In preparing this the last few days, I spent reading Jesus' prayer in John 17. He prayed for those who would believe. And is our belief in Him or the stock market? Is our faith in Jesus or the world's songs, world's people, idols that carry no life nor breath in them, and do we follow that which is wrong indeed.
So today we choose: to be a believer and be mud runner or believe and walk on water. Thought of Moses and Aaron who were sent. Moses sent to speak to Pharaoh. But he felt he was no speaker and asked if Aaron could go with him to be the "speaker". . After they led Israel out from the Pharaoh of Egypt, they faced the Red Sea. Fear striking on every nerve of each person, they are the consumed in anxiety! Pharaoh's military was coming quickly from behind them. God told Moses to lift his staff and tell the people to cross. The waters divided and they walked over on dry land!
Later in the Old Testament, Abram appeared. Told to leave his family behind and take his wife to the place God called them to live. And he went but he took some family members with him. Ultimately Abram's belief became the trust in God. He had to believe that God could change his name, he would have an heir and it would be God's design and not the flesh of man. Abram now called Abraham was known for His faith. He would be the "father" of many. But the idols had to be removed from him.
Reading on him, we find this in Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Proverbs 19:21 There are many plans in a man's heart nevertheless the Lord's counsel that will stand.
In the New Testament, Jesus and John the Baptist came. John announced the coming of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus, the Man of prayer, gave us the example for our lives to be lived out.
Father to the Son, the Son to the Father….1. Abiding:
John 15:5. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. NKJV
John 17:20-23……………..20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. NIV
18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. NKJV
After Jesus, the Apostle Paul wrote 2/3 of New Testament and it was faith that was sent out to those who hear! He taught others to know Jesus by faith.
So we have examples of Abraham and Apostle Paul. Like what Martin Luther King spoke in a speech in 1963: His desire was for his children to live by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. So many today get his message wrong. They want things their way. Some want God's people removed entirely so they can do away with the book of Revelation. Then prove God wrong and His book null.Paul the Apostle brought greetings saying in verse 2 (Philippians) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. in Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
In each of these people, they had to live by their faith in God! They showed us their real lives with real situations which can only be lived in His peace when relating in prayer and worship to Him our God. Without prayer we flounder. We should choose the treasure of His counsel rather the trash of world's way of drugs and more drugs.
Here prayer brings us to see spiritually things God has for us. It could be a new position in a job, getting a study in nursing when we never thought of it. We could be an inventor and invent things for God's glory!
Now let's look at the mud runner Elijah!1 Kings 18:41-46.......................41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain." 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again." 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.' " 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. NKJV
Elijah prayed for rain to begin. He kept watch and prayed......and the rain came. It came quickly and with the new moisture on the ground, mud appeared. It was everywhere! The sky turned dark with clouds. The wind blew and heavy rain appeared. So warned. King Ahab drove away riding in his chariot with two horses. The hand of the Lord came upon Elijah and he girded his loins....he was ready to run.
A distance of 25 miles, Elijah ran in the mud! Hand of the Lord is Holy Spirit....revelation and light! Born again we have Holy Spirit. We pray for rain but mud will appear. If we pray God's will, we can expect His ways!
By Faith he prayed and believed: "There is the sound of an abundance of rain." Spiritually we know by revelation knowledge.
THE God of Love, who gave His only Son, gifted us to become the sons of God. It was by grace that we are saved. That has given us opportunity to express gratitude, to spend time with Him and to know the Creator of all things. He who gives such a life should be feared.
Jesus was ruled not by His flesh but by His spirit man. He gained strength in staying connected to His Father through the Word that brings truth and life to our mortal being. He chose the treasure of God and the assignment to the Cross.
You and I will not take the Cross Jesus did, but we will face situations especially in prayer, that knowing God is for us, rain will fall and mud will appear. We can run through that rain and mud. We can run fast through any thing that tries to stop us. Or we can choose to walk on the water of His word and see His kingdom come.
The sky is certainly getting darker and men's heart match this very thing too. Jesus died and the ground shook. The curtain in the temple was split from the top to the bottom. Prayer works!
Who do people say that you are: for Jesus.....the Son of God, for Paul who trusted Jesus to his death, he was an apostle and not Pharisee as before, for Elijah, he went up in a fiery chariot up into the sky, Abraham is known today by his faith in God, his prayer for Lot and family when Sodom and Gomorrah would be destroyed. Moses place of burial is only known by God. John the Baptist had a rough end. But truth was found on his lips to the end!
We are those who have chosen the treasure of God, light and revelation in Jesus and power by Holy Spirit. We see His plan, abide in His glory and are seated in heavenly places with Jesus.
Hey, ask me I know the way to get there...........Amen!
Teaching at: Voice of Prayer
Uphill with Jesus Christ: The Witness that Glorifies God
Deceit and Deception
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