We are flighty creatures that lose interest in things easily, and move on to the next big one that catches our eye. For us to remain engaged in something, even the glory of God, we need unending motivation, and to constantly have our interests renewed. If we know this about ourselves in this life, and see it as a weakness, then do we fear all the more our ability to worship God for eternity? Can we possibly demonstrate a faithfulness that will allow us to love, praise, and bless Him always?
We have talked a great deal this month about intercession, and we have read scripture that states that Jesus makes intercession for us before God, but we haven’t really considered the fact that Jesus lives forever, and that because of this, His intercession is without end. We, on the other hand, intercede for others during our lifetimes, so today, let’s look at what scripture says about the role He plays as our High Priest, not just during our lives on earth, but for all eternity.
There are many challenges that face the Church today, but none so great as those that have risen up within it. Pastors that are not called by God, but are thieves who see the Church as vulnerable, and its children to be easily abused and taken advantage of. False prophets who desire notoriety, and serve only themselves. Men of God who fall victim to their own lusts; having forgotten God, and how to pray. These, and others, have breached the Holy walls of the Church, put God’s people to shame, have dishonored Him, and stand as obstacles to the salvation of many.
David wrote and sang often in his psalms about living in the house of the Lord, and we realize that this was his great desire. Now as Christians our body has become the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the reality of God residing with us is more than David’s hope, or a distant dream… it is reality. To the Christian the question becomes this; do we long to live in God’s house (our bodies) with Him as David did, or do we treat Him like a guest that we love to see come, but whose leaving is a relief to us?
When we first come to know Jesus, what are our desires? What is it that we want from the relationship that has drawn us to Him? When we pledge ourselves to follow Him, and go down in the waters of baptism, we begin a spiritual transformation that changes who we are, and it alters our initial desires as well. In this way, after we have walked with Jesus for a while, we find that perhaps some of our earlier wants were satisfied, but that a great many of them have fallen to the wayside… they fell victim to our change; our blossoming righteousness; our purification, and the will of God.
Scripture tells us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and this is an incredible statement, and blessing for us. Once we understand what it means for Him to desire us to the point that He wishes to live within us there should be no greater longing than for us to love, and please Him always. As you go about your life do you keep the temple, your body, in good repair, free of sin? Do you maintain the sanctity of God’s residence and keep it Holy? We are not proclaimed to be a warm and comfortable cabin in the woods, a bright and fun vacation bungalow on the beach, a shack on the wrong side of the tracks in which we suffer, or the grandest of houses where we are pampered and waited on continuously by servants… we are a temple, meant to be a place of worship, a Holy place like none other, where we glorify the God of all creation, and serve Him righteously, all the days of our lives.
When Jesus taught us to pray, the first thing He told us to pray for was that God’s kingdom would come, and then that His will be done on earth, just as it is in Heaven. We say these words when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, but do we really understand them, or truly want those words to be realized right now? Most Christians are perfectly happy to live out their lives here on earth with God answering a prayer here, and there, to make their lives bearable. They would even like to see His will be done so long as they can remain happily in the world, but is that what we should want, and pray for, or should we pray earnestly for Jesus to return NOW?
Whether facing trouble, pain, or times of great joy, and happiness, as Christians we are told to rejoice always, and to keep our faith strong enough to succeed in doing so we are encouraged to pray without ceasing. By praying in this way we can face whatever circumstances confront us. Then, once we have learned to rejoice in whatever we have experienced, we are told to faithfully give thanks to God for it. This is how Jesus lived, and how he teaches us to live. His life demonstrates the manner in which we are to walk in our life of faith while rejoicing, and drinking from the cup of God’s will.
It should hurt the heart of every Christian to see how divided we are in our faith, and in our world today, and in this regard there is no one who is innocent; not even the Church, that has so successfully divided itself. What will we answer in judgement when we are asked why we have lived our lives divided in this manner? Will we begin by telling God how someone did some certain thing to us, or we didn’t love another because they didn’t like us first? Maybe we will say that the church down the street doesn’t really love Him, nor Jesus, and give a trivial example related to what robes they wear while worshipping, or how they take communion too often, or not enough. I can hear God’s heartbreak as He says “REALLY?”
When we deliver the gospel message do we do so in clear and simple terms that others can understand? Do we teach the Word of God by making it straight forward and like a straight and smooth road for new and old believers alike to follow? If a pastor cloaks his message in mystery, and delivers the Word in a way that makes him the key to unlocking it, then he is not serving the Lord, but himself. Paul went to prison for preaching a clear message of salvation, but many were saved. Are we ready to risk the ridicule of scholars by teaching God’s Word, and the gospel of Jesus in the language of the common man… of children?
Is your heart broken today, or perhaps you feel crushed emotionally or spiritually by some tragic event? Well, for as much as Satan would like for you to believe that this is a state of mind, heart, and spirit that you will be trapped in forever, and that your strength of faith will be sapped from you, never to return, this is not God’s desire, plan, nor is it His will for you. It should also be the object of all the saints around you to intercede for you in prayer by asking the Lord to bring such seasons in your life to a swift and healthy end.
Do we treat prayer like an incredibly fine wine that we only bring out on special occasions, and offer it sparingly when we do? Are we only meant to pray for those who are deathly sick, or facing some terrible hardship? Do we find ourselves withholding prayer for our leaders until we approve of them, or for times when our country or church is in dire straits? Perhaps we only pray for something when we feel it affects us personally, or that a certain outcome is somehow to our advantage. In truth we are to offer it like our love… for all people, without ceasing, and also in every circumstance.
When was the last time you prayed for your church leaders? It is so important to lift up those who have been called to be the tip of the spear in the war against sin. We should be honoring them, and asking the Lord to guide their every step. They are not only preaching and teaching the gospel to unbelievers, but they are also being attacked by the dark one.as he attempts to stop them from making a spiritual impact.
Do we tolerate sin, even those that we feel are insignificant, and allow them to remain in us? When we let the smallest of sins hover over us, or make its home within us without addressing it, and casting it out, what effect does it have on us as a whole? When we allow it to go without feeling remorseful, contrite, and asking for forgiveness, then we suffer physically, mentally, emotionally, and most of all spiritually.
As we look at the many and varied tasks set before us while doing God’s will we become keenly aware of the enormity of what He wants accomplished, and it can appear overwhelming to us at times. We are sent abroad, into our communities, asked to tend to the sheep of Christ in so many ways, and we are told to build churches, show mercy to the poor, and so much more. So we pray for wisdom, guidance, and strength, but there comes a point when the enormity of His plan is still too great, and we must ask for not only help, but helpers. This is not a failure on our part, but rather an admission of our successes, and an understanding of all that needs to be done. Jesus knew this, and instructed us to pray for workers; to ask the Lord to call others, and to send more laborers.