READ Hebrews 1:1-4 (KJV). Loved ones, steadfast communication with God connotes a deep meaningful relationship. Christians are admonished to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The One who became Jesus Christ spoke to Moses and others by voice. Moses pleaded with Him to repent of the wrath He wanted to use to consume the stiff-necked Israelites, and He gave heed to Moses' impassioned plea (Exodus 32:1-14). Abraham "bargained" with God over the fate of the people of Sodom, finally getting Him to agree to hold off destroying the city if ten righteous people could be found there (Genesis 18:32). These two men talked directly to the Word, the second member of the Godhead, who later “was made flesh” as the Son of man, Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14). Remarkably, they received a response right on the spot. What about us, do we have the luxury of personal communication with the “Godhead bodily” as they did? (Colossians 2:9). YES, WE DO! Our text says that God has spoken His will to us through Jesus. Now we can use the Bible (His will) to speak back or communicate with Him in prayer. When we pray, we can take the Bible with us and quote from the Bible God's promises to us. When we quote God's Word and “ask anything according to his will” in our requests, He will listen and respond favorably to our petitions according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). What about those who are sick? We can go to James and quote directly to God the promises in James 5:13-15. “Father, you have told us to pray when suffering or when someone is sick. And so, IAW your will we ask you to save that sick person, restore him to health, and forgive him if he has sinned. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!” Our prayer of faith (God’s will) can reach God with intensity because we are pleading with God just as Moses and Abraham did on behalf of their people. Consider Matthew 6:33. There we are told to FIRST seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and He will care for us. If in fact we are truly seeking God and striving for a close relationship with Him, we can quote this passage to Him. This is demonstrated further in Hebrews 4:12-13, 16 (READ). There is yet another reason to communicate clearly with God. The thought comes to us through Luke 21:36: "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be able to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." When Christians diligently make use of their communicative relationship with God, they may qualify to escape the troubles coming upon the world in these last days (Acts 2:17). Our proper Godly character must be such that we take Jesus at His word (Luke 6:46; John 12:48). Then we may very well escape tragedy! More important, we will be able to stand before Jesus when He returns. Jesus says that His sheep hear His voice (John 10:27). How? By close trusting contact, prayer, meditation, praise, thanksgiving, and biblically oriented communication. Trusting God saved Shadrach and his friends from a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:8-27). Daniel prayed three times a day and he was saved from the den of lions (Daniel 6:10, 11-23). Communication with God is necessary and may save our lives in certain life-threatening situations. Therefore, we have all the reasons in the world to communicate with God. We will grow stronger spiritually and when the evil day comes, we will be able to stand (Ephesians 6:10-13). People need to have reinforced training in every profession and skill that they may possess. Commercial pilots must have constant check flights in simulators and in the air. Athletes rehearse specific plays or moves over and over till they become automatic. Someone once quipped to Ben Hogan how lucky he was at golf. Ben's reply was, "The more I practice the luckier I get!" Christians, too, must be solid, steadfast practitioners of faith in executing biblical principles (1 Corinthians 15:58). READ Hebrews 5:12-14. Christians need to achieve the principle stated in verse 14. The phrase "BY REASON OF USE" means we are experienced at practicing biblical principles. It is a hurdle for some Christians to realize that they must “work” at overcoming (Revelation 2:5, 7). No one will coast their way to heaven. Traditional theology teaches that we only have to believe. But belief or faith that produces nothing is worth little – in fact, IT IS DEAD! James wrote that only the “doers” are justified (James 2:14-26). Our minds must accept the principle of “by reason of use” as we grow in our ability to discern good and evil. Working at conversion on a daily basis is another giant hurdle for some who are striving to build Godly character. The Christian has been given his marching orders by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20. However, the existing "standard" for so many of our religious friends is this: The family attends their church occasionally, especially at “Easter,” “Christmas,” “christenings,” and marriages. God calls all flesh (Jews, Gentiles, and the lost from the world and from denominationalism) into the ONE Christian faith (Ephesians 4:5; Romans 10:17). How does He do it? These people hear and believe the gospel (Acts 15:7). They repent of their sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30). They confess Jesus as Lord, the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10). They are baptized (immersed in water) into Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27) for the forgiveness of their sins by the blood of Jesus (Acts 2:38; Matthew 26:28). At that point they are saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21), they become Christians (Acts 11:26), and the Lord adds them to the church He built… the church of Christ (Acts 2:47; Matthew 16:18). These new Christians begin attending worship services with the local saints (other Christians) in their community (1 Corinthians 1:2). This is familiar to them at this point because it mimics their mindset of "church." However, the next step is a giant one. When one is called by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14), a paradigm shift begins to occur because their new relationship with the Father is so different from their previous approach to “religion.” They discover that they must "work out [their] own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). To the uncommitted, it may seem burdensome to work diligently at seeking God, but that's precisely what we must do as we resist Satan's influence and the appetites of the flesh (Hebrews 11:6). Our senses must be developed to discern good and evil (READ Ephesians 3:14-19). Here Paul is showing us that our inner man can be strengthened by God's Spirit. We need God to protect us and deliver us from evil, but receiving God's help requires our participation. With God's help, we can triumph and gain the mastery and become like Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:27). Learning is necessary for BUILDING GODLY CHARACTER. The Christian must learn. Learning happens when meditation and contemplation takes place (Psalm 1). God’s children must gain true experience with God from life's many choices. There are principles that can be derived from the lives of others (1 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Timothy 2:2). Compare yourself to Daniel, Paul, or Moses. What did they do that set them apart? The Christian needs to know that God understands "our frame;” He knows we are but dust (Psalm 103:14). Therefore, He is not against us or out to get us, but is FOR us, and there to help us in the learning process. The final admonition for us is to ALWAYS do the good that we know to do (James 4:17)! Always do the right thing. We must look to Jesus as the perfect model of righteousness and our source of help! To the God of heaven be the Glory as His Will is done (1 Corinthians 10:31). Please pray for wisdom, for me and my wife, Cynthia, and for the Liberty NW church of Christ meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. We are praying for you, and we love you all so much. Samuel.
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By Dennis RossJesus taught, “…Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;…” (Matthew 5:44)
Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;…” (1 Timothy 2:1) (This certainly would include our enemies.) Why should we pray for our enemies? “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:45) Only the “children” will inherit. (Cf. Romans 8:17) Is that not every Christian’s goal? Being God’s child is worth far more than causing harm to our enemies. Yet, some Christians seemingly cannot love or pray for their enemies; nor do they consider that if they persist in their ungodly attitudes, they will spend eternity with the very people for whom they cannot pray or feel love. What a sobering thought that is. First, let each of us ask, “Who is my enemy?” The following is taken from Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: “Enemy – … an adjective, primarily denoting ‘hated’ or ‘hateful’ (akin to echthos, ‘hate;’ perhaps associated with ektos, ‘outside’). Hence, in the active sense, denotes ‘hating, hostile;’ it is used as a noun, signifying an ‘enemy,’ adversary, and is said … a. Of men who are opposed to Christ (Philippians 3:18); b. Of Israel’s alienation from God (Romans 11:28); c. Of the unregenerate in their attitude toward God (Romans 5:10); d. Of believers in their former state (2 Thessalonians 3:15); (Note: I believe this passage refers to those who are presently in a fallen state. dr) e. Of foes (Matthew 5:43-44).” Who then are our enemies? Perhaps they are those who are in the world, lost in sin. Or maybe it is a brother or sister in Christ from whom the church has withdrawn fellowship. Could it be someone whom you resent, or who has something against you, a person against whom you have a grudge? Regardless who your enemy is, for what do you pray? That you might not have to see them face-to-face? Or talk with them? That you might not find yourself in a situation where you are forced to “deal” with them? Or do you pray for them at all? Jesus taught, “…Do Good to them…” (Matthew 5:44) This truth is also found in the following Scriptures: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.’ Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:18-21) “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”(Galatians 6:10) If we are to “do good,” shouldn’t we pray for our enemies? For what then should we pray? Could we not pray for opportunities to do good? For opportunities to use edifying words? Ultimately, what greater good could we exercise than by preaching the Gospel? It is written: “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”(Colossians 4:5-6) “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29) If indeed you do pray for your enemies, how will your prayers be answered? Consider the farmer who prays for a good crop that will help to support his family. Would his prayer be answered if he did nothing more than sit on the porch and watch his field to see what it would produce? He’d have nothing but a crop of weeds to harvest? So then, if you pray for your enemies, should you be doing something to ensure that your prayers are answered? (Of course, the prayers of those who prayed that they might not have to “deal” with their enemies would be answered by their own actions toward them!) God expects His children to act with regard to the prayers they offer up to Him. Consider these passages: “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:22) “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15) Jesus taught: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:20-21) If you remember these passages, how do you put them into action? What do you do for your enemies? Or, do you act against them? Is that what God’s child should do? (Remember Matthew 5:45) God’s child should be above mean, worldly things. He is to furnish “light” and “salt” to a world in darkness and without love; he is to be a Christian. A Christian not only prays for his enemies, but he also does something to cause them to turn from their enmity toward God. He seeks to do good unto all. Jesus demands of us things that are not easy; but then, carrying the cross wasn’t easy. Our burdens may be difficult, but Jesus shares them with us. He lived among His enemies. He preached the truth. He went about doing good. And He is our example. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteous …” (1 Peter 2:21-23) “Love your enemies, bless them … do good to them …, and pray for them!” (Matthew 5:44) In His word, Jesus gives us many commands to follow. Probably none of them are more difficult than the one discussed in this article—love your enemies. Why do we have to love someone who seeks ill and has been unkind toward us? In a word—LOVE. It is easy to love one who loves you, who seeks to be your friend and always does what he can to bring you happiness. The opposite is more difficult, but it is far more important. Loving our enemies is one of the greatest and strongest lessons we can teach those who are outside of Christ. When we should be seeking ways to get even, we seek ways to help them. Instead of hating them, we love their souls. How difficult do you suppose it was for Jesus to ask His Father to forgive those who were causing His death on the cross? (Luke 23:34) But that is exactly what He did! Why? He loved them, even though they did not love Him. Love and pray for your enemies, and you will help them and yourself. (KMG) |
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