - Gomer. [ I asked myself, would I have accepted God's conditions and sacrificed my pride, malign my family name and take on public ridicule to obey God?].

Then God asked Hosea to name his first born - a son, "Jezreel," a name that would signify the great slaughter that God was going bring on the house of Jehu because of the violent acts Jehu had committed (2 Kings 9).  Hosea unquestioningly obeyed again.  Following this, a daughter was born to Gomer and Hosea.  God asked Hosea to name that child, "Loruhamah," meaning "Not loved," for God wanted to send the message to the people of Israel that He will no longer show them His love nor forgive them for their sinful ways.  Again, Hosea unquestioningly obeyed.  After Loruhamah was weaned, Gomer gave birth to a third child - another son. God asked Hosea to name that child "Lo-ammi," meaning "Not my people" for God wanted to send the message to Israel that they were not his people.  Time and again, Hosea unquestioningly obeyed God's each and every instruction no matter what the personal cost.

I am a father of two, a daughter and a son. They are precious and I love them dearly. Would I in Hosea's position name my children names that will hold them up for public ridicule, shame and pain, naming them names that have no tenderness, care, nor reflects a father's love, pride and joy!  My children would probably grow up hating me for the rest of their lives. I had to ask myself, if I would be obedient to God if there was a personal cost!

Finally, in Hosea's life, his wife, who had been unfaithful to him, left him for other men.  God asked him to forgive her, bring her back to his house and love her, as a symbol of what God was going to do for Israel.  We read in Hosea 2:1-2 (NLT), " Then the LORD said to me, "Go and get your wife again.  Bring her back to you and love her, even though she loves adultery.  For the LORD still loves Israel even though the people have turned to other gods, offering them choice gifts."  Hosea unquestioningly obeyed. He even had to pay the man who had her for her freedom.

Would I forgive the one who betrays my love and trust? Would I love my God regardless of whether my prayers are answered or not?

The Holy Spirit started ministering to me from the books of Hosea and Daniel.  As I continued praying, the question that was posed in my mind was, "What have you sacrificed for me? I have given you all that I am."  David says in Psalms 23:4 (NLT), "Even when I walk through the darkest valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." I realized that this verse will become meaningful to us only when we have lived out the darkest moments of our lives and see God's sustaining hand. My cousin, the priest, he continues to be an inspiration! It's amazing how God's Holy Spirit orchestrates events in our lives to answer our questions and calm our fears.

Isaiah writes, O Israel [children of God], how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary.  No one can measure the depths of his understanding.  He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak.  Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up.  But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength.  They will fly high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will  walk and not faint... (Isaiah 40:27-31)

May the good LORD give us his grace to grow in Faith!


PS:  (click here for the blog on Daniel chapter 3 - If you believe you will see God's glory!).

Everlasting God - Chris Tomlin

making of the Everlasting God...

Powerful Prayers from the Bible...

There are three prayers in the Bible that have influenced me a lot that I want to post here: prayers of Kings Hezekiah and Jehoshaphat for protection, and Daniel's intercessory prayer for his people - the Israelites.


But first, Jesus taught...
Matthew 6:9-18 (King James Version) 

After this manner therefore pray ye:

"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

King Hezekiah's prayer upon receiving King Senacherib's threatening letter...
Isaiah 37:14-20 (New Living Translation)

After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord.  And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord:

“O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God.

“It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God."

King Jehoshaphat's prayer upon hearing that the kings of Moab, Ammon and Edom had formed an alliance and were marching to attack his kingdom - Judah...

2Chronicles 20:3-15

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 4 So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.

Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord.  He prayed,

“And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them.  Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.  O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

Daniel's prayer for his nation...
Daniel 9 (New Living Translation)

"... I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the Lord, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years.  So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. [and came with an attitude of humility] I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:

“O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.  But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.  We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land."

“Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you.  O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.  But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.  We have not obeyed the Lord our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice."

“So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin.  You have kept your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. Never has there been such a disaster as happened in Jerusalem. Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the Lord our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth.  Therefore, the Lord has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The Lord our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him."

 “O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by rescuing your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness.  In view of all your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn your furious anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. All the neighboring nations mock Jerusalem and your people because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors."

 “O our God, hear your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary."

 “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy."

 “O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.”

I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain."

Paul advises in 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18,

Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

God answered all three prayers! Click on the referenced chapters, and read the scriptures for the details. There are many other powerful prayers in the Bible that I intended on posting here.  While searching the web, I came up on an article published by the Bunyan Ministries on great prayers from the Bible, so thought I would give you a link to it Click here for the insightful study outline from Barry E. Horner. Read the Bible, it's God's word for his people. Be blessed from it and prosper.

Brooke Fraser - Arithematic

 

Need God's Grace to be strong...

I need your grace Jesus on this Journey of Faith!

I was 36 years old when I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Though one may say, thank God it wasn't some other more serious illness, the news was devastating to me. As you know there is no cure for it, you may try and control it with medicine, diet, and exercise. It is also one of those silent killers that destroys other organs in your body and causes various complications.  My doctor put me on medicines, but that didn't seem to do much for me as it was causing other side effects: dizziness, slurring of speech, confused thoughts, muscle cramps, etc.

One Sunday, November 16, 2008, during worship service, I started pleading with God (in my mind) to give me deliverance.  My God had healed me overnight from central retinal vein occlussion in the left eye, He had healed me overnight from a very painful left hip through prayers.  That Sunday morning I thought back to God's healings in my life and decided to completely put my trust in the one who formed me in my mother's womb. I decided to quit taking medicines and just trust in God's grace for a healing.  When we came back home from the worship service, I shared with my wife the decision I had made.  Well, she flipped out, called me selfish, uncaring as a husband and a father, one who puts my own wishes ahead of the family's. She asked me if I knew the ramifications of my decision and she started sharing (or yelling) the complications that could result from this decision of mine. You see, she is a registered nurse who on her job sees the complications resulting from diabetes. I know it was out of her great love and concern for me.

That evening I was totally down, stressed out, scared of what I had done - my decision to forego medicines. I prayed to God to speak to me, tell me he was going to take care of me, I don't know, do something... His answer to me came the following morning as I was reading the Bible.  Hebrews 6:18 mid sentence on, it caught my eye, "...Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence.  This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.  It leads us through the curtain of heaven into God's inner sanctuary.  Jesus has already gone in there for us.  He has become our eternal High Priest in the line of Melchizedek."  The Holy Spirit ministered from these verses to me in the following manner, "In the Old Testament time, the temple high priest offered blood sacrifices on behalf of the people, for their sins, for favors, etc.; in the New Testament time, Jesus is your High Priest, seated besides the Father, and he - our High Priest - offers our Faith - the replacement sacrifice for the Old Testament blood sacrifices - as the sacrifice pleasing to Father God.  For our faith is more precious to God than fine gold. If you believe, have confidence, have faith, you will see God's glory!"

It is also important to note the verses prior to what I quoted above from the book of Hebrews. Hebrews 6:15-18, "Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.  When people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it.  And without any question that oath is binding.  God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.  So God has given us both his promise and his oath.  These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.  Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence."

Why am I writing all this today?  I've been off the medicines for the last two years. For the most part, I watch my diet.  My blood sugar level goes high and low. I can feel it in my body when it's off, but I have not since my decision felt dizzy, slurred my speech, or had any other physical issues that I had experienced during my time on medicine.  Recently, over the last three weeks I have been suffering from a cold, allergies, sinus (whatever one wants to call it) and I've been feeling weak in my body.  My wife took my blood glucose readings and it has been elevated, even the fasting glucose levels.  Fear had crept in, felt down in the dumps, and God reminded me of his promise! I need your grace LORD to continue strong!!  You are the author and finisher of my faith!!!

(PS: the blog I wrote two days ago from the book of Daniel, chapter 3, I realize now is for me to continue in this Faith Journey...)

Jeremy Camp - Walk by Faith

If you believe, you will see God's glory!

The title to this blog was Jesus' words to Martha, Lazarus' sister, just before he called out to a dead Lazarus, who had been in the grave for  four days, to come out of his tomb (John 11:40).  Faith is hard to keep up though I have seen God's glory in my life, time and again! Today as I sit by myself in our home, my wife is at work, children are at school, I want to post my thoughts (prompted by the Holy Spirit) from the Book of Daniel, chapter 3...

A real challenge arises in the lives of God fearing people...

 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. ² Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. ³ So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

 ⁴ Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! ⁵ When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. ⁶ Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

 ⁷ So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

The enemy lays his trap to destroy the children of God...

 8 But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. ⁹ They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! ¹⁰ You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. ¹¹ That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. ¹² But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up."

A certain threat to their lives...

 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, ¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? ¹⁵ I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

Words of Faith in the face of danger...

 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your majesty.

Actions of Courage...

 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” ¹⁹ Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. ²⁰Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. ²¹ So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments.


the Trial...


 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. ²³ So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

Faith unlocks God's deliverance to the amazement of their enemies...

 24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”

   “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

 ²⁵ “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

 ²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

   So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire.

You are secure in God's hands as you walk in faith through your trials...

 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!

Promotion comes from the Lord out of the trap laid for you by your enemy...

 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”

 ³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.

The life of a christian is full of challenges, but amidst those challenges when you put your trust in Jesus, your hope will not be in vain.  For Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith! (Hebrews 12:2)


PS: Lazarus came out of his tomb...

Kutless - What Faith can do

Can we lose Salvation?

I don't know the answer to it, but I believe that if you misuse, disrespect, and act presumptuously with the anointing God has poured out on you in his mercy and kindness, you stand to loose it and pay a steep price for it. My caution would be that we need to continuously pray for God's Saving Grace to keep us on course in a manner that would be pleasing to Him.  This is what the Bible says...

Apostle Paul writes in Romans 11:17-23 (NLT),

But some of these branches from Abraham's tree, some of the Jews, have been broken off.  And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, were grafted in.  So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in God's rich nourishment of his special olive tree.  But you must be careful not to brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off.  Remember, you are just a branch, not the root.  "Well," you may say, "those branches were broken off to make room for me." yes, but remember-those branches, the Jews, were broken off because they didn't believe God, and you are there because you do believe.  Don't think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.  For if God did not spare the branches he put therein the first place, he won't spare you either.  Notice how God is both kind and severe.  He is severe to those who disobeyed, but kind to you as you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the Jews turn from their unbelief, God will graft them back into the tree again.  He has the power to do it.

Ezekiel 18:24, says,

"However, if righteous people turn to sinful ways and start acting like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their previous goodness will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins."

Such a seemingly harsh stance of God was softened on Calvary's cross, where Jesus Christ the only begotten son of God, took upon himself the wrath of God towards man's sins. Isaiah prophesied of this Saving Grace, when he said in Isaiah 53,

"...Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighted him down.  And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded  and crushed for our sins.  He was beaten that we might have peace.  He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep.  We have left God's paths to follow our own.  Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all...

But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins - that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone...

But it was the LORD'S good plan to crush him and fill him with grief.  Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs...

And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins...

He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners."

In Mathew 27:45, we read that Jesus bore it all for us on his own, as he cried out before giving up his ghost, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Father God laid it all, the burden of the entire mankind's sin and the punishment for it on his son.

Even so, we should take to heart the lessons from the Bible regarding folks who were anointed by God, but lost that anointing because of their sinful ways; people who started off well,  but the end was less than glorious or was full of turmoil and pain.  There was Saul, anointed king over Israel, but because of his selfish pride ended his life in failure, taking his life by his own sword; there was Solomon, whom God called Jedidiah - God's beloved.  He was the wisest among all men, the richest king in the whole wide world, whose reign was one of the most peaceful in Israel's history, but his sinful ways resulted in God taking away 9/10ths of his kingdom and giving it to one of his servants during his son's reign (God kept his word to keep the kingdom together during Solomon's reign!).  There was the anointed Sampson, the mighty warrior, whose sinful ways led to his capture and humiliation at the hands of his enemies.  There also was David, Solomon's father, whom God called a man after God's own heart, whose sins though God forgave, as a truly repentant David would fall at God's feet for mercy, was punished by continual strife in his family all through his lifetime.  God loved him, yet he punished him for his sins!

Paul warns us about deliberate/presumptuous sins in Galatians 6:7-8, "Don't be misled.  Remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it.  You will always reap  what you sow!  Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death.  But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." He further writes in Hebrews 6:4-6, "For it is impossible* to restore those who were once enlightened -- those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come --and who then turn away from God.  It is impossible to bring such people to repentance again because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross again by rejecting him, holding him up to public shame.

Let us not deceive ourselves, but pray as in David's Psalms 19:12-13, "How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.  Keep me from deliberate sins! [presumptuous sins - knowingly committed expecting God's forgiveness] don't let them control me.  Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin."

God understands our shortcomings and in Mathew 6:9-13, the Lord Jesus teaches us how to pray to the Father in Heaven - the Lord's Prayer. I want to emphasize vs. 13, where the Lord teaches us, "And don't let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Ask God for his grace, for he is the LORD of all, to strengthen us in our weakest moments, help us not to fall. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul writes, "But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience.  And God is faithful.  He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it.  When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it."

In conclusion, let our prayers be as David's in Psalms 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."  May God bless you and keep you strong until the very end!

* I want to post here a message from J. Vernon McGee on Hebrews 6:4-6