You are a believer in Jesus Christ, and received the Holy Spirit who has given you certain gifts. Yet our tendency as human beings is to take this relationship and our gifts, and to keep them private between God and ourselves. Is this how you are in your faith? Do you have a relationship with God that is private and personal? Have you taken the instruction of Jesus to pray in secret, and applied this to the entirety of your faith? If so you are missing the fullness of living the faith.
So we have recognized that we were wrong in a practice or belief; perhaps we find that we have practiced something in faith that was of man, and not of God. What should we do? How should we face this, our failure, our material heresy? Are we doomed to a life of suffering, or to exist in a fallen state? No, we must pray for forgiveness, and then listen to Paul as he writes to the Philippians about himself.
How humble do you allow yourself to be before God? Do you maintain your freedom of self at all cost, maybe you sell yourself as a servant who works for a price, or are you totally owned as a slave? How far are you willing to go into your servitude, how far does your humility take you as you humble yourself at the feet of the Lord? Now let me ask this... how completely are you prepared to humble yourself before one another? Are you independent, a servant, or are you a slave to those around you?
How does hardship effect us, and specifically, how do we react to illness or calamity that threatens to take our life? Do we remain steadfast in our faith, or do we give up on God and believe only in our own demise? Suffering, and facing imminent death lays waste to the importance of all the things of life that once seemed so valuable to us, and whittles us down to just those that are central to our core... what is that for you? Do you even know?
I am writing to you today in English, but what is your native tongue? From what country, race, or people do you hail? There are those of so many different nationalities who will read this today, and even into the future; this is truly a missionary outreach to all the world. As Christians we know no borders, and there is no limiting language. The blood of Jesus Christ has made us as one, and brought us together by that common calling of which Revelation speaks... into the people and priests of one Holy Kingdom!
Is studying the Bible and theology something that you do so that you can mine the truth from it? Do you read in order to gain an understanding of God’s embedded secrets? Are you seeking the title of “Bible Scholar?” If this is you let me encourage you to continue your studies, but remember to approach them in childlike fashion. Bring the heart and wonder of a child to the effort. Because God reveals his hidden wisdom from all but the children of faith... the childlike.
Do you complain to God during the times of hardship in your life, or cry out in anguish to Him in the times of pain and suffering as if they were meant to punish you? Perhaps we need to take a lesson from the fruit bearing trees and vines that grow gangly unattended, and don’t produce fruit in quality or quantity. The times we find the hardest are those that benefit us the most.
Have you been waiting patiently on the Lord? If you say yes, then let me ask this: have you done so without muttering and discontent? It is one thing to wait patiently and in great expectation on God, but it is quite a different thing to wait because that is your only recourse... and to do so with discontent, or complaints on your lips. Waiting brings honor to the Father, and a new song to us.
The act of Jesus healing and casting out demons is scripturally a rather mysterious process for us, but there are clues put forth in Matthew, and Isaiah that give us some insight into it. It is not mysterious as to whether it actually occurred or not, but rather, in how it was accomplished. When we have a child that is ill we often pray that if it were possible that God allow us to become sick in place of our ailing child. Did you know that in praying this way you are praying with scriptural backing... that you are asking (perhaps unknowingly) to be granted the power to heal as Jesus did?
We consider ourselves Christian when we accept Jesus as the Son of God who lived, was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered, was crucified, died, was buried, descended into hell, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. These are the tenets of the Apostles Creed, but these are the things we believe, and are only the beginning. The goal of faith is to lead us to love. So I ask today... do you love Jesus as much as He loves you? Have you given your life as He gave His?
One of the great benefits of church is being together before God with those of the same belief, but another powerful attribute is the strength that comes from joint prayer. I am not talking about the recitation of a common prayer, although that is powerful as well, but I am speaking of two of more believers praying in their own thoughts and words for the same thing. If you have ever recited the Lord’s prayer then you have participated in common prayer, but what about joint prayer with another? Have you ever prayed separately, together, for the same cause?
Have you been prepared to become a son or daughter of God? By that I mean, has God brought you to the place where you see that the world (although filled with great beauty) doesn’t hold a candle to what awaits you, and that you come to him readily? God gave Israel into the hands of Egypt for 430 years so that they might become receptive to Him. Then following His rescue He led them for another 40 years in the desert before they were truly redeemed. Have you been redeemed? Are you ready to come out of the wilderness?
How is your memory these days; specifically, how is your memory of Jesus Christ? Do you need to be reminded to think of Him as you go about your day, or is He at the forefront of your thoughts always? Well, before you answer my question think long and hard. Our memories may not totally fail us, but there are so many times when they momentarily lapse, or perhaps we put things out of our minds.
Do you pray in secret? If you do pray secretly, and God answers your prayer, do you still keep it secret? This is an especially hard thing to do for a couple of reasons; first you want to tell the world what your God has done, but secondly, and most destructively, you want the world to know that God has heard, and answered, YOU!
You believe in God the Father, and have accepted His Son Jesus Christ as your Redeemer, and Savior, but have you come to the realization that there is another who now dwells within you? Deep inside, you have become the abode of the Holy Spirit, and perhaps you haven’t acknowledge His presence... but He is there and even though He helps you secretly, He wants to know you in an amazing way.