Prayer that God Respond to

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psa 118:29)

We must be careful that our prayers do not transform from supplications to demands unawares. The latter is a petition founded on rights or dependent on self’s merit (Luke 18:11, 12), subtly it can come to trap. The truth is our stature in prayer is on the grounds of God’s mercy whereby our prayers are received from the highest heavens (Luke 18:14) and therein our justification before the Holy God. Jesus will in the end refuse the majority that seeks justification according to their deeds before Him (Matt 7:22).

With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

(Psa 18:26)

The Lord reveals Himself according to our inward character. If we approach God in prayer with a life that demonstrates mercy (Matt 5:7), He responds accordingly. Demanding in prayer comes with a high estimate of self and pride concluding in self-justification without any form of thankfulness. Who is it that justifies, but it is God alone (Rom 8:30-33). There is nothing that we can accomplish drawn from the well of self initiative that can cause heavens to bow down to attend to our prayers.

Our disposition of poverty in spirit (Matt 5:3) is the basis in which the Kingdom of God will be given. Hence standing in the place of God’s mercy we ask and we will surely receive and that comes with abundance of joy (John 16:24).

The Mark of the Beast - Oswald Chambers

Video by Brother Rich

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Those Who Abide and to Dwell

‘…who shall abide…who shall dwell…’ (Psa 15:2)

Interesting the Psalmist does not direct this question to men nor himself but to God; it is a sincere man who enquires of the Lord who is it that He approves. We cannot be presumptuous about our standing in the Christ but truly desire to be a man or woman after His own heart. Dwelling and abiding is beyond the superficiality of just being recipients of blessing. With or without blessing we are to continue in that place of relationship. With or without the ‘fuzzy’ feeling and goose bumps of spiritual highs we are still in the place of abiding and dwelling. Having a spiritual stature that is steadfast and mature (Matt 5:48) beyond weighing of the mind and emotional sensing.

…..Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. (Exo 33:12)

Do we have a personal relationship where there is a knowing by name? It is as though ‘we find grace in God's sight, if we find grace in our hearts’ (Matthew Henry), a something inside of us unidentified by man but God knows exist. So as He is merciful to those who show mercy (Matt 5:7). A knowing that is rooted in the spiritual realm (Acts 4:13) undetected by men that demons know exist. In the normalcy of our earthly life, without any great achievements or accolades there is a thriving one-ness with Christ. Such a abiding and dwelling of I in Christ and He is in me! This is the place where Jesus High Priestly prayer is answered (John 17:21).

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: (Php 3:18)

God is spirit (John 4:24) hence our new life is not of the will of man (John 1:13) which the cross serves to put away all that is not born of the spirit. The grace of God that operates beyond the boundary of the natural brings forth eternal life. Minding or setting our whole being on earthly graces has destruction as its end (Phil 3:20). There is an abiding and dwelling where exists a constant tension between being with Him forever and serving Him on earth (Php 1:23). The tension is no longer about sin and righteousness nor about heaven and earth. Even in that tension there is an abiding and dwelling having a true understanding in prayer of ‘Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth’ (Luke11:2).

Baptism unto Newness of Life

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Rom 6:4)

Baptism is not just a public declaration but one of great spiritual significance to the redeemed. If we are to truly understand its significance we will understand that we are brought into a reality of newness of life that denies sin its power and brings us into a deep relationship with the One who save us. With which through Christ we know the ‘power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death’ that we ‘might attain unto the resurrection of the dead'. (Phil 3:10, 11). Hence the Apostle reminds us that the knowledge of our Lord is not just His saving power which guarantees us a place in heaven. Accepting and believing on the finish work of Christ on the cross spells death to the ‘I’ (Gal 2:20) that the even the current life spent on earth is given to Another and living for His pleasure.

That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: ….. (Josh 3:16)

The ‘crossing’ of the Jordan was necessary as did the crossing of the Red Sea with regard to our salvation. The stopping of the overflowing river (Josh 3:15) of the River (Jor) of Judgment (Dan) was important and it tells us that only God can save us. The Ark that went ahead is liken unto the Lamb of God slain from (before) the foundation of world, it was an act of God that went beyond the boundaries of time showing us the power of redemption even up to Adam (Josh 3:16). Hence we cannot say that the redemptive power of God does not avail for our past, it has it's forgiving power no matter how vile our actions were.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Matt 16:24)

The blood of the Lamb of God cleanses us from all our sins (Rev 1:5), but the body of sin still thrives. The blood of Jesus deals with our sins and the cross which Jesus deals with the self, the body of sin. Newness of life in Christ is not about the betterment of our current life, but ‘all things are become new’ (2 Cor 5:17). Note that it concerns all things, not some things. The cross is the ‘according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself’ (Phil 3:21). Where the first Adam failed to subdue all things in accordance to God’s commandment (Gen 1:28), the last Adam was able to perform to the uttermost. The newness of life Paul lives is that everything in the world that he lived in is pale in comparison (Gal 6:14) with the glorious hope of eternity in Christ. Hence the abundant life (John 10:10) is one that the subduing power of Christ powerfully manifested in me such that I live in such a freedom and ‘I will not be brought under the power of any’ (1 Cor 6:12) because of the supreme ruling authority of God over our lives. He reigns over me now and I am looking forward to reigning WITH Him (Rev 20:6)