Answers To Prayer

I have been reading through the small but useful book How To Pray by R.A. Torrey.  I appreciate his clear, concise, and logical approach to interpreting and applying scripture.  I am thankful for books like this which allow seasoned believers to share the practical truth of God's Word in a way those who desire to learn can grow.

Of the many verses he shares in the book, two passages have stood out to me.  The first is found in 1 John 5:14-15:  "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."  One point of emphasis is the will of God is a very definite thing which can be known through the Word of God.  This is plainly spelled out many times like in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:  "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  We do not need to wonder what the will of God is, for in understanding scripture we can know God's true character.  When we pray in faith, taking God at His Word, we can know we have whatever we ask.

But there is another verse which also should be considered.  We can pray according to God's will but that does not mean we have submitted ourselves to His will!  If we want to receive what we ask for, the Bible is clear we must be obedient to God.  1 John 3:22-24 says, "And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. ²³ And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. ²⁴ Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us."  If we desire God listen to our pleas, should we not also heed His voice and walk in obedience to His commands to love one another?  Many prayers go unanswered because we have not met God's conditions.  We do not earn God's favour by our obedience, but as we abide in Him we adopt a posture which enables us to receive.

Let us continually seek the LORD in prayer and not lose heart, taking heed that we do those things which are pleasing in God's sight.  This is God's will for you and me!

Binding and Loosing

Jesus clearly expressed His desire for His followers to dwell in unity together, choosing to forgive one another even as God forgave them.  In Matthew 18 Jesus explained that offences will occur and how to biblically resolve them.  Out of love for God and one another we are to approach those who have wronged us one-to-one and privately resolve the matter.  If the offender does not recognise his error or sin, escalating measures should be employed ultimately resulting in the removal of the unrepentant person from fellowship.  Even if this were to happen, the victim of the wrong ought to forgive the offender.

Then Jesus said something which by itself would be open to broad interpretation, but in context with the following parable is most enlightening.  He said in Matthew 18:18, "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  When I used to hear of "binding" or "loosing" my initial thought concerned teaching on spiritual warfare and the authority of believers.  However, the immediate context reveals this binding and loosing has to do with forgiveness.  Whilst God has given those who comprise the church of Jesus Christ authority to excommunicate and to graciously accept those who repent back into the fellowship, the aim of this post is to show the personal implications of unforgiveness.  It is fine to tout the authority of the church, but the parable Jesus followed up with shows the intense toll unforgiveness requires from us.  When we refuse to forgive or loose others completely from guilt we only bind ourselves.  Peter asked a personal question, and Jesus would have us receive His instruction personally as well.

Matthew 18:21-35 reads, "Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" ²² Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. ²³ Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. ²⁶ The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' ²⁷ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' ³⁰ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. ³¹ So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. ³² Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ³³ Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' ³⁴ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. ³⁵ So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Jesus told a story about a king whose servant owed him 10,000 talents, a ludicrous amount of money when a single Roman talent of gold weighed about 32.3 kilos or 71 pounds!  The servant fell on the mercy of the king who had compassion on him and released him - loosed him - from the debt.  This same servant, despite being forgiven such an immense debt, seized a fellow servant by the throat, refused to listen to his pleas for patience, and exercised his right to throw the poor man in prison.  Instead of loosing him, the ungrateful servant bound the one who wronged him.  When the king heard about this he was furious, sent for the ungrateful servant, promptly arrested him, and threw him into prison to be tormented until he paid all that was due.  Jesus concluded, "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Based upon the explanation of Jesus the king in the parable is God, and the servants represent those who comprise the church - people who can and sometimes will offend one another.  How does the forgoing statement impact what Jesus concluded, that "...whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven?"  The parable illustrates Peter's position (and ours too) is primarily the one forgiven the great sum 10,000 talents, for God has forgiven our many sins which demand eternal damnation.  Should we bind others under a weight of guilt, demanding they pay us what they owe, God in heaven will see we too are bound on earth.  He is not referring to a prison with cells and bars or a masked tormentor wielding whips or instruments of torture, but He will allow the curse of sin to play out in our lives.  He will allow Satan to buffet, mock, and abuse us.  He will allow oppression, fear, and pain, removing us from a place where we can receive His love, joy, and forgiveness until WE repent for our unforgiveness.

When we remember how much we have been forgiven and the price Jesus was willing to pay for our release, how can we withhold forgiveness from others?  We may not feel like forgiving, but there is great blessing when we forgive others without demands.  When we loose others it is we who are made free by God's grace.  God has had compassion on us, removed the weight of our sin, broken our chains, and imputed to us His righteousness, having accepted us in the beloved though we are sinners.  Won't you freely share God's compassion He has freely extended to you?  Are you experiencing the freedom God has provided you today?

The Oxygen Mask Lesson

I've watched a lot of flight safety videos in my time, and they all basically convey the same information:  where the emergency exits are, how to put on a life vest, when to inflate it (which includes a light and whistle to attract attention), smoking is prohibited, and what happens if there is a sudden decrease of cabin pressure.  Though I have never experienced this firsthand, the presentation says oxygen masks will drop down from a compartment above.  Instead of fitting the oxygen mask to children first, parents are told to put on and adjust their own mask first.

It makes sense that in a frantic moment a parent's primary desire would be to protect their children and ensure their safety.  That is why the video addresses this small but important detail.  An adult without ample oxygen won't be able to help others or provide direction for their little ones.  It is responsible for all involved for the adults to properly wear their own mask supplying the oxygen, for only then can they help save their children in an emergency.  The takeaway is once I ensure my oxygen mask is worn properly, then I can assist others.  This reminds me of what Jesus said in relation to living righteously myself instead of being critical or judgmental of others.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-5, "Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. ³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."  In all things followers of Jesus are to employ righteous judgment (John 7:24).  It is hypocrisy to criticise others for sins we also practice.  We must ensure we are first walking in love, humility, and holiness ourselves instead of finding fault with others.  Our own sins obstruct our vision and render us incapable of helping others see clearly.  After we remove the hindrances from our lives we are enabled by God to help others walk more perfectly.  We may consider it a great service to others to remove their "specks," but with a log in our own eye we are more blind still!

If we care about saving others from the power of sin, we must first be saved ourselves.  Praise be to God He has provided a way for us to overcome through Jesus, and having overcome we can aid others breathe in God's love, grace, and forgiveness too.

Word Without Effect

The other day I read Mark 7:1-13, a portion where Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy in rejecting the commandments of God and teaching instead the traditions of men.  Having laid aside God's word, they found fault with followers of Jesus.  He declared in verse 13 they were guilty of "...making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."  The implications of making God's Word of no effect are enormous, and this caused me to ask the question:  what are effectual benefits of God's Word?

In the Parable of the Sower, the Word of God is compared to good seed which will produce fruit in the lives of faithful followers of Christ.  This reveals substituting traditions for God's Word inhibits fruitfulness.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said those who hear His words and do them are likened to a man who builds his house on a rock which can endure any storm.  Without God's Word then our lives are without a secure or strong foundation.  Peter affirmed in John 6:68 that only Jesus has the words of eternal life.  Should the Word of God be rendered without effect it means eternal life cannot be obtained.  Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  The consequence of making God's Word of no effect is to stumble aimlessly in the darkness.

Probably one of the most concise and descriptive passages of the effect of God's Word is found in 2 Timothy 3:14-17.  Paul exhorted Timothy, "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."  See the invaluable effects of God's Word:

• Provide teaching and assurance
• Able to make wise for salvation through faith in Christ
• Given by inspiration of God
• Profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, for instruction in righteousness
• Provided so every disciple of Jesus may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

When we exchange the Word of God for man's ideas and traditions, we deny ourselves the truth and assurance God provides.  If God's Word has no effect, there is no hope of salvation!  We lose out on the teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction inspired by God!  If we reject the Word we will not mature or be equipped to do good.  What folly it is to put aside God's Word for the "wisdom" of man!  The Pharisees were deceived when they did this in Jesus' day, and there are many deceived today who make this same mistake.  Let us lay Paul's exhortation to Timothy to heart and hold fast to the Holy Scriptures.  Otherwise we reject the light and stumble in the darkness towards destruction.