Opus 2024-379: Prayer Details

One night in church the following verse was referred to,

Matthew 21:21-22 (KJV) 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

The pastor announced that this meant that anything we asked for we would receive.  I found that very unsatisfying.  We played the spiritualizing game with, “What is the mountain?”  People came up with all kinds of things, such as our sin.  Still very unsatisfying.

This is not the first time I have wrestled with this nor the first time I have written about it.  It struck home again.  I got to thinking about how there are many places in the Bible with prayer talked about and in each place it seems like there’s some kind of qualification.  This is one of those topics that requires a gestalt view.  

Take this verse,

Matthew 6:33 (KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Is this referring to prayer?  And is it a qualification?  Are we required to be making righteousness a priority for answered prayer?

Then you have the case where the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.  His answer was what we know as the Lord’s Prayer.   There is no guarantee of answer there, just directions.  I think that is significant.  Of course there are very few typical prayer list items mentioned.

And you have two examples of non-answers to the main people in the Bible.  One is when Paul pleads three times that his thorn in the flesh be removed.  The answer is “No.”

(2Co 12:8-9 KJV)  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Then you have Jesus Himself in the garden praying and asking that this cup be removed.  Then He finishes with those lines that are so unpopular, “They will be done.”

Let’s go there next.

1 John 5:14 (KJV) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Prayer is not a free for all.  It is to be focused.  

Then we have something that has become a ritual or mantra.  We tend to finish all prayers with this,

John 14:13 (KJV) And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Then there is the ultimate limitation which, when joined with praying in His will, really narrows the requests down.

John 15:7 (KJV) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

So don’t base your ideas about prayer on one verse.

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Opus 2023-288: Warm Fuzzies and Truth

I continue to listen to Christmas music.  Some of it is so secular I skip it.  Some is basically secular, brings a lot of warm fuzzies and still has some truth mixed in.  Imagine getting any truth out of “Here Comes Santa Claus”.

I was listening for the warm fuzzies but some of the words punched through.  One of the reasons this might be banned by our secular pagans is a line like this,

“He doesn't care if your rich or poor for he loves you just the same.
Santa knows that we're God's children, that makes everything right.”

The last part may be theologically questionable but the idea of equality found in the Christian message is clearly stated.  No Critical Race Theory, no white privilege, no group identity, just the message that we are all equal before God.

Then there is this line,

“Peace on earth will come to all if we just follow the light.”

It might require some explanation of what is meant by “light” but a little investigation would find,

(1Jn 1:5 KJV)  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

So even a song written by Gene Autry might have a message that could change lives.  All it requires is a bit of listening and thinking.

Keep playing the songs of Christmas and praying that the message will get out.

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Opus 2023-169: Either/Or

Sin has two broad categories.  One is the condition we are born in as humans.  It has different names such as original sin, sinful nature, carnal nature, etc.  The other is usually plural, sins, because it refers to actions on our part where we come short of the glory of God.  This second category is my focus.  Again we have two broad categories.

We have sins of omission vs sins of commission.  One type refers to the things we are supposed to do and don’t.  The other refers to the things we are not supposed to do but commit anyway.

The Decalogue gives us examples of both shall and shall nots.  For instance, you shall honor your father and your mother.  You shall not murder.

When Jesus was asked to identify the Greatest Commandment He summarized the ten in all shall’s.  

(Luk 10:27 KJV)  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

While we all are guilty of both kinds I think that in certain circumstances we trend one way or the other.  I tend to not do things that I should in life as a whole and it bleeds over into my spiritual life.  My wife tends to be the opposite.  It leads to a lot of stimulating conflict.

The blessing in it all is that God is willing to forgive.

(1Jn 1:9 KJV)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

That is a promise I can cling to.

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Opus 2021-250: Parable or History

Are you ready for a question?  Maybe you have thought about it.  Maybe you wonder what I am talking about.  Maybe you wonder if I have been in the rhubarb again.  The question is, “Is the book of Job history or a parable?”  Is it a literal event that took place in a land called Uz or is it a story written to explore the problem of evil?  

If you are a five point Calvinist then you have to believe it is a parable.  Consider the first verse,

(Job 1:1 NAS77) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil.

I say that because such a person could not exist in their theology.

I meddle.

Back to the question at hand.  I go back and forth on this.  I don’t think the book itself gives us the answer.  I don’t think the answer changes the message of validity of the message.  The arguments are true either way.

As I began to read Job it struck me that this must be some kind of parable.  If you have a Bible handy read through the opening scene of the book.  Look down to verses 6-7.

(Job 1:6-7 NAS77) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.  And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."

It doesn’t go into much detail but I get the idea of the classical stereotype of God as an old man with a long beard sitting on a throne with others gathered around.  It is a nice picture but it doesn’t fit the actual statements about God such as,

(Joh 4:24 NAS77) "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

and

(1Jn 1:5 NAS77) And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Then you have the understanding that God is not just your everyday deity.  He is a bit more awesome than that.  Solomon understood this thousands of years ago.

(2Ch 6:18 NAS77) "But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have built.

Think about what it would have been like in the presence of God as it is described in Job.  I think the story is given in order for us to understand the events that are going to happen.  I don’t think our minds could wrap themselves around the visual of Almighty God in conference with the Angle of Light.

I could be wrong.  As they say, you are entitled to your opinion no matter how wrong it is.

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Opus 2015-86: Easter Prep

If you are familiar with the events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus you know about how Peter denied Jesus three times.  Jesus told him it would happen.  Peter arrogantly refused to listen and pledged his eternal loyalty.

(John 13:37-8 KJV)  Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.  Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

We see this unfolding as Peter the Rock becomes Pete the Powder.  One of the three denials is the focus of this post. 

(John 18:17 KJV)  Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.

This is presented to show how jittery Peter was.  I have often wondered why this moment would scare him.  This was only a girl talking to him.  Who cared what a woman said?  She was only the door keeper which meant she was a slave.  It was probably so noisy that no one could hear her anyway.  My guess is that she pantomimed him cutting off the ear of the soldier in a very graphic way.  It was enough to make him stand out in the crowd and freak him out.  People who could not hear could certainly see.

Our actions when we are caught off guard are often different than when we have a chance to plan.  The results are often also different.  People know when it is a silly mistake.  If they are honest, and that is a big “if”, they will laugh at and with you and get on with life.  If they think your faux pas was deliberate, the response is different.

God responds the same way.  Peter denied Jesus three times.  He went on to become the Rock and possibly the most influential apostle.  Judas betrayed Jesus also.  He planned it ahead of time.  It was done with cold calculation.  He never repented.  He is spending eternity in a different environment than Peter.

Two things here.  If you make a silly mistake, repent and get on with life.  God is ready and willing to forgive.

(1 John 1:9 KJV)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Secondly, make sure you repent.  God does not play games.  As we move toward celebrating the resurrection of Jesus it might be a good time to look at your life and consider.

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Opus 2014-176: Un-self Righteous, part 2 of 2

Warning!  More theology ahead!

The confusion about righteousness is that some people think it comes from discipline and following the rules, that it is earned or deserved.  No.  Just as forgiveness of sins comes from the grace of God, so it is with righteousness.

(1 John 1:9 KJV)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Notice it does not say, “some unrighteousness.” 

Does this mean that we are so perfect that we never make mistakes and have no potential to sin?  To me it is obvious that is not the case.  If you want to build a straw man and lay it on me I will forgive you.  I do this because forgiveness is part of being a new creature.

(Ephesians 4:24 KJV)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

If you like considering yourself an unrighteous sinner, enjoy.  I prefer the Biblical term of “saint.”

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Opus 2013-366: Basic Beliefs: God Is..., Part 2 of 3

God is spirit, not material. 

There is a second declaration that the professor  brought to our attention.

(1 John 1:5 KJV)  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

So we see that God is light. 

Here again we see a place where we need to suspend our literal, physical understanding.  Our common understanding is that God is “a” light.  We think in physical terms and that works well up to a point.  Light reveals.  Light gives life.  Light helps us see our steps.  These are all good applications which are true, but God is more than that.

We are not talking about God being a stream of photons or energy which could be measured if we had a big enough meter.  That is a characteristic, an attribute not an essential essence.

In this verse it is contrasted with darkness.  Other places we see this distinction.  Isaiah gives some contrasts.

(Isaiah 5:20 KJV)  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

(Isaiah 42:16 KJV)  And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

You see the division of good and evil, bitter and sweet, crooked and straight.

John gives it as a mindset.

(John 1:5 KJV)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

(John 3:19 KJV)  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Paul points out that light and darkness cannot be joined.

(2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV)  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

I think that we are talking about the righteousness of God, the holiness of God or the purity of God. 

Anyway you want to slice it, to me, the light is the place to be.

To be continued...

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