Prayer - A New Perspective

Isn't it interesting how God sometimes allows life's circumstances to DRIVE us to our knees, however, we often see prayer as a last resort, but I think God may be trying to change our perspective by seeing prayer as the most potent tool/act that can transform ours and others difficult circumstance.

An Example of Selflessness

2 Timothy 4:6-8 says For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

This passage of scripture is an excerpt of a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy while in a Roman prison. What strikes me about this passage are three things:

1. Paul viewed his life as one being poured out like a drink offering

2. Paul longed for Christ's appearing while alive and doing the work of the ministry

3. Paul encourages and instructs Timothy, a young pastor, when he (Paul) is in a dismal prison environment

Pouring Out Our Lives Like A Drink Offering

In 2011, it is rare to hear someone refer to their life as a "drink offering." According to the life application bible, a drink offering consisted of wine poured out on an altar as a sacrifice to God. Its fragrance was considered pleasing to God. The Apostle Paul viewed his life in that manner- a sacrifice and fragrance unto God.

In the 21st century, many people are clearly living for themselves and not God. They aren't pouring out their lives as a drink offering for the Lord's glory as Paul did in his day. Even in Christiandom, many are ministering under the banner of Christ, but their ministry's aim is to clearly build a name for themself and be known in the earth, similarly to those who attempted to build the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 . A casual look at the Word Network or Church channel on television reiterates this notion.

Galations 2:20 says I am crucified with Christ and I NO LONGER LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The aim of every Christian should be to be more like Christ. Great effort should be exerted into crucifying sinful desires that not only distance us from Christ, but attracts others to our self or our gift instead of Christ. (ie. preaching, teaching, playing a musical instrument, singing etc.....)

Jesus said "If I be lifted up, I'll draw all men unto me." Why do many live their lives feverishly working to lift themselves up to draw men and women to themselves?

Our life is not our own because it has been bought at a price. (1 Cor. 7:23) Because of this truth, let's purpose to pour out our lives as a drink offering to the Lord as the Apostle Paul beautifully illustrated for us. When our lives, gifts and abilities point people to Jesus and not ourselves, we are truly living for Christ and our lives are like drink offerings; being poured out for God's glory.

Living With Assurance and Longing For the Appearing of Christ

While in prison, the apostle Paul writes the following: "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

The apostle Paul lived his life in a way that he was CONFIDENT that the Lord was going to award him a crown of righteousness when he (Paul) stands before Him (the Lord) in heaven. Even more impactful is the Apostle Paul's LONGING to see Christ while in prisoned for preaching the gospel and advancing the kingdom of God.

What is evident here is that the Apostle Paul loved Christ more than himself. Mathew 16:25 encapsulates it well: "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

Be A Blessing To Others During Your Hardship

The fact that Paul wrote 2 Timothy 4:6-8 while in prison to encourage Timothy, a young minister, is a beautiful testament of SELFLESSNESS! The handwriting was on the wall for Paul, he was going to be killed for preaching the gospel, nevertheless, his focus was not on his own fate, but his focus was on Timothy, his legacy; the one that would carry on the work of the ministry after he was dead and gone.

How often do we put others before ourselves? Like Paul, how often do we see the big picture of the kingdom instead of what only involves "me, myself, and I?" Help us Lord! And thank you Apostle Paul for your example!

Always Works Out For Your Good!

Today I am reminded of how God works every situation and circumstance out for the believer's good. (Romans 8:28) Even in what seems to be inevitable gloom and doom situations, God produces good from it.

I was reminded of this principle while reading a story today. In the story, a family was getting ready to take a road trip and their car broke down. When the car was taken to the shop, the mechanic said "good thing you didn't take this car on a road trip becasue it could have caught fire."

Many times in life, when something impedes our progress or detours us altogether, we get upset or discouraged because we didn't accomplish our goal or desired outcome. Well, was that detour a blessing in disguise like the car breaking down prior to the family road trip in the story above?

We must remember that God ALWAYS knows what is best. His ways are not our ways and thoughts are not our thoughts. (Isaiah 5:8-9) True faith, trust, and dependence on God is exemplified when we allow him to direct our paths, even when his direction seems undesirable or irrational to us. (Proverbs 3:3-6)

The bottom line is: I much rather fulfill God's plan and purpose for my life instead of my own because his way produces much more fruit!

No Condemnation Through Jesus Christ

Romans 5:12 says through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. This refers to the sinful nature every human being inherited from Adam. In other words, this sinful nature is hereditary. Our own moral upstanding can't do away with the sinful nature we each were born. Don't worry there is hope............

Hebrews 9:26 says Jesus Christ appeared once for all to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. It is through the Cross of Christ that God redeemed the entire human race from the possibility of damnation through the heredity of sin. Condemnation comes when I realize that Jesus Christ came to deliver me from this heredity of sin, and I refuse to let Him do so. From that moment I begin to get the seal of damnation.

Without Christ, I'd be hopeless! Like a ship without a sail. Lord I thank you that when you see me, you don't see the sin I inherited. Instead your blood covers my sin justifying me in your presence. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The Mind

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ

Today, I am reminded of how vital the mind is in the Christian walk. It is literally the place where conception occurs. It is the part of us that is literally like a garden, waiting for seeds to be planted to manifest the seed's contents in our daily lives. What we continually think about today will be manifested tomorrow. In other words, whatever you want to experience tomorrow, saturate your thoughts in it today. Because of this truth, the Christian mind is always under attack. That is way the apostle Paul urged us to "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthinas 10:5) Ever wonder why it may be difficult to focus on something for a long period of time, especially things that will do damage to Satan's kingdom? The reason is that Satan knows if he can influence your mind to constantly wonder and be undisciplined today, that you won't produce valuable fruit tomorrow.

We must purpose to not only be aware of what is in the womb of our minds, but fight to bring it subject to the obedience of Christ. To bring it subject to worship, prayer, the word of God, helping others, etc. For the intellectuals, we must be careful not to attempt to think through spiritual speculation or confusion because attempting to think through it will only lead to further wandering thoughts and more confusion. The only solution to spiritual clarity is obedience. When we obey God's word, clarity and discernement will come.

Fountains of Blessings

"The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." - John 4:14

This statement was made by Jesus when he conversed with a Samaritan woman at a well. She went to the well to obtain water to drink. During conversation, Jesus asked her if she would like living water instead of natural water. This raises the subject of Spiritual Thirst, and nourishment.

Without question, to have a healthy and fruitful spiritual life, the Christian must spend time with God. It is only by spending time with God and learning God's heart, mind, likes, dislikes, that a Christian can become more like Christ.

In the above scripture, Jesus speaks of a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life from within the believer. Today, I expect and call forth the fountain of water from within me. Not just for me to enjoy, but to be a blessing to others and to "MAKE GOD FAMOUS!" Anything hindering the flow i renounce and let it go. I am your instrument Lord, a channel by with you may use to deliver your purposes.

Are Rivers Flowing From You?

John 7:38 He who believes in Me... out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

In this passage of scripture, Jesus states those who believe in him will have rivers of living water flowing from them. This living water isn't just for me to benefit. It is primarily for others to benefit.

A powerful fact about a river, is that it is persistent and overcomes all barriers. As Oswald Chambers writes " For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, only later to emerge again even broader and greater than ever.

The rivers of living water following out of a person overcomes all obstacles or even removes them. The key is to not focus on the obstacle or challenge, but to stay focused on the Source. The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source.