Praying Pint

 

Col. 1:11     “Since His power is so glorious, may you be strengthened with strength of every kind, and be prepared for cheerfully enduring all things with patience and longsuffering”

2 Cor. 12:9     He said to me, My strength is sufficient, for it is only by means of conscious weakness that perfect power is developed”

 

Our Father does not test our faith so much as He exercises and develops it. In time, He makes us aware of our utter weakness; and, in time, we trust and rest in His all-sufficient strength.

“Until we are carried quite out of our depth, beyond all our own wisdom and resources, we are no more than beginners in the school of faith. Only as everything fails us and we fail ourselves, do we draw upon abiding strength. Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee’; not partly in Thee and partly in himself. The devil often makes men strong, strong in themselves to do evil – great conquerors, great acquirers of wealth and power. The Lord on the contrary makes His servant weak, puts him in circumstances that will show him his nothingness, that he may lean upon the strength that is unfailing. It is a long lesson for most of us, but it cannot be passed over until deeply learned. And God Himself thinks no trouble too great, no care too costly to teach us this.”

“Faith counts on the Word of God outside and apart from everything and everyone here. When you are in faith your life is centered in the Lord Jesus. The moment the heart is detained by anything here, faith is obstructed. The visible is antagonistic to the invisible. If you walk in the Spirit you will be sensible of this in a moment; the effects and influences of the visible are counter to the invisible. Eve had lost faith when she saw that the tree was good for food, and pleasant to the eyes. If she had kept faith – dependence upon God – she would not have looked, but she had parted with the faith which overcometh the world when she saw.’ The moment one becomes occupied with the visible one has parted company with faith.” -J.B.S.

“Since His power is so glorious, may you be strengthened with strength of every kind, and be prepared for cheerfully enduring all things with patience and longsuffering” Col. 1:11

 

 

 Luke 23:39-43

 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The cross means different things to different people. For some it’s just a pretty piece of jewelry. To others it’s a decoration for their home. To Christians it is a symbol of the sacrificial love of Christ and His conquering of the grave.

However, to criminals under Roman rule in the first century, and those who witnessed the punishment, the cross was a symbol of torture, cruelty, death, and humiliation.

We can learn a lot from a man on a cross. This individual’s name is only known to God. We find this man—a criminal sentenced to death—hanging beside Jesus in Luke 23:39-43.

The first lesson that we learn is that he had a correct view of reality (Luke 23:40-41) and a correct view of himself. He saw himself as a criminal who was rightly condemned for the deeds he had committed. He correctly realized that he deserved death.

Further, he had a correct view of Jesus. He recognized Jesus as the spotless Lamb of God and he testified to this while hanging on the cross. He knew he was a sinner, and Jesus was innocent.

The second lesson that we learn is that this criminal had a correct view of life after death. Though he was sentenced to death and hanging to life by a thread, he believed that his soul would continue to live after he died.

Many people today live as if this life is all there is, but the Bible says that your soul lives forever and that it will abide in one of two places—heaven or hell (Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5; John 3:1-21).

Finally, we see that this criminal had a correct view of salvation (Luke 23:42). He saw himself as totally helpless. He could do nothing to improve his odds in life or save himself. He was now bound to death and could not escape. Yet he cries out to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

He wanted to offer the last thing he had to give (his soul) to Jesus. He realized that Jesus was the Son of God and that he wanted to be a part of Christ’s kingdom.

The criminal on the cross: he knew who he was and who Jesus was, he knew that his soul would continue after he died, and he knew that Jesus was the Savior. He could do nothing but cry out to Jesus and place his faith in Him for his salvation.

To which Jesus replied, “Today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Have you seen the world through the eyes of this condemned criminal? Do you understand your need for the Savior, and—more importantly—have you looked to Him for your salvation? If not, visit PeaceWithGod.net to learn how you can have the hope of eternity with Jesus.

If you have made that decision, look for opportunities God puts in front of you to share that same hope with those around you. Jesus saved the criminal on the cross, and He wants to save each of us as well.

 

 

In the ancient world, salt was an expensive valuable commodity. Households used salt to preserve and protect meat from decay. Salt was the medicine of choice among physicians to ward off disease and infection. Employers even used salt to pay workers for a job well done. But if an employee were unproductive, he would be declared “not worth his weight in salt.”

Notice in the text that every offering was to be salted. Salt was the opposite of leaven, a symbol of evil and sin, meaning all we offer to God must be pure, sincere, and purged of hypocrisy. Every spiritual offering must be free of earthly contaminates before it can be offered to a holy God. When you and I worship God in our giving and service out of pure hearts and undefiled motives, we do so with a well-salted offering worthy of Him.

Jesus also stressed the importance of salt when He challenged His followers to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). Our world is extremely ill and prone to sin. The Christian, therefore, is to be a salty preservative to slow down and counter the rottenness and evil so pervasive in our day.

However, there is another aspect of salt that is of supreme importance in fulfilling Jesus’ commission—salt generates thirst. Christ-followers are to make the unbelieving world thirsty. May we be used not only to preserve what is just and pure but also to make all those we encounter thirsty for the things of God.

 

 

What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

–1 Corinthians 4:7

In Colossians 3:12, Paul listed six character qualities that are essential for every Christian if we are to become like Christ. The third quality on the list is humility.

Throughout Scripture, God places a premium on humility. In Isaiah 66:2, God said, “To this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” And in Matthew 23:12, Jesus said, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

We tend to go to one of two extremes in terms of how we view ourselves. One extreme is to think, I’m so wonderful! How could this world ever get along without me? The other extreme is to think, I’m just a lowly worm; I’m absolutely nothing in God’s sight. Neither extreme is biblical. In Romans 12:3, Paul said, “I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” You need to have a balanced view of yourself. Yes, apart from God, you are nothing. But God has saved you and given you a unique spiritual gift.

So what does it mean to be humble? Let me give you four characteristics of humble people:

1. They credit others for their successes. Every good thing in your life is the result of what either God or other people have done for you. In 1 Corinthians 4:7, Paul asked, “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” Everything you have ultimately comes from God.
2. They refuse to hold on to their rights. When you understand that everything comes from God, then you understand that you’re here to fulfill God’s agenda–just like Jesus, who gave up His rights to meet God’s agenda (Philippians 2:6–8).
3. They resist the need to always be right. You don’t have a corner on the truth. God has given other people different spiritual gifts and therefore different perspectives than yours.
4. They demonstrate an interest in serving other people. We tend to view other people in terms of what they can do for us. But not Jesus. Matthew 20:28 says, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” The most powerful being in the universe came to earth not to meet His own need but to meet our need for salvation. We are to have the same attitude of humility.

 

Romans 5:1-2   Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[ have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Ephesians 6:2    And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. (Genesis 28:12)

The sins of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob all combined to make a big mess, so big that Jacob had to flee from his twin brother who had vowed to kill him. Jacob traveled eastward toward Haran, in the ancestral lands of his grandfather Abraham (Genesis 11:31-32) and his mother Rebekah (Genesis 24:3-4).

Traveling alone through the desolate landscape, Jacob had a significant dream as he used a stone for a pillow. One can only imagine the strange flood of feelings in Jacob at this moment: the fear, the loneliness, the isolation, the excitement, and the anticipation. This was an important time in Jacob’s life.

Jacob’s dream presented an interesting image. He saw a ladder on the earth, one that reached to heaven. Jacob saw in his dream the angels of God going up and down (ascending and descending) on the ladder.

Through this dream, God told Jacob that there was a way to access heaven – that heaven and earth were not permanently and completely separated – there was access to heaven. Jacob now knew God was closer than he had ever before believed and there was real interaction between heaven and earth. Heaven is not shut up, and God concerns Himself with what happens on earth. All this was a life-changing revelation to Jacob, who previously seemed to have litter interest in or regard for God.

In the New Testament, Jesus made specific reference to this dream of Jacob when He said to Nathanael: Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man (John 1:51). Here, Jesus said that He was the fulfillment of the ladder that Jacob saw in his dream. Jesus is humanity’s access to heaven, and Jesus is how heaven comes down to people and by which people can go to heaven. Jesus the Messiah is this ladder, the way to heaven.

Remember the great words Jesus spoke to His disciples the night before He went to the cross: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). Jesus didn’t say that He knew the way; Jesus said that He was the way. Jesus didn’t say that He pointed to the way; Jesus said that He was the way.

Jesus is the ladder, the way to God – and there is no other ladder or way. Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth, and the way was made through His own sacrifice. it is in this sense that Jesus could say in John 1:51 that those angels were ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. He made the way Himself, by His own sacrifice.

 

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” —Isaiah 43:25

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. … I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” —Psalm 32:1–2, 5

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’” —Luke 23:34

Forgiveness can be an emotion-laden word, perhaps because it is at the foundation of all our relationships—with God, with others, and with ourselves.

God’s Forgiveness

When we have fallen into deep sin, it can be difficult to understand why or how God could forgive us. But the Bible assures us that God is willing to forgive our sin when we have submitted our lives to Jesus Christ. In 1 John 1:9 we read, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Billy Graham has said, “God’s forgiveness is not just a casual statement; it is the complete blotting out of all the dirt and degradation of our past, present, and future. The only reason our sins can be forgiven is that, on the cross, Jesus Christ paid their full penalty. [But] only as we bow at the foot of the cross, in contrition, confession, and repentance, can we find forgiveness.”

What must we do to receive God’s forgiveness?

Repent. This means owning up to what we have done—and turning away from our sin: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (Psalm 51:3–4, ESV).

Ask for forgiveness. “For Your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great” (Psalm 25:11).

Remission. Like a debt that has been covered by someone else, the penalty for our sins was paid by Jesus. “This is My blood … which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28).

Purification. The very essence of forgiveness is that we are totally cleansed from our sins. “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. … Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:7, 9–10).

Reconciliation. When God forgives, we may still suffer consequences for our sin. But through forgiveness, the separation between us and a Holy God is bridged, and we can then enjoy God’s complete love, acceptance, and friendship. God is always in the business of “reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespass against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19, ESV).

Forgiving Yourself

You may be dealing with guilt and fearful feelings from your past. Bondage to the past prevents you from experiencing freedom in the present. This is not God’s will for you; He desires that you experience abundant life (see John 10:10)!

The secret to forgiving yourself is found in accepting God’s forgiveness for you. When you are tempted to look back on your past sins and condemn yourself, remember how God Himself thinks of you: “I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).

Forgiving Others

Colossians 3:13 says, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

At times, we may not “feel” like forgiving those who hurt us; however, forgiving is a choice, not a feeling. God is grieved and angered by our sins (see Psalm 7:11), yet He chooses to forgive us. We must do the same with each other. Matthew 6:14–15 says, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

When you choose to forgive those who have wronged you, you are not saying that what they did was right; neither are you excusing their sin. Instead you are releasing them to God and letting Him deal with their offense. You are no longer holding their sin against them.

The Danger of Unforgiveness

If the choice to forgive seems too painful, consider that the alternative—not forgiving—will bring you infinitely more pain. Unforgiveness creates a barrier in your relationships with others and with God; it can lead to depression, burnout, physical problems, broken relationships, and bitterness.

God commands us to forgive others because He loves us. He wants you to experience the immense freedom and joy that come from forgiving, instead of the pain and bitterness that unforgiveness brings.

Moving Forward

• If you have never asked God to forgive you of your sins and surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, do so now. If you have already turned your life over to Jesus Christ, make your relationship with Him primary in your life (see Matthew 6:33).
• Examine your heart for ways that you may have wronged others, and then seek their forgiveness. (see Psalm 139:23–24).
• Make a choice to forgive others who have wronged you. If you do not feel that you can forgive, ask God for the willingness to do so.
• Actively put behind you those things which hurt you, and refuse to bring them up again.
• Spend time each day reading God’s Word and talking with Him in prayer. This will be a great help to your spiritual growth.
• Get involved in a church that lifts up Jesus and the Bible. Find a small group where you can regularly meet for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship.

 

That I may know Him.
Philippians 3:10

“Who is the most important person you know?” a man asked his friend. “I am,” came the reply. Perhaps there are better answers. Some would name a president or prime minister, a billionaire or movie star. But none of those answers are the best. The apostle Paul said, in essence, “I want to know Christ.”

The Amplified Bible Classic Edition renders that phrase like this: “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly].”

As Christians, we’re to give ourselves with intensity to knowing Christ Jesus. We’re to be passionate in doing so—not just in knowing about Him but in knowing Him personally and progressively, more deeply and intimately. Like every other relationship, we draw closer to Him through time spent in conversation. That takes prayer (when we speak with Him) and Bible study (when He speaks to us). That’s why we should open our Bibles every day and pray on a regular basis.

Make sure you don’t miss your regular meetings with the Lord!

It is in getting to know my Bible that I get to know Jesus.

 

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

–Psalm 19:7

If you want a firsthand account of somebody who was at peace no matter what was happening around him, read Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul was in prison, potentially facing execution. In addition, there were other Christians slandering him and trying to make a name for themselves at his expense. Paul didn’t worry about those things. Instead, he wrote, “My circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel” (1:12), and, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (4:11).

What was Paul’s secret for maintaining peace? He stayed in regular communication with God. In Philippians 4, Paul wrote about two spiritual disciplines in his life that allowed him to experience God’s peace. One discipline was prayer–that is, speaking to God. Verses 6–7 say, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Just as soldiers march around a fortress to secure it, when you pray about whatever is worrying you, God’s peace will march around the fortress of your mind and protect it from the enemy’s attacks.

The second spiritual discipline Paul mentioned is meditating on God’s Word–that is, allowing God to speak to him. Verse 8 says, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” In this verse, I think Paul was talking about God’s Word. Notice how the psalmist described God’s Word in a similar way: “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (19:7–8). Reading God’s Word brings God’s peace into our lives. That’s because the Bible is a record of God’s faithfulness to His people. Since God doesn’t change, we can be assured that the same God who was faithful in the past will be faithful to you and me.

Maintaining communication with God freed Paul from anxious thoughts while he was in prison. He wasn’t consumed by his problems; instead, he was consumed by what God was doing for him through his problems. The same can be true for you. You can experience the supernatural peace of God when you make the decision to let the peace of Christ have the final say in your life.