Tag: Prayer

Monday, 12/20/21 – “Luv?”

“Luv?”

“There you go, Luv,” she said as she handed me my breakfast sandwich. Yet, I’d never met the woman previously, had no relationship with her whatsoever, and… in fact, I didn’t even know her name! Yet, not only now but throughout our brief conversation she had repeatedly referred to me with the endearing term “Luv.” Not “Love,” or “My dear sir,” or just “Dear,” but the more intimate, colloquial form, “Luv” — as though we had known each other for years, long enough to have imbedded the term into the relationship.

As I wandered off, breakfast bag and coffee in hand, I wondered… Had she mistaken me for someone else? Or worse: had I suffered some severe memory loss… perhaps had a stroke?

Sitting down at the nearest available table, and very much to my relief, I heard her say to the man next in line, “What can I get for you, Luv?”

In time I would learn the commonality of the phrase in maritime Canada. “Buddy” was another such term, used mostly among men, but requiring no previous relationship with the party being mentioned.

“Do you love Me?” Jesus asked Simon (John 21:15-17)… three times He asked, pressing Peter to search his heart the more deeply with each interrogative probe.

“Lord, Lord,” some will cry, but to them the Lord will say, “I never knew you… depart from Me!” (Matt. 7:21-23).

To Whom do you call when you pray? Is it to One of Whom you have true knowledge?… relationship?… love? Is it the “Abba” cry of sonship, or the scripturally correct yet somewhat aloof “Our Father…” a term more suited to the lips of a pharisee?

Have you ever truly met Jesus? Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you know His Name?

“Do you love Me?” He asks us all, for He indeed loves us… each one at a time. To answer this is the purpose of life, and the reason of Christmas.

More tomorrow…

To hear this past Sunday’s message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church, or link to the livestream from the church website.

Friday, 12/10/21 – Knocking or Nagging?

Knocking or Nagging?

Before long most spiritually nourished Christians become familiar with Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

The phrase is repeated in Luke 11:9-10 along with the illustration of the persistence of the man seeking loaves at midnight to feed a hungry houseguest. He tells a similar story in Luke 18 regarding a widow woman seeking justice against an adversary. His purpose in the parable is stated at the outset, “to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1).

“Ask… seek… knock…” All three verbs are gerunds denoting ongoing activity. Yet there are other passages which point to times when one must simply stop.

In one of Paul’s epistles to the Corinthian church he writes of an an undefined “thorn” which beset him, “a messenger of Satan, to harass me,” he says, only later learning its purpose. He recounts “Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (2 Cor. 12:8-9).

Three times Paul prayed, only three, and then he stopped! What made the difference? Surely he agreed with our Lord’s teaching on persistence. “Pray without ceasing,” he urged the Thessalonians. (1 Thess. 5:17). Yet, here, three times, and he stops.

We must be very humble when we pray, cognizant that we are approaching the Almighty for His answer. We are knocking for there is something we do not know, and want Him to tell or to show us. We must not confuse flesh with Spirit. We must come to Him as Christ also came to the Father — also only thrice — ever willing to say to Him, “Not my will, but Your’s be done.” (Matt. 26:39, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42, John 6:38).

When His answer is clear, we are done.

Press on…

Got a question? Use the Contact page and send It to me. We’ll search the Word for God’s answer.

Thursday, 11/25/21 – Prayer: Is it Real?

Prayer: Is it Real?

As it turns out today’s discipleship blog is also on the topic of Prayer — our speaker’s message this past Sunday and the focus of every post this week. Perhaps the Lord is trying to tell us something? What do you think it might be? Do you believe in prayer? Do you believe that prayer can actually accomplish something? Do you truly believe there is Someone out there listening? Or do you think prayer is just an exercise religious people do to make themselves feel better?

These questions are extremely important. In fact, they have a lot to do with whether or not one’s prayers are answered at all! Scripture is very clear on this. In Hebrews we read: “…anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him..” (Heb. 11:6b). In other words if we don’t believe that God is out there and listening there’s no point in pretending we are talking to Him. If we don’t believe that God can answer our prayers there’s no point in making them.

This is only reasonable. Who among us would pick a random number from a telephone directory, call it, and ask for someone whom we know full well not to be there? Or who would call a lumber yard and order a pizza knowing full well they cannot provide it? And so it is with God. As the verse cited above actually begins, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6a).

Ah yes, this stuff called “faith” — this intangible ‘something’ the definition of which opens this chapter: “…faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1). Confidence… assurance… but how do we get such confidence and assurance in such a silent, unseen a Being as God?

Truth is, most of us already know quite well! We grow in confidence and assurance in God just as we grow in confidence and assurance in people. We spend time with them. We learn over time whether they do or do not keep their word. We ask them for help and they give it. They ask a thing of us, and we do it! A mutual trust grows.

It is the same with God. We trust Him, put Faith in Him, just as we do other silent and unseen things. Things like love, convictions, To Thomas, who doubted then saw, Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29). That’s you and I. Do you believe?

The Apostle John wrote,

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:13-15)

Be assured in that belief… and pray.

Press on…

Are you interested in being discipled one-on-one in the fundamentals of life in Christ? Or, would you like to begin this journey by turning from your current path and committing your path to Christ? — Use the Contact page and we’ll get you started.

Tuesday, 11/2/21 – Pressing on… The Four Words and You

The Four Words and You

This past Sunday our brother James Harrison spoke on the topic “Four Words that will Change Your Life.” Whether one realises it or not, each one of us is in desperate need of hearing these words – of hearing these words spoken to us by Christ.

The four words are these: “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:48).

These words must be spoken to us by Christ for, as their first hearers in another such instance rightly judged, “Only God can forgive sins.” (Mark 2:7, NLT).  And Christ indeed is God!

We prefer in our pride to compare our shortcomings with the comparably greater shortcomings of others, and one can always find a far worse sinner than oneself when one only searches among the fallen. But God demands we compare ourselves against His holiness. This is not an unfair standard. It is the unfortunate (for us) fact of God’s Nature that as light precludes darkness His holiness excludes all sin. “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” Jesus commanded (Matt. 5:48, c.f. 1 Pet. 1:15). “…without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews warns (Heb. 12:14).

“The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them,” Paul writes young Timothy. These perhaps are those made plain when measuring one man against another. But God looks upon the heart (1 Sam. 16:7); He sees not only the visible sins of flesh and fancy, but also those sins of one’s spirit, as the verse continues, “… the sins of others trail behind them.” (1 Tim. 5:24). Whether or not we yet see our sinfulness the objective reality of it and our desperate need to hear the four words remain. Once heard, these words will indeed transform.

What must you do to hear these words? You must first come to this recognition of your unrighteousness in His sight. You must realize your helplessness to make matters right and acknowledge that His pure sacrifice in your behalf is the only plea upon which you may secure pardon. You must confess to Him this trust, turn away from all known sinful behaviour, make Him your Lord to obey and begin to grow by prayer, ongoing surrender daily, in Word and in fellowship with like believers.

Do these, and as John makes promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). You will know He has spoken the four words to you, and your life will begin to change.

More tomorrow…

To hear this past Sunday’s message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church, or link to the livestream from the church website.

Wednesday, 10/27/21 – Pressing on… There is a Consequence to Know Christ

There is a Consequence to Know Christ

This past Sunday our brother James Harrison asked us “Is Jesus an idea you believe in, or a person you know and trust?”

Superman may stand for many ideals to which you aspire. Superman may even inspire you to become a better person. You might “use” Superman as a psychological aid, but deep down you know you do not “know” Superman. Superman really does not exist.

Or, perhaps your mentor is real… a great sports figure, a world leader, movie star or vocalist. Chances are though that you don’t really “know” these people. You wouldn’t call them up for a chat or invite them to dinner.

Other very real people you may know as your acquaintances. You wave to them on your way to work, or see them at the gym. But even these you don’t really “know.” You haven’t yet determined if you might trust them… trust them with your valuables … your secrets… your children.

But how is it with Christ? Have you spent long hours with Him? Have you gone through great trials with Him? Have you come to “know” Him as He knows you? Do you trust Him? Have you committed to Him your deep secrets, your heart, your sins and your future? Do you trust Him with your life?

To know Christ in this way, explained James, will cost you something… it will cost you everything! But the outcome of this commitment is infinitely greater than its sacrifices: wholeness, contentment, purpose, peace, eternal life and holiness. These consequences are joyous!

But there is also a very dark consequence to shunning this Christ. He calls you now to decide. He says, “Look, today I have set before you life and death” (Deut. 30:15, TLB). “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2). Ignoring the call will not do. You will either choose Christ or you will not.

There is a Call to Know Christ. There is a Cost to Know Christ. There is a Consequence to Know Christ. Is Christ an idea you believe in, or a person you know and trust?” Do you want to know Christ?

Press on…

Do you want help to know Christ? Use the Contact page. We’ll help point you to Him.

To hear this past Sunday’s message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church, or link to the livestream from the church website.

Thursday, 10/14/21 – Knowing God’s Will

Knowing God’s Will

God expects us to pray that His Will is done and to understand what His Will is. On these two points scripture is explicit: “…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10); “…do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Eph.5:17).

Understanding the Will of God is not something mystical, or hidden. It begins with relationship – in knowing thoroughly that God is God and you are not! “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10). God is Supreme. He is not a magical genie to have in one’s back pocket! He is to be obeyed, and not questioned.

“Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” (Eccl. 5:2).

Micah states the broad strokes of a man’s obligations before his Creator: “What does the LORD require of you?” He asks.“To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).

To train us in the standards of righteousness God gave us the Law. Then, in Christ, He gave us the means of righteousness through confession, repentance, surrender and the workings of His indwelling Holy Spirit. He gives us also His Word in which much of His Will is made clear to us.

But God is not only a God of justice, rules and punishment! God is also a God of great Love… so much so that He paid a great price to restore us…

“The Lord is… not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9) “[He] wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4)

But that’s not all! God wants you to work with Him to become like Him. In fact, it is God’s Will for us to become set apart… sanctified… holy! “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…” (1 Thess. 4:3). “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Pet. 1:14-16). And it is God’s Will that our lives be a testimony to others in this world. “It is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” (1 Pet. 2:15).

Finally, (for now), it is God’s Will that we love Him and one another, that we put to death all sinful pleasures, unashamedly accepting reproach for His Name, and persevere in following Him. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23); “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Heb. 10:36).

Oh! And in keeping with our theme these past few days it is also God’s Will that we be thankful! “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:18)

Press on…

Are you interested in being discipled one-on-one in the fundamentals of life in Christ? Or, would you like to begin this journey by turning from your current path and committing your path to Christ? — Use the Contact page and we’ll get you started.

Thursday, 9/23/21 – “Always Pray” and “Not Give Up!”

“Always Pray” and “Not Give Up!”

I awoke one morning in recent days with many concerns upon my mind and heart. I had been filling my mind with scripture, speaking His promises to my heart, and praying much for the Lord’s intervention, but as yet the concerns lingered.

Opening my tablet later that morning I was met with an image from a local Christian bookstore: “There is POWER in PRAYER” it shouted out at me! “When you pray, God listens,” it began. Odd how so often it is the most fundamental of truths are the first to be forgotten!

Another day, feeling very much alone under many weighty responsibilities, I decided to go for a walk to think and to pray. Ahead on the paved trail I noticed some chalk marking on the pathway. Once close enough to read it I was awed by its relevance. “You’re NOT ALONE ❤” someone had sketched on the surface. I chuckled, looked up, and whispered “thank you.”

Again, on yet another day, came the third of our good, good Father’s loving reminders. Rainclouds had finally cleared and I decided to take my arthritic frame and beclouded brain out to walk again. This time I chose a graveled, less traveled path.

Before I had taken many steps I spotted a stone. It was gray, hard and firm, and upon it, through it, and on both sides of it was embedded a white and well-formed cross. Christ, the Rock, was upon His Throne.

Yes! “What a Mighty God we Serve.” We sing it, and we must believe it! There is POWER in PRAYER, We are NOT ALONE, and Christ our Rock is upon His Throne!

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.“ (Luke 18:1).

Press on…

Are you interested in being discipled one-on-one in the fundamentals of life in Christ? Or, would you like to begin this journey by turning from your current path and committing your path to Christ? — Use the Contact page and we’ll get you started.

Tuesday, 8/10/21 – Pressing on… Transforming Prayer

Transforming Prayer

This past Sunday our guest Terry Branscombe, Development Officer, Teen Challenge Atlantic Men’s Centre, Memramcook, NB, shared with us the dynamic power of prayer in transforming persons previously ensnared in addictions. — Prayer also transforms the one praying.

In that great sermon on the mount Jesus challenged the idea of merit-based love. Instead He taught love as a way of life. In fact, more than that. The Christian loves not because the other is lovable, but because it has become His new nature… The Christian loves because Christ has made him a lover.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matt. 5:43-45).

The Christian loves like Jesus loves. He loves with Agapé love, the love of God. When we pray for those opposed to us we begin to see them as God sees them. Asaph testified to this transformed view through prayer: “…I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked,” he writes, “…till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.” (Psalm 73:3,17). Agapé love informs the believer their enemy too is a lost soul, loved and longed for by God. He is a soul: not yet damned, not yet saved.

Bonhoeffer speaks to this matter:

“…I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together.

As Terry Branscombe urged us to pray for those escaping the bonds of a lifestyle set to destroy them, so may we pray for them, for one another, and for all people, with that Agapé love of God.

More tomorrow…

To learn more about Teen Challenge Atlantic go to https://www.tcatlantic.ca.

Or, check out Teen Challenge Canada at https://www.teenchallenge.ca/

To hear this past Sunday’s message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church, or link to the livestream from the church website.

Friday, 7/23/21 – Why do we wiggle?

Why do we wiggle?

The manifestations of a demon-possessed person can be most unsettling: intense strength, growls and glares, cursing, flailing about, frothing like a rabid animal and convulsing. All the while a frightful spiritual darkness presses down upon the scene. Enough to rattle the nerves and shake the faith of many.

But the Truth is, the demons fear you, the believer in our Lord Jesus Christ. Even the weakest of us is, to the devil and his host, like a toddler with a loaded pistol. The devil knows what we hold in our hands. Drop the Name of Jesus and the demons must flee:

“…do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20).
“Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:7b-8).
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (James 2:19).
“God… gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth… to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11).

Mark writes of one such individual brought by his father to Jesus. The fearful challenge had proved too much for the apostles; “I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out,” the man recounted to Jesus, “but they could not.” (Mark 9:18). “Since childhood,”‘ the man continued, “whenever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid,” the man explained, ”…and often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.”

Sure enough, as soon as the demon-possessed son saw Jesus scripture records, “…immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.”

But Jesus wasn’t wiggling. He knew who had the upper hand here. Despite the loud display of demonic madness before Him, Jesus calmly says, “…all things are possible to him who believes.” Oh, how we want to believe when circumstances shout otherwise! We do… but we don’t.

Let’s be wise like this father… How? By being honest. “Lord, I believe,” he cried, “help my unbelief!”

That son was delivered that day. — Even though the father’s faith wobbled at best, he had at least a grain… and that grain was enough. As Jesus elsewhere said, “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt. 17:20).

Now I’m not saying we should all go out and seek to fight demons or move mountains around, but… well… Remember that brook trout? [See Tuesday’s blog] When situations looked tense brother Jim, Don’s dad, would often say “God’s not wiggling.” Whether it’s surrendering to some personal change or stepping boldly forward to a new level of faith and confidence in God — neither should we.

Press on…

Got a question? Use the Contact page and send It to me. We’ll search the Word for God’s answer.

Thursday, 7/22/21 – Prayer: Desires of the heart

Prayer: Desires of the heart

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart,” penned the psalmist (Ps. 37:4).

Philip Yancey prays for big things… things like peace in the Middle East and an end to homelessness in the USA. He writes, “I earnestly desire those things — and moreover, I believe God does too.” I also believe God desires these things and you probably do too. But does any one of us actually believe God will do these things in response to our prayers? Yancey writes,

“A friend of mine in Chicago tried to recruit some colleagues in urban ministry to join him in a season of prayer for an end to poverty in that city. Almost everyone he asked balked. “Why pray for something so idealistic and impossible?” they objected.”

This reminds me of an incident during my years in Bible College. The college badly needed a new bus. I had faith that God could provide one and began to seek out others to join me in meeting regularly to pray earnestly to that end. Sadly, in a college of over a hundred theological students, I found not one person who would believe with me and join me in prayer.

Well what’s going on here anyway? And just what is the psalmist telling us? On this passage Matthew Henry comments,

“He has not promised to gratify all the appetites of the body and the humours of the fancy, but to grant all the desires of the heart, all the cravings of the renewed sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and live to God, to please him and to be pleased in him.”

Perhaps what the psalmist is saying is that when we delight in our Lord… when we love Him in the uttermost, our prayer… our heart’s desire… is a self-fulfilling reality. “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you,” writes James (Jas. 4:8). Or, as Jan Kempe writes in Faithful Hearts, “God’s answer to any problem is His Presence.” (Faithful Hearts, p. 41).

Like you, I still have many questions about prayer, about God’s answers, and about His non-answers. And I wonder at times, while we are asking God why He does not act, if He may not be asking us exactly the same question!

But my business — our business –  is not so much to understand, as to pray, and to love, and obey. Let’s let us let that suffice for now. All will be made clear to us soon enough.

Press on…

Are you interested in being discipled one-on-one in the fundamentals of life in Christ? Or, would you like to begin this journey by turning from your current path and committing your path to Christ? — Use the Contact page and we’ll get you started.