Bible Ballistics: BBs #686      Presuming Or Waiting???

 

I have a word for today in regard to a conversation that we had in my Bible Study class this week; we are studying the Beatitudes.   We were discussing the merciful and the pure in heart, when the subject of faith and presumption came up, we went to the Lord’s model prayer to get God’s Word on the subject, for Jesus gives us the bottom line on prayer:

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father

which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:9-10

I’d simply like to remind us to not only be faithful in prayer, but to be biblical in our prayer and finding what God has for us.  Prayer isn’t a heavenly slot machine into which we drop our “demands” and pull the handle that requires God to answer according to “my dictates”!  Prayer isn’t a direct “demand” line to heaven, rather it is a direct line to draw near to our God, our Lord and King that we might know HIM and draw nearer to Him and know Him more intimately.

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points

tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace

to help

in time of need.”   Hebrews 4:14-16

God wants us to know HIM, and to know HIM, just as Jesus said, is to seek HIS kingdom and HIS will not our own. Even as Isaiah wrote so powerfully, we are to “wait” not presume!

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard,

that the everlasting God,

the LORD, the Creator

of the ends of the earth,

fainteth not,

neither is weary?

there is no searching

of his understanding.

29 He giveth power

to the faint;

and to them that have no might

he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths

shall faint

and be weary,

and the young men

shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up

with wings as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:28-31

James also calls us to pray fervently knowing that God is the Sovereign Lord of all, and HE knows what is best for us in every situation.

“Confess your faults

one to another,

and pray

one for another,

that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer

of a righteous man

availeth much.

17 Elias was a man subject

to like passions as we are,

and he prayed earnestly

that it might not rain:

and it rained not on the earth

by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again,

and the heaven gave rain,

and the earth brought forth her fruit.”  James 5:16-18

James makes it clear that when we walk in “right” relationship with God, He hears and answers prayers, but don’t miss the message in regard to Elijah (Elias) for when you go back and read the account of Elijah on Mt. Carmel, you’ll find that God called Him to do the things that he did; Elijah didn’t presume on God to answer prayer, but rather relied on God to direct his prayer!  Kind of a different perspective, isn’t it?

So, may we each examine ourselves and pursue God and His will in all we do—even our prayer life—a fervent, ceaseless heart of prayer!

“Pray without ceasing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:17

“Peter therefore was kept in prison:

but prayer was made without ceasing

of the church

unto God for him.”  Acts 12:5

“For God is my witness,

whom I serve with my spirit

in the gospel of his Son,

that without ceasing

I make mention of you always

in my prayers;

10 Making request,

if by any means now at length

I might have a prosperous journey

by the will of God

to come unto you.”   Romans 1:9-10

“I thank God,

whom I serve from my forefathers

with pure conscience,

that without ceasing

I have remembrance of thee in my prayers

night and day;

4 Greatly desiring to see thee,

being mindful of thy tears,

that I may be filled

with joy;”   1 Timothy 1:3-4

And in conclusion, part of the very prayer of our Lord for us (and if you want a real blessing read all of John 17):

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,

Father, the hour is come;

glorify thy Son,

that thy Son also

may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power

over all flesh,

that he should give eternal life

to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal,

that they might know thee

the only true God,

and Jesus Christ,

whom thou hast sent.

4 I have glorified thee

on the earth:

I have finished the work

which thou gavest me to do.

5 And now, O Father,

glorify thou me

with thine own self

with the glory

which I had with thee

before the world was.”   John 17:1-5

Father God, Lord Jesus my Lord, will you take our hearts and minds and fix them on YOU.  To do as the Psalmist said,

“Trust in the LORD, and do good…

… Delight thyself also in the LORD…

… Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass…

… Rest in the LORD,

and wait patiently

for him:”,

may we ever pursue you, as we “wait patiently” for your direction in our lives!  Amen and Amen!!!