UNDERSTANDING THE JOURNEY - ASKING FOR GOD'S INTERVENTION 071303 - Part 1
UNDERSTANDING THE JOURNEY
“ASKING FOR GOD’S INTERVENTION”
PART 1
JULY 13TH, 2003
TO THE SECRETARIES AND JUNIOR LEVEL EXECUTIVES OF A LARGE CORPORATION……THE CEO OR PRESIDENT OF THAT FIRM CAN BE A FEARSOME PRESENCE AND NOT SOMEONE YOU WOULD WANT TO INTERRUPT LIGHTLY!!!
IN OTHER WORDS….YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR BREAKING IN ON HIS OR HER DAY!!
AND YOU CERTAINLY WOULDN’T THINK OF GOING INTO THAT OFFICE AND MESSING AROUND WITH THINGS ON THE DESK!!!
SOME THINGS ARE JUST NOT DONE NO MATTER HOW CASUAL THE WORKING ENVIROMENT CLAIMS TO BE….
NOR WOULD YOU JUST WALTZ IN WITHOUT HAVING MADE AN APPOINTMENT WEEKS OR PERHAPS MONTHS IN ADVANCE AND CALMLY ASK FOR A RAISE OR FOR SOME OTHER SITUATION TO BE LOOKED INTO!!!
BUT ON ANY GIVEN DAY OF THE WEEK………..THE GRANDDAUGHTER!!
OF THAT POWERFUL PERSON CAN WALK INTO THE OFFICE, CLIMB UP ON GRANDPA’S LAP AND MAKE PAPER-CLIP NECKLACES!!!
SHE CAN SUSPEND INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS ON MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DEALS JUST TO ASK FOR ANOTHER COLOR OF CRAYON TO DRAW WITH !!!
AND THOUGH SOME MIGHT GET INDIGNANT AT THE INTERRUPTION AND SECRETLY MARVEL AT THE WAY THE LITTLE GIRL IS SO OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS A WORK PLACE AND NOT A LIVING ROOM….
THERE ISN’T A SINGLE EMPLOYEE WHO WOULD MISS THE POINT ……THAT ADORED FAMILY MEMBERS CAN GET IN TO SEE THE BOSS ANYTIME THEY WANT!!!!
LEARNING HOW TO WELCOME GOD’S ACTIVITY AND PURPOSES INTO YOUR LIFE IS MUCH LIKE LEARNING HOW TO BE A CHILD IN THE LAP OF GOD
YOU WILL BE AMAZED AND HOW MANY RESOURCES HE HAS OFFERED TO PUT AT YOUR DISPOSAL…….AND HOW EASY IT IS TO ASK FOR THEM IN TIMES OF NEED!!!
BUT BEFORE EXPLAINING THE SIMPLE INS AND OUTS OF PRAYER………
I THINK IT WOULD HELP TO DISPEL SOME OF THE FAULTY IMPRESSIONS MOST PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT CONVERSTATION WITH GOD!!!
SPIRITUAL TRUTH IS SO OPPOSITE FROM HOW WE WOULD NATURUALLY THINK ABOUT THINGS……AND IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL……OUR NATURAL AND RELIGIOUS THINKING CAN RACE AHEAD AND CHOKE THE LIFE OUT OF WHAT THE LORD WANTS US TO KNOW!!!
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY IS FOUND IN THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON WHO IS ON HIS WAY HOME TO SEE HIS FATHER!!!
GO TO LUKE 15 WITH ME AND LET’S LOOK AT IT!!!
THE SON KNEW HE HAD BEEN WRONG…….SO HE REHEARSES THIS ENTIRE SPEECH…..
“I KNOW I DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING”…..SPEECH!!!
HOPING THAT HIS FATHER WOULD AT LEAST GIVE HIM A JOB WITH THE SERVANTS!!!
BUT THE BOY NEVER EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO START THE SPEECH….
HIS DAD SAW HIM AT A GREAT DISTANCE……AND HE WAS SO OVERJOYED TO HAVE HIM BACK HOME AGAIN THAT HE SMOTHERED THE SON’S SPEECH WITH A TEARFUL EMBRACE THAT MADE IT CLEAR THAT NOTHING ELSE MATTERED!!!
HIS SON WAS HOME….
GRIEVING WAS OVER….
IT WAS NOW TIME TO CELEBRATE THE FUTURE TOGETHER!!!
WHAT THE FATHER WAS INTERESETED IN HAD ALMOST NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE SON IMAGINED WOULD BE THE CASE!!!
LISTEN..
SINCERE BELEIVERS………..WILL OFTEN COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT WE HAVE NOT LIVED AS WE SHOULD!!!
OUR PRODIGAL NATURE WILL LEAD US TO SQUANDER OUR SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE - - -TO STRIKE OUT ON OUR OWN IN FOOLISH PURSUITS THAT LEAVE US BANKRUPT IN HEART AND MIND!!!
OR PERHAPS LESS BLATANTLY….WE WILL CONCLUDE THAT WE DO NOT DESERVE TO RECEIVE MUCH FROM THE LORD BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT DONE WELL ENOUGH…..OR HAVE TRIED HARD ENOUGH!!!!
WE ARE TEMPTED TO APPROACH SO MANY THINGS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON THE BASIS OF WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW ABOUT WHERE WE STAND WITH GOD…..
WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE ……OR BETTER AND HOW WE HAVE BLOWN IT!!!
THAT IS WHY SOME TRUTHS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD ARE BETTER UNDERSTOOD FROM THE INSIDE OUT…….
UNDERSTANDING THE HEART OF THE TRUTH….BEFORE THAT TRUTH IS PRECISELY DEFINED AND OUTLINED AS BEHAVIOR!!!!
AND PRAYER IS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF OUR HUMAN TENDENCY TO FOCUS MORE ON WHAT WE’RE NOT LIVING UP TO….
AS OPPOSSED TO SOMETHING GOD OFFERS TO HELP US LIVE LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY!!!!
MENTION THE SUBJECT OF PRAYER TO MOST BELEIVERS ……AND THEIR FIRST THOUGHT IS……..YOU CRUMMY CHRISTIAN……YOU NEED TO PRAY MORE!!!!
THEIR ATTENTION FOCUSES ON AN OBLIGATION OR REQUIREMENT TO PRAY……RATHER THAN ON AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME WITH JESUS!!!
IF THAT LEGALISTC LIE DOES NOT KNOCK THEM OVER…..
THAN THE OPPOSITE LIE USUALLY WILL!
THAT LIE SAYS……YOU ARE TOO CRUMMY A CHRISTAIN TO PRAY AT ALL”!!!
SUCH THOUGHTS OF UNWORTHINESS PUSH ALL OF US AWAY FROM CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD AND COMPOUND OUR SENSE OF FAILURE - - - OF NOT LIVING UP TO WHAT THEY SHOULD!!!
AND YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS….
THE DEVIL DOES NOT CARE IF YOU CRASH TO THE RIGHT (YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO PRAY MORE)….OR YOU CRASH TO THE LEFT (YOU HAVEN’T BEEN GOOD ENOUGH TO PRAY)
HE JUST WANTS YOU OFF THE ROAD!!!!
HE WANTS YOU TO APPROACH TIMES OF PRAYER LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON!!!
FELLING GUILTY FOR NOT COMING SOONER…..AND MORE OFTEN AND/OR FEELING TOO UNWORTHY TO COME AT ALL!!!!
THE ENEMY OF YOUR LIFE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU BEGIN PRAYER WITH A REHEARSED SPEECH TO YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER…….DECLARING HOW BAD AND WRONG AND UNWORTHY YOU ARE!!!!
BUT GOD WILL HAVE NONE OF THAT!!!!
HE IS JUST THRILLED TO HAVE THE TIME WITH YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!!
WHEN A KINGDOM KEY IS MORE NOTABLE TO US FOR ITS HEAVINESS ON OUR KEY CHAIN THAN FOR THE AMAZING NUMBER OF DOORS IT UNLOCKS…….THEN WE HAVE MISSED SOMETHING IN OUR THINKING ABOUT IT!!!
WHEN IT IS MORE OF A BURDEN THAN A BLESSING (FOR EXAMPLE PRAYER)………..THEN WE ARE VIEWING IT INCORRECTLY!!!
WHAT GOD HAS IN MIND FOR US IS ALWAYS CAUSE FOR GREAT CELEBRATION……..NEVER FOR GREAT CONDEMNATION!!!
THE SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES AND TOOLS WITH WHICH GOD WANTS US TO GROW FAMILIAR IN OUR JOURNEY WITH HIM ARE THE SAME WAY………..
SO WE HAVE TO KEEP VIEWING THEM IN LIGHT OF WHY THEY MAKE US REJOICE…..
NOT HOW THEY SEEMINGLY POINT OUT OUR FAILINGS AND UNWORTHINESS!!!!
NOW LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER RIGHT AWAY!!!
IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PRAY…….YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!
THE DISCIPLES ASKED TO BE TAUGHT……AND MOST BELEIVERS HAVE THE SAME SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HOW TO PRAY EFFECTIVELY!!!
BUT JUST BECAUSE WE NEED HELP LEARNING HOW TO UTILIZE THIS MOST INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE GOD OF EVERYTHING…..
DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ‘WORK HARD AT IT’
IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO STUDY EXTRA HARD IN AN ALGEBRA CLASS!!!
GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR US TO STRUGGLE WITH PRAYER AS SOME STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH MATH OR LANGUAGE!!
YOU ARE NOT DENSE OR SADDLED WITH A LOW SPIRITUAL IQ
DON’T BELIEVE THE LIES OF THE ENEMY OR YOUR OWN UNKIND VOICE……TELLING YOU THAT YOU WILL ‘NEVER CATCH ON’ TO PRAYER!!!
THERE IS A SAYING THAT GOES…..”IT’S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW….BUT WHOM YOU KNOW THAT COUNTS”!!!
IF YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED A BACKSTAGE PASS……OR A FREE AIRLINE TICKET……….OR HAVE TAKEN A TOUR OF SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THEN YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!!!
YOU WERE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS BEC YOU KNEW SOMEONE WHO WAS ‘HIGH UP’ IN A BUSINESS OR A COMPANY!!!
(EX. MY HERTZ CARD)
THAT’S WHAT PRAYER IS LIKE!!!! AND WHAT THE BIBLE MEANS BY PRAYER!!!
FIRST AND FOREMOST ……PRAYER IS ABOUT HAVING SPECIAL ACCESS!!!
PRAYER IS A PRIVILEGED OPPORTUNITY………..LIKE BEING ABLE TO PRE-BOARD THE AIRPLANE ALONG WITH THE FIRST-CLASS PASSENGERS…..(EVEN THOUGH YOU ONLY HAVE A COACH CLASS SEAT)
WE CAN GET A HINT ABOUT PRAYER BY IMAGINING THAT OUR LIFELONG BEST FRIEND SUDDENDLY BECAME VERY WEALTHY….AND VERY INFLUENTIAL!!!
OUR RELATIONSHIP GIVES US HOPE THAT OUR FRIEND WILL WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR US!!!
WE ARE NOT STRANGERS DESIRING A HANDOUT!!!
WE ARE LIFE LONG BUDDIES WHO WOULD LOVE EACH OTHER EVEN IF NEITHER OF US WERE RICH!!!
KNOWING THE FRIEND IS THE BASIS UPON WHICH WE LEGITIMATELY ANTICIPATE HELP!!!
ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTEMPLATE THE CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT OUR WEALTHY FRIEND HAS (TON’S OF MONEY AND INFLUENCE) AND WHAT WE HAVE (NOT ENOUGH MONEY AND HARDLY ANY INFLUENCE)
AWARENESS OF THE HUGE DIFFERENTIAL INSPIRES OUR THOUGHTS OF RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM OUR FRIEND - - WE DO NOT SPEND MUCH TIME THINKING ABOUT POTENTIAL HELP FROM FRIENDS WHO ARE AS POOR AS WE ARE!!!
NOW THINK FOR A SECOND ABOUT HOW RICH GOD IS!!!
HE OWNS EVERYTHING …..
JESUS HAS ALL AUTHORITY IN THE HEAVENS AND ON EARTH ….AND NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM!!!!
HE MAKES A DECISION….AND NO ONE CAN QUESTION IT!!!
THE MORE YOU UNDERSTAND THE CLOSENESS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND YOU….
AND HOW HE FEELS AOBUT YOU…..NOT JUST THE OTHER WAY AROUND….
THEN THE MORE YOU GRASP WHO WEALTHY AND RESOURCED THE LORD IS……..
AND THE MORE YOU WILL BELIEVE THAT HE IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS!!!!
AND SO IT IS WITH PRAYER
GOD HAS A LIFELONG RELATIONSHIP WITH US…..NOT JUST AS A FRIEND….BUT AS OUR LOVING FATHER!!!
OUR FATHER IS EXTREMELY WELL-CONNECTED……AND HE HAS A LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF EVERYTHING ….
SO IT IS NOT AS THOUGH HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH OUR NEEDS AGAINST WHAT HE CAN COME UP WITH…….OR AFFORD AT THIS TIME!!!
NOW HERE IS WHAT PRAYER IS…
IT’S A PRIVATE AUDIENCE WITH THE LORD……AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANY QUESTION …..TO WONDER ABOUT ANY OCCURRENCE……
TO ASK FOR HELP AND PROVISION FROM THE RICHEST……MOST POWERFUL AND MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE ONE IN ALL CREATION!!!
WHAT WE ARE ENTITLED TO DO WHILE PRAYING AND WHAT EVENTUATES AS A RESULT OF OUR PRAYERS HAPPENS NO OTHER WAY……..AND TO NO OTHER PEOPLE!!!
WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH THE LORD - - - THINGS THAT WE HAVE NO HOPE OF DOING WITHOUT HIM!!!
SO TO BE EFFECTIVE IN OUR PRAYING……WE WILL NEED TO LEARN SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS ABOUT THIS THING CALLED PRAYER!!!
WHAT SORT OF ACTIVITY IS IT?????
THE FIRST LESSON WE CAN LEARN ABOUT PRAYER IS THAT IT DEALS WITH WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH ON OUR OWN!!!
WITH PRAYER…..WE ENTER THE ARENA OF WHAT WE CANNOT DO AND CANNOT CHANGE……AND WHERE OUR ONLY HOPE IS IN THE LORD’S INTERVENTION (LUKE 18:27)
AS OBIVIOUS AS THAT MAY SOUND……
IT IS SUCH AN EASY TRUTH TO FORGET!!!
OUR TENDENCY IS TO EVALUATE A SITUATION - - - SIZING UP THE POSSIBILITY QUOTIENT AND DECIDING WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN!!!
IF IT IS JUST A BIT OUT OF OUR REACH OR A TRIFFLE BEOND OUR ABILITY TO CHANGE IN OUR OWN STRENGTH………..WE ADD PRAYER LIKE A LITTLE SPIN ON A BOWLING BALL!!!
WE CAN MISTAKENLY TREAT PRAYER LIKE ADDED INSURANCE……” A LITTLE EXTRA THAT CAN’T HURT’
A SPIN JUST MIGHT HELP US KNOCK OVER MORE PINS…..BUT IT ISN’T NECESSARY!!!
IN OTHER WORD …..
IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL TO COUNTERACT THIS NATURAL TENDENCY…..WE WILL END UP PRAYING ONLY ABOUT SITUATIONS WHEN WE THINK THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN ALL ON IT’S OWN - - WITHOUT REQUIRING GOD’S INTERVENTION!!
AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DO THIS……IS EVEN WHEN THE LORD ANSWERS OUR PRAYER……IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE THAT BIG OF A DEAL BEC WE ALREADY IMAGINED THAT THE SITUATION COULD TAKE CARE OF ITSELF!!!
IF WE PRAY ABOUT CIRCUMSTANCES AND NEEDS THAT ARE HOPELESS WITHOUT JESUS’ TOUCH, WE WILL ACTUALLY SEE MORE ANSWERS AND OUR FAITH TO PRAY FOR EEN MORE IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS WILL INCREASE!!!
LOOK AT LUKE 1:37 AND LUKE 18:27
PRAYER IS ASKING GOD TO DO WHAT ONLY HE CAN DO IN OUR LIFE SITUATIONS!!!
CAN YOU THINK OF RECENT PRAYERS YOU HAVE OFFERED UP TO JESUS THAT WERE NOT MUCH MORE THAN A “WAIT AND SEE IF IT WILL WORK ITSELF OUT”…..
WITH GOD’S NAME ATTACHED AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT!!!
HAVE YOU SOME NEEDS THAT SEEED TOO BIG TO PRAY ABOUT?
THEN THESE VERSE ARE FOR YOU!!!
PRAYER ACCOMPLISHES THE IMPOSSIBLE!!!
PRAYER IF FOR THOSE LIFE SITUATIONS WHEN YOU ARE HELPLESS AND DO NOT ‘HAVE A PRAYER”
THAT IS ONE REASON WHY JESUS ALMOST ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT FORGIVENESS WHENEVER HE TEACHES HIS DISICIPLES ABOUT PRAYER!!!
NOTHING IN YOUR LIFE WILL EVER BE MORE IMPOSSIBLE THAN REMOVING THE GUILT OF YOUR SIN!!!
IN FACT…
THE MOST DIFFICULT AND COSTLY MIRACLE THERE WILL EVER BE ALREADY TOOK PLACE WHEN JESUS’ DEATH FORGAVE YOU AND ME FOR OUR SINS!!!
CASTING A PHYSICAL MOUNTAIN INTO THE OCEAN IS CHILD’S PLAY COMPARED TO GOD CASTING “ALL OUR SINS INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA”!!!
ONCE WHEN JESUS WAS TALKING TO A LARGE CROWD OF PEOPLE GATHERED IN SOMEONE’S HOUSE……
A PARALYZED MAN WAS BROUGHT TO HIM (IN AN UNUSUAL WAY). (READ MARK 2:1-11)
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS SAID JESUS COULD NOT DO THAT - - ONLY GOD HAD THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO DO SOMETHING SO INCREDIBLE SO LIFE CHANGING!!!
THEIR PROTEST WERE BASED IN THEIR THEOLOGY (“GOD WOULD NEVER FORGIVE SUCH A SINNER”)
BUT THEY ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD A TRUTH WE SOMETIMES FORGET!!!
NO HUMAN BEING HAS THE AUTHORITY AND THE POWER TO CONVERT ANOTHER PERSON’S SPIRITUAL CONDITION ON EARTH!!!
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO CHANGE ANYONE’S ETERNAL DESTINY!!!
HOWEVER……….
TO PROVE THAT HE DID HAVE THE CAPACITY TO FORGIVE SINS’….JESUS HEALED THE MAN AND TOLD HIM TO WALK!!!
AFFECTING THE NATURAL WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE IS EASY FOR THE ONE WHO MADE THE WORLDS BY SPEAKING AND THE ONE WHO MADE A WAY FOR OUR SINS TO BE REMOVED!!!
THAT IS DOES TO THE FACT THAT THE SPIRITUAL WORLD IS ALWAYS MORE DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THAN THINGS IN THE NATURAL WORLD!!!
BUT HUMAN BEINGS ARE USUALLY UNAWARE OF HOW MUCH THE LORD ACCOMPLISHES FOR THEM IN THE INVISIBLE REALM OF REALITY - - - AND THEY ARE MORE IMPRESSED BY OBSERVABLE MIRACLES THAN THEY ARE BY ONES THAT LAST FOR ETERNITY
NEVERTHELESS……ONCE YOU REALIZE THAT THE LORD DECREED THE WORLDS INTO EXISTENCE AND REDEEMED US BY HIS GRACE….
THEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM!!!!
GOD CAN DO WHAT NO ONE ELSE CAN DO!!!
THAT MEANSWE WILL BE AMAZED AT HIS EXTRAORDINARY POWER…..AND UNLESS WE REMEMBER THAT HE CAN DO WHAT IS OTHERWISE IMPOSSILBE…….WE WILL BE TIMID IN ASKING FOR HIS MIRACULOUS INTERVENTION
PRAYER APPEALS TO THE ALMIGHTY JURISDICTION OF THE LORD OVER ALL THE HEAVENS AND EARHT……
AND IT TAPS HIS LOVING AUTHORITY FOR THE SAKE OF HIS BELOVED CHILDREN!!!
(YOU AND ARE HIS CHILDREN)
WE ARE ASKING….”LORD…LET YOUR WILL BE DONE………LET YOUR AUTHORITY….SWAY……AND DOMINION (OR RULE) HERE ON EARTH……….AS YOUR WILL IS BEING DONE IN HEAVEN!!!
JUST LIKE THE LITTLE GRAND-DAUGHTER THAT CLIMBS UP ONTO THE LAP OF THE BIG BOSS…….WE CAN COME ANYTIME …………ANYWHERE TO OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN TO ASK FOR HELP AND GRACE IN OUR TIMES OF NEED!!!!
(HEB 4:16)
WE HAVE ALMOST NO CONCEPT OF WHAT HE CAN SET IN MOTION ON OUR BEHALF - - - - THINGS THAT ARE NOT USUALLY PERCEPTIBLE TO OUR NATURAL SENSES……..THINGS THAT WE WOULD NEVER THNK OF ON OUR OWN!!!!