Don't give up

Luke 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; ………Luke 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? Luke 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

 Our God answers prayer. Pray. Continue to pray. Don’t give up.  God is faithful.  God will not delay any longer than is absolutely right.  He will answer as soon as it is right to answer.  He will never delay unnecessarily; to do so would make Him less than holy. God is altogether holy, just and good.  He loves us.  Continue to trust; continue to call out to Him.  He will answer speedily, though He bear long.  Never give up.  Our God is a prayer hearing and answering God. 

The prayer of the righteous

(James 5:16 KJV)  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.

God hears the prayer of the righteous - those who are sincere, those who love Him.  Fervent prayer accomplishes much.  Elijah prayed and it didn’t rain for 3 ½ years;  he prayed again and the drought ended. Fire came down from heaven in answer to his prayer.  In the past, prayer has caused the sun to stand still; God has moved to defeat armies, change rulers in answer to prayer. God has stopped the mouths of lions, kept from the harm of the furnace, healed the sick, raised the dead in answer to prayer.  God has caused the meal and oil to not run out; God has multiplied the oil to pay debts and provide a living in answer to prayer. Whatever our need, God is able; not only is He able, He has probably promised it in His Word.  He has probably already done the same for someone else in answer to prayer.  Your prayer can be powerful and effective and accomplish much.  Our prayer, your prayer, can avail much, can accomplish much. Pray; pray fervently, earnestly, seek God for what you need. 

In this together

(Gal 6:2 KJV)  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

 We are to help each other make it to heaven.  We are to help bear each other’s burdens.  In bearing each other’s burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ to love one another.  One of the ways we bear our brother or sister’s burden is to pray for them.  Love prompts us to pray for one another and praying for one another in turn deepens our love for each other.  Prayer binds your heart to the one you are praying for.  I know there is much to pray for, but let’s not fail to bear each other’s burdens to the throne of grace.  We are in this together.

The secret things

(Deu 29:29 KJV)  The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

God’s Word is sufficient…..that means that God’s Word is enough.  God in His Wisdom has said what He intended to say.  God has not revealed everything; there are some mysteries that are not given to us to know.  But God has revealed what we need to know to please Him.  We ought to avoid speculating on what has not been revealed, and instead, focus on what God has revealed and applying His revealed word to our life.  

No good thing will He withold

Psa 84:11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psa 84:12  O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

 God is our light, showing us the way, giving direction to our life.   He is our protection in everything in we encounter life.  God gives grace and glory, which means He gives us favor and honor.  What a blessing to live in God’s favor and all its benefits!!  We are promised that no good thing would be withheld from those who live uprightly, those who do what is right.  How blessed is the person who trusts in God!!  What more could we ask for?

An open door

Rev 3:7KJV  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; Rev 3:8  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

This passage is the opening line of the message to the church at Philadelphia.  God had set an open door before them. This was a message to a church in a time of difficulty and opposition. This was a faithful church, but it was not an easy situation.  Yet, in the middle of this opposition, God said He had set an open door before them.  What do we think of when we hear “an open door”?   Open door means opportunity.  God had set opportunity before them, even in a difficult time.  The opportunity they had did not depend on their situation. We can have hope.  It is God who opens the door.  It wasn’t just favorable circumstances.  It wasn’t their own strength “ I know you have but little strength”.   It is God who opens, and no one can shut.   Our God reigns omnipotent.  Our God is sovereign in power.  Our God is an awesome God. This open door implies an opportunity to work in the kingdom of God, an opportunity to do good, to further the spread of the gospel.  Keep your faith.  Keep your hope.  Stay faithful.  Revival has always come at a dark hour.

Be kind

(Eph 4:32 KJV)  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

 As Christians, we are to be kind; kindness is treating others with consideration, it is being goodto others, treating them courteously.  In our text, kindness is closely related to being tenderhearted, which means being compassionate.  Kindness is also related to forgiving others.  To consistently be kind to others, we need to have the right attitudes and motives.  We should want to be kind and want to help others.  We should give effort to be compassionate, to look at the needs of others and want to help them.  Simply obeying this commandment to be kind goes a long way toward showing the reality of salvation in our life.

Ambassadors for Christ

(2 Cor 5:20 KJV)  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

 We are Christ’s ambassadors. An ambassador is a personal representative, an agent, or a messenger.  We have been entrusted by God to be His ambassadors to this lost world.  We have been sent as God’s own representatives, His agents, His messengers.  Jesus gave His life to save the world, and He has entrusted this mission to us. Think about that:  the message and mission for which He gave His very life, He has commissioned us to carry out.  Let’s not fail to rightly represent Jesus and this great salvation by both our life and our words.

End well

Ecc 7:8  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

 Ending well is more important than beginning well.  It is often good to begin right, but in life it is more important how we end.  We need to keep the end in view so that we not become sidetracked or discouraged.  Many begin this Christian life that do not finish. It is vital that we finish the race.  The second part of this verse reminds us to live life patiently. We need patience to wait and see what the end is going to be. Patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.  The words translated here come from root words meaning “long” and “high”. The idea is of longsuffering, patient as opposed to high, impatient, arrogant, proud.  Be careful of becoming quickly angered in life, angry about our circumstances, angry and frustrated by what is going on in life.  I believe this passage is teaching us also to not judge many things that God has allowed in our life too hastily. What may seem like a very bad thing is often leading us to a very good end.  Continue to trust God and follow Him.

God will rejoice

(Zep 3:17 KJV)  The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

 God delights in His children as a father. God is pictured in this verse as rejoicing over you with singing.  God is filled with joy at the presence of His trusting children.  Can you even picture God bursting into singing with joy???  This verse also tells us that He will quiet us with His love.  His love and care for us brings us peace and rest.  Let the love of God cause your soul to rebound with joy and confidence.  Let the smile of God brighten your day.  May our faith and confidence in our mighty, loving heavenly Father be strengthened.

Exceeding great and precious promises

2 Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 God has given us incredible promises! He has promised to forgive us, to keep us, to heal us, to provide our necessities of life.  He has promised to comfort us, protect us, to be a true friend in time of need.  All these promises are given to us in order that we might experience a real relationship with Him, a relationship based in love and holiness.  Rely on His promises for the strength and courage to live a victorious life.

Our protection and encouragement

(Psa 3:3 KJV)  But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

 Difficult times can bring fear and sadness into our lives.  This is normal, but we don’t have to stay there.  We have a God who is able for every situation.  He is our shield, our protection from every danger we face.  We have one who is able to lift our head, to cause us to once again have hope and courage.  It is in His protection, in His loving care that we find renewed hope and courage.  Allow God to lift your head, to cause you to live in hope again, to cause the joy of God and the joy of living to return to you.  Our God is the lifter of our head…..look to Him for protection and hope.  

God will finish the work

(Psa 138:8 KJV)  The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

God will perfect, or bring to completion, what He has begun.  God will fulfill His purpose for me.  What an encouragement!  God is faithful. He will complete what He has begun.  He will not begin to intervene in my behalf, and then abandon me.  He will not promise, and then fail to fulfill his promise.  He will not encourage me, and then cast me off.  God will always do His part.  Let’s do our part and maintain our faith in Him and continue to follow Him.  Our God is faithful until the end.

Strive

(Luke 13:24 KJV)  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

We are challenged in this passage to STRIVE to enter in…or to make every effort to enter in.  Maintaining our salvation requires attention and effort.  There are times it is difficult to stay faithful.  There are times that our Christian duties are a struggle to fulfill.  Be diligent, make every effort, don’t give up.  This struggle, many times, is a struggle to maintain our faith. Satan wars against us to break our relationship of faith in God.  There are times in our Christian life when we are filled with doubts and discouragement.  Satan will try to discourage us, to get us to simply give up and quit.  Strive, continue to put forth the effort.  This is a fight worth winning: our very souls are at stake.  Never give up.  Continue to strive.

Rejoice in the Lord

(Phil 4:4 KJV)  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

 One of the great dangers we face in difficult times and trials is the loss of our joy. Joy is an absolute essential part of true Christianity.  It is the thrill of knowing God, the absolute thrill of being loved by God. It is the joy of having our sins forgiven.  The joy of the Lord is the deep seated joy of having peace within, knowing all is well with God. Don’t lose your joy!  Don’t lose the joy of your salvation.  Those who lose their joy do not continue to pursue more of God or an active life with God.  It is the joy of the Lord that makes this Christian life enjoyable and satisfying.   Rejoicing is expressing that joy.  We should check our experience with God to make sure we keep the joy alive.  Let your thoughts be turned to His love, care and goodness.  Let His acceptance and assurance restore the joy of salvation.

Restore our courage

(Josh 14:12 KJV)  Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.  (Josh 14:13 KJV)  And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

 The setting of this verse is the time of the children of Israel finally entering into the Promised Land.  Caleb requested that he be given the mountain inhabited by giants.  Caleb was one of the two faithful spies sent into the land 40 years earlier.  He had stood when the other ten brought a fearful, faithless report.  Caleb had kept his courage and zeal throughout the 40 disappointing years in the wilderness. Caleb had kept his faith in God throughout those years. Now in his old age, he had the zeal and courage to take on the giants of the land. Notice he still had his faith in God.  He was convinced that God would help him defeat the giants.  We need courage, zeal and faith today.  We may face some giants of opposition today, yet God is still the same, still faithful and still able to help us in every situation.  Pray God restore our zeal, courage and faith.

Add to your faith

(2 Pet 1:5 KJV)  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  (2 Pet 1:6 KJV)  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  (2 Pet 1:7 KJV)  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (2 Pet 1:8 KJV)  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  Faith is the foundation, the beginning point, of true religion.  It is the foundation on which all these others graces and virtues are to be built. Faith is a believing loving trust, a confident trust in God. We need to add some things to our faith to progress, to become mature as Christians. We are to grow in knowledge, in self-control, patience, godliness, kindness and brotherly love.  We need to give attention and effort to these things. We are to give diligence, to make every effort, to be eager in our pursuit of these graces.  If we do these things, we are promised that we will be fruitful, that we will be effective examples of the power of this great salvation to change people.

Save to the uttermost

(Heb 7:25 KJV)  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  

Jesus is able to save to the uttermost!  Often we use the word “saved” to mean conversion, the initial act of coming to God.  But to be saved, salvation, involves the whole process from our initial conversion to our eternal life.  It is being kept all the way through to heaven, kept all the way to and in eternal life. Jesus is able to save all those who come to God by Him. He is able to preserve and keep us all the way though this life, through judgment, and into our eternal home in the new heaven and new earth.  Jesus Christ not only provided forgiveness for us, He is saving us, preserving us, keeping us.  Jesus is able to save, able to keep, able to preserve us in everything, through everything in this life. He is able to save to the uttermost!!!  No matter the battle, no matter the danger, no matter the impossibility, He is able to save to the uttermost. He is able to save, to keep, to preserve to the greatest degree possible.  He is able to save, to keep, to preserve to the most extreme limit.  There is nothing that we are facing or possibly could ever face that Jesus cannot save us from.  There is nothing that lies ahead that Jesus cannot keep us and preserve us in, through or around. He lives to make intercession for us.  He lives to plead our case.  He is able to save, to keep, to preserve from harm and danger, to the uttermost, to the greatest degree, to the most extreme limit.

God's Word

2 Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 The Bible, God’s Word, is GOD’S WORDS.  None of the scripture, none of the prophesies originated with the prophets, but were revealed to them by God.  The writers of the scripture were not just wise and godly men imparting their wisdom in scripture.  The writers of the scripture were wise and godly men who wrote that which the Holy Ghost gave them.  It has always been a trick of Satan to reduce God’s Word to just the writings of mere men.  God’s Word is GOD’S WORDS.  As such, it is infallible, complete and accurate.  We can depend on it.  We can trust our very souls to it.  Don’t let the wisdom of the age cause you to doubt God’s Word.  In a time when everything is shifting and changing, God’s Word remains steadfast and sure.  Depend on it.  Trust it. It is God’s Word.

Our light in the darkness

2 Sa 22:29  For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

 God is our lamp; He is our light for the darkness, our hope for a brighter day.  God is able to light our path, to brighten our way and give us hope for the future.  When darkness seems to settle in on us, it is the Lord who can dispel the darkness with His light of hope.  When darkness makes the way hard to see, it is the light of the Lord that shows the way forward.  If it seems darkness is creeping in, look to the Lord for light to drive away the gloom.