Looking up, where the message from Jesus Christ received, brings Eternal Life.

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God” Romans 8:16

Preface

In this booklet, Israel is shown to be God’s pick of a nation. He would favor Israel above all nations on earth. Only one thing would be asked of Israel. That one thing was to believe what the Creator told them, as a nation, and as individuals. This, however, did not happen and they followed the false gods of other nations. As a result, Israel split into two nations, and spiritually lost God’s blessing. God set Israel aside and sent His only begotten Son into the world to die for the sins of mankind. The sin issue between God and man was dealt with once and for all time. The Spirit of God was given to any and all who had faith in Jesus Christ. Those who acted in faith became the church of God’s making. Today, however, there are many false things in the professing church. These are shown in a small, but incomplete measure. Next, the normal Christians’ life in practice is written to help the believer walk in fellowship with Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). Last, but not least, George Muller’s life and the results of his faith in Jesus Christ are shown.

Northern Israel

A Short History of Israel and the Future of the Church

The God of Israel had blessed His people above all other nations. But instead of being thankful for His continuous blessings, they started giving their hearts to other gods as well as to power and money. God’s prophets warned the Israelites what would happen to them if they did not change, but they refused to listen to the prophets. The Creator then withdrew from the Israelites, which led them to suffer through many dark years; and eventually their security of life was taken from them. Israel consisted of ten tribes which was northern Israel, and two tribes together known as Judah, in southern Israel, each having separate governments. The ten tribes of northern Israel were conquered by Assyria, a great and powerful nation, and they were carried off to Assyria as a defeated nation. Then Assyria sent their own people into northern Israel to take over the land. (722-21 B.C.). The reason for the captivity, we are told in Scripture, was because the ten northern tribes “rejected the word of the Lord” (2 Kings 17: 9-23).

Southern Israel

Judah 2 Tribes

Later, Judah took the same pathway as northern Israel, and removed themselves from the place of God’s blessing. Idolatry and wickedness became their pathway as Israel had done. The prophet Isaiah records the word of the Lord to Judah. “Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evil doers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward” (Isaiah 1:4). Three times Judah was invaded by Babylon and carried away captive the same as Israel before them. Later, Babylon was taken over by Persia. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied that after 70 years, Judah would return to their land (Jeremiah 25:11-12). Cyrus the deliverer was named by the prophet Isaiah over 100 years before Cyrus was born (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-4). After 70 years, Cyrus who was the king of Persia, released the captives to go back to Judah and rebuild the wall and the temple and inhabit the land again (Nehemiah chapters 1-2). Read Ezekiel 39:21-24 to see God’s sorrow for Judah).

The Bride of Christ

Today the church is in the same danger as Israel and Judah were. Jesus Christ, God’s Son and Israel’s Messiah, came into this world to receive a bride unto Himself. The cost in doing this was the giving of His body and blood on the sacrificial cross at Calvary, as prophesied in Psalms 22:1-21; and Isaiah 53. He would then have a people whose sins were paid for by the shedding of His blood. Jesus Christ would give this people (the Church) the gift of being indwelt with God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus is their Shepherd and they are His sheep. By receiving the Holy Spirit, they received and possessed the Water of Life by their faith in Jesus Christ. The Water that He would give them would forever quench their thirst, and give them eternal life (John 7:37-39). The Church is the people of God and was created to be only unto the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is followed by believing and following the Doctrine of Christ, revealed through the Apostle’s Doctrine (teaching) in Scripture. Scripture teaches that what the apostles of Jesus spoke was the very word of God (1

Thessalonians 2:13). Jesus said, when He left this world, He would come back for His Church, those who are spiritually looking up for His return (Hebrews 9:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Imitation Sheep

In the church today, there are imitation sheep. The Bible refers to them as wolves in sheep’s clothing (Acts 20:25-32). They may look like a sheep, they might talk like a sheep, they probably profess to be a sheep, and in many cases they are even ruling over the sheep as church leaders. However, they are really savage wolves, speaking perverse things to draw away the sheep from the fold of their Shepherd. They mill around the sheep’s watering trough. They have one tell-tale sign that they are not sheep. What is it? They will not drink the water. The water is the believing of every word of God and exercising the word of God in faith. It is of paramount importance to not believe every spirit (1 John 4:1). The believer who seeks truth in the Scriptures will find that discernment will come to him, to follow only the Chief Shepherd. Jesus said to the Jews, “He that is of God hears the words of God: Therefore you hear not (do not receive them) because you are not of God” (John 8:47). This is no less true for false sheep in the church. Some examples of activities not of the Holy Spirit being practiced in the church Spiritual flesh: This usually is an individual who has lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, or seeks the pride of life (1 John 2:1). They see themselves as wise in their own eyes. What this usually means is this person will not accept the Doctrine of Christ for foundational truth. Their exceptions will nullify the words of Jesus and His apostles. Wrongly using Scriptures: Some teach the enhancement of fleshly doctrine like it was spiritual truth, the taking up of a position that Scripture teaches against. For example: A clergyman who wants his wife to be a joint clergyman with him over the assembly. Scripture forbids this by the Lord’s commandment (1 Corinthians 14:34-35, 37); but it does not stop fleshly designs of an untaught or willful clergyman, or for a willful wife to do this. Using the word of God for personal gain: There are many ways this is done, so many ways that they cannot be counted. Look at Scripture. Jesus had no place to lay His head. The apostles all worked for a living. When people are put on the church payroll, working for a living normally ceases. Some of these people amass millions of dollars for themselves, all in the name of the Lord (Micah 3:9-11; 2 Corinthians 2:17). Then they say “Is not the Lord among us? No harm can come to us” (Micah 3:11). Also read Micah 3:12. Trading the Apostles’ Doctrine for the doctrine of men: The doctrine of man means it is not of God or by God. Example: Putting away the word of God for what some man or woman wants it to be, as the Jewish leaders did (Mark 7:6-13). This is also true of some Bible translations or footnotes in the translation. The answer is to prove all things by the Apostles’ Doctrine, (what the apostles taught in Scripture). Some churches hire homosexuals or lesbians for clergy, or other positions that allow them to rule over the flock. Not only is this harmful for the church, but even children are taught by this sinful practice. Too many times, if a vote is taken by the assembly on whether or not to have a homosexual or lesbian clergy, it is not uncommon for the homosexual/lesbian to win. The assembly may say that we just need to love them. But God has said: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, not idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Demonic doctrines: The doctrines in some churches are right out of the devil’s handbook. Man, untaught, is full of errors and errors give power to the attacks on the Doctrine of Christ. Some examples of doctrinal errors are as follows: Jesus Christ is not God. God was once a man born in eons past. Jesus had three wives and some children as well. Jesus gives the gift of eternal life if you do everything just right. The shed blood of Christ plus your works brings salvation. Eventually everyone will be saved. These doctrines, and many others of like manner, are attacking the Church of God with heresies. This is just a small sample of what is being taught in churches that follow a different Jesus than what Scripture reveals. The word of God speaks to the Christian fathers to teach Scripture to his wife and children (1 Corinthians 14:34-35; Ephesians 6:4). Older women are directed to teach young women to love their husbands, children, and keep up their own homes. Women are to be veiled when praying or teaching young women (Titus 2:3-5). The assembly is to be based on the grace of God, not the Law of Moses. The men are to function in their priesthood and headship according to Scripture. Clericalism has its roots in the Law of Moses and is not responsible to teach children, taking the father’s place. Scripture alone is to decide truth or error of any Biblical issue. Unbelievers are allowed to break the bread in many churches today, violating the body and blood of Jesus for those believers saved by His body and blood and who worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

The priesthood of the believer is not functioning in many churches: God has made every Christian a priest unto Himself (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:5-6). God has put the Holy Spirit in every Christian. The clerical system makes no allowance for the exercises of the believers as priests in the church, unless they go through the clergyman. The priesthood of the believer is given directly from God, not through a church, or a manmade church hierarchy. It is also a quenching of the Holy Spirit in any Christian assembly. This liberty of the Holy Spirit to use whom He will in an assembly is God’s purpose. The clerical system finds its roots in the Law of Moses; it is a serious error for Christians to practice the Law of Moses. A Christian is not to function under the Law of Moses but under Christ. Wherever Christian men refuse to teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27-31), women will begin to rise up and attempt to take over, putting away God’s government for human opinion, as in the churches: This is a large problem because God has specific commandments for women in the church, and for men being in authority. Whenever these commandments to the church are flaunted, the Holy Spirit is being pushed out of any assembly. What is lost is the life in the Spirit, and a new culture is being put into the assembly. However, this is not a new practice at all (Read Genesis chapter 3 regarding Mother Eve). Spiritually, the women lose out, and the man and the children lose out as well. This brings in the devil, the horizontal view of Christianity, and death takes a foothold. Many of the problems in the church, center on seeing only horizontally. The Prophet Hosea (8th Cent B. C.), prophesied to Israel as they rebelled against the Lord, “Ephraim (Israel) oppressed and broken in judgment, because he (they) willingly walked by human precept” (Hosea 5:11). In other words they only looked horizontally to live, and live according to human opinion. When

God called on Israel to live by His Word, it would protect them in ways they did not even know. The horizontal view is defined as humanism, people looking at people. “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12). These failures are real and lead to spiritual decay. Luke 21:28 references the vertical view, “Now, when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near”. This booklet is attempting to show the believer to look up in all things to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, not a church, a preacher, or some new doctrine of the day.

The Last Days Church

Here is a research finding concerning the present day church by the Barna Research Group. They are probably the most well known evangelical research group in the United States. Their findings are as follows: 1. Seven out of ten people have dropped out of church in the past decade. 2. The peoples’ reasons for leaving: Twenty percent say God is missing from their church. Thirty nine percent say a church is not important because they can find God elsewhere. Another forty six percent find church boring. Twenty percent of Americans regularly attend church.

Eight thousand churches are said to fold up and close every year. Seventeen hundred clergymen leave their ministry every month. These figures were taken from an article entitled Bored Beyond Belief, by James Collins of Prophetic Observer. Many a man, who at one time in his labor of making the truths of Christ known was prophetic and fruitful, now has fallen to the present day religious culture. The religious trap is called four W’s. They are Wine, Women, Wealth and Wise in self importance. The under shepherd has fallen into the devil’s trap, and the sheep become confused. They have trouble hearing the Chief Shepherd’s voice to faith, and many other such errors come into the church. The end results are the good food of Christ, which he once taught, has become spoiled, and the eaters detect poison in the food. This man’s labor no longer produces Life giving manna from heaven. This booklet points out a few of these problems. It also points out to the believer the answer to overcoming the church system and how to start following only the Lord Jesus Christ. God blesses the reader who is attempting to get a good hold on the truth of Christ Jesus and follow His every word. First, the love of Christ Jesus is to grow in the believer through His word. It is necessary for the believer to dump all spiritual slag attempting to invade his heart. Spiritual slag can be a church not receiving the whole counsel of God, or the church giving out human opinion, masquerading as God’s word. Spiritual slag can also be the clergyman taking a place above Scripture, or a wife imposing her will over others, or any believer receiving wrong doctrine from some teacher or cult. Any of these will damage the church. Spiritual slag has no eternal value. It is spiritually misleading and it attempts to take the place of truth. It is like fool’s gold, and it has caught many in this snare. This is the end result of receiving humanity rather than divinity. Jesus’ warning to the Laodicea Church is: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). Sound Doctrine is: Jesus Christ alone, plus nothing. Sola Scriptura, only Scripture for truth.

The Root Problem

“Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your First Love” (Revelations 2:4).

The Key to Success

“The believer’s First Love of Jesus continuing in his life will not let him fail” (John 14:23-24).

Keep His Word

“Thy Word I have hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalms 119:11).

A Christian New or Old in the Faith

When a person becomes a Christian, it is because he changed the course of his life to follow Jesus Christ in faith. The Christian has looked up spiritually to Jesus Christ and He will make him a born-from-above new creation. When Jesus left this world, He went up into the heavens in full view of His apostles (Acts 1:9). Then two angels appeared and said, “He will come again as you have seen Him leave” (Acts 1:10-11). A believing sinner saved from the penalty of his sins waits for Jesus. This new creation has made him a son of God (John 1:12-13), and he will never again come into condemnation from God (Romans 8:1). There is a penalty in the laws of God for every commandment that any person breaks. These laws are: what God has put into the heart of every human being. The conscience makes man fully aware of these laws (Romans 2:1415). The believer has escaped the penalty of his sins by the cross where Jesus shed His blood for the believer’s sins, and he will be taken up just as Jesus was. Jesus Christ is the only Man who ever came into the world just to die (John 10:17-18). This death that Jesus would die would have eternal power to change the world and man’s eternal existence. Jesus was crucified 2000 years ago on the cross of Calvary, where He took the penalty of all mankind’s sins upon Himself (1 John 2:2). His Father in heaven laid on Jesus all of mankind’s sins, and He carried on Himself the penalty of those sins (Isaiah 53:6; 10-12). Scripture teaches that the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins would be an eternal payment lasting forever (Hebrews chapters 10: 12: 14). Thus Jesus “abolished in His flesh, the enmity, that is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.“This means Jew and Gentle believers are now one, when they are born of God into the Church (Ephesians 2:14-18). Jesus Christ was and is the divine righteousness of God. Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb of God, the only acceptable sacrifice in the entire universe to blot out man’s sins (Revelation chapter 5). Through the sacrifice of Jesus, the Christian receives the total righteousness of Jesus forever (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Christian possesses the non-returnable gift from God of eternal life (John 10:27-30). “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

Where does the Holy Spirit lead a Christian?

We are told in Scripture that every Christian has been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to live in him, (Romans 8:9 refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Christ) and what the gift of God is. It is, “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The Apostle Paul speaks to this gift, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Through the Spirit the Christian is led to make the Lord Jesus Christ primary in all things.

Led by the Holy Spirit

A Christian who follows Jesus according to what He has told us in Scripture will find himself at the cross where Jesus died (Colossians 3:9-10; Ephesians 4:22-24). That is the place every believer goes, to follow Him. Following Jesus will lead to the death of our Adamic nature. Jesus said, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). The old Adam that lives within every believer must be crucified if a Christian is going to be free to live unto God. The love of Christ compels the believer to give up the flesh, to follow the divine.

The New Man

Scripture shows that every believer has received the second Adam’s nature, a new nature which is the nature of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:45, 47-48; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10). This new man furnishes the believer the necessary ability to follow the Lord Jesus only, for it is impossible to please God living in the old

Adam. However, God has given the believer the second Adam within to live after the nature of Jesus. Only then can he overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, for Jesus successfully resisted the devil in every temptation (Matthew 4:1-11). Exercising his faith in Jesus will release God’s power within him Humility: A believer who walks and lives in humility will find the favor of God. He is ever mindful of his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. He seeks to walk right before Him and to please Him. He attempts to be a peacemaker and to see others as creations of God. He seeks to have good intentions toward all people. The believer that does these things will be on the road to having an ear to hear, eyes to see, and perception to understand (Matthew 13:16-23). The power of God is found in humility for the believer. Truth: Without a pursuit of truth in the believer’s life, he will be susceptible to deceptions, errors, lies, demonic intrusions, as well as fleshly religion and being led down the “proverbial” garden path. Because Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6), He alone through Scripture is the believer’s safeguard. A daily reading of Scripture is God’s way of protection for the believer. The Holy Spirit directed the inspiration and words of the apostles of Jesus to write Scripture, which is not the word of man, but of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13). The believer who follows the Jesus in Scripture will not be deceived. Knowledge of God through Scripture: To know God personally and to know His mind and ways should be the goal of every Christian. This requires the believer to look above into heaven. There is a saying, it goes like this; “he is so heavenly minded that he is of no earthly good.” This statement is the devil’s distraction to keep a believer from looking up. All people by nature are earth dwellers and do not look up to Jesus Christ sitting at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1-2).

The truth is this, “Unless a person is heavenly minded, he won’t be of any earthly good.” Why? Because if he does not see, hear or perceive spiritually, all he has to live in is his Adamic sin nature. By following what is natural, his Adamic nature, a man may look good but he may have dire eternal consequences. God desires to make all people into the image of His Son, One who was perfect before Him, without sin. Only he who has the Holy Spirit in him can please God eternally. The Scriptures direct mankind to receive Jesus Christ, the perfection of God, the second Adam, who lived entirely without sin. We deceive ourselves if we say we know the Lord but do not follow His word. A person who follows deception will not be led by the Spirit of Jesus. He will live his life contrary to truth. Deception is the pathway to eternal destruction. Thankfulness: For the Christian, it is seeing the eternal love of Christ who is our Saviour, High Priest, Redeemer, Shepherd of our soul, and an ever close friend. He is the One who gave His body and blood to bring the Christian into His eternal abiding place. Jesus died in the sinner’s place to make him His own, and fit for heaven forever. “… giving thanks at all times for all things to Him (who is) God and (the) Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (J. N. D. Ephesians 5:20).

Looking up From Whence Comes our Help

The new life in Christ that a believer has is not lived by trying, or by a person’s will. It comes by continually keeping the Lord Jesus in the heart in all the believers’ decisions. In Christian growth this way of life becomes natural to him in his pathway of living. He considers the mind of the Lord to be the primary importance, as well as every word of God for this is where the blessing of God comes from.

The truths made known by reaching up to the heavenlies to God are seen in the results in Exodus 17:8-16. The Amalek nation came to fight with Israel and put an end to their existence. They were a mighty foe. Moses went up on the hill to observe the battle. When he raised his arms to heaven (looking to God for help), he watched Israel prevailing in the battle. When his arms became too heavy to hold up, Israel began to lose the battle. But Moses knew the mind of the Lord so he had other men with him hold up his arms, and Israel prevailed against Amalek. When Israel looked to God in faith for their help, God was their helper. The Christian’s help comes the same way. All things the Christian receives from God come by his faith.

How do we know God hears our prayers?

George Mueller raised 10,000 children, taking them off the streets in England and feeding and teaching them for a period of 50 years (1850-1893). He had no money of his own. He told his wife to get rid of her money, which she did. He then started bringing the children into his home. He believed God would supply the food and other necessities. When he ran out of food or other needs, he would go out on a walk and talk to the Lord about it. If people asked if he needed money, he would not tell them his needs. He looked up to his Father in heaven! To bring glory to God for this labor in Christ, he totally deprived himself. He said he had no spiritual gift. He just believed God, and looked to Him to take care of these children. A believer should always remember that faith in God comes by hearing and hearing comes by (reading) the word of God (Romans 10:17). George became a Bible teacher as well. It was a far cry from his former life in unbelief. Every Christian is a child of the Father in heaven. As the Christian lays down his life to his Father in heaven, his spiritual hearing will increase. Also, comprehension of His answer to his prayers will also increase. If sin is allowed in our exercise of faith, we will become dull of hearing.

The Christian, a New Person, with a New Life

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). From God’s perspective, the Christian is a dead man with a new life, because of the now indwelling Holy Spirit, living and abiding in him. He now has eternal life which will never be taken from him. He has become a son of God, because he is the offspring of God through his faith in Jesus (John 1:13). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus Christ is the very Word of God in human form (John 1:1, 14). He is the physical manifestation of the invisible God, and the dispenser of eternal life (Colossians 1:15).

Planet Earth, the Manufacturing Place of Sin and Death

Man lives on this planet in an environment of death. The whole planet is one big cemetery, without reprieve. If God permitted, over time there would be more cemeteries on the planet than anything else. Every natural person, place or thing reeks of death. Every living thing dies on this planet. The cause of death on the earth is sin from the devil. Eve and Adam brought this curse on the whole planet. God created life on the planet. The penalty for sin, for the planet, is death (Genesis 3:14-19). The suffering only gets worse as man follows what Eve followed, the world (what the devil told her), the lust of the eye (the desire to please herself, rather than God’s word), and the lust of the flesh (reaching out to take to herself what God had said not to take). She wanted and believed she would get more through receiving the devil’s words. She wanted to be more than what God had created her to be. God’s words were for both Adam and Eve’s protection.

What God Will Do!

A. By the Christian’s faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is going to rebuild the Christian’s life into the image of the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ. This entails the Christian to look up, as he believes every word of God. Jesus, the heavenly Man, came to earth and is God in human form. God, Jesus said, is a Spirit (John 1:1; 4:24 J.N.D.). The word “faith” is an active noun in which the believer exercises God’s word. This pathway releases the Holy Spirit to build a life after the word of God and bring discernment from God to the believer.

Help in Understanding Daily Christian Life and Growth

Steps of faith for a New Life

The items that follow will give a practical way of life for the new believer or a believer of many years. A Christian must believe God in what he has said, “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear Him” (Matthew 17:5). He will then find what Jesus promised: “…and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

What Do I Do Now?

“I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Placed before the new believer are two pathways. One is the pathway of the world, the flesh and the devil, leading to death. The other pathway is following the Chief Shepherd’s voice (John 10:27). To follow the Chief Shepherd is to walk after the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is what the Christian has been called to; that is, to learn to walk by faith in the Lord Jesus. This walk of faith is a ‘new and living way’ of life. Releasing yourself to the Spirit of Jesus and allowing His Spirit to lead and direct your life, will bring a believer into the experience of this life. This life has two parts; first is to walk after the Spirit, and second is to crucify the Adamic nature within. Romans 6:6 tell us that the believer’s Adamic nature was crucified with Christ. Romans 6:11 tells the believer to reckon himself dead unto sin. Sin simply means not following the Lord Jesus. The two natures within the believer are real, they war against one another (Romans 7:23, 25). This battle is real. However, a dead man cannot sin, so it is when the believer by faith puts his Adamic nature to death, that he by experience is found dead to sin. This can only be done through the believers hope of Christ (1 John 3:3). As a believer experiences, learns, and walks in the Holy Spirit, his life will be unto Christ.

The practical things that should be done are to continue to walk and grow in the life of Jesus.

Steps of Faith for a New Life

Prayer

“Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17). A Christian’s life must have its foundation on prayer, because through prayer your requests are made known to God (Philippines 4:6). In these communications the believer develops intimacy with God. Jesus said, “men should pray always” (Luke 18:1). When Jesus walked on this earth with His disciples, the record shows the many times He prayed. We should ask, was there ever a prayer that His Father did not answer. Yet, Jesus did not pray for His own will above His Father’s will (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44). This is important for the Christian to remember, in his own prayers. If a believer thinks God does not answer his prayer, in his time period, or according to his request, that is His answer. Some have become embittered because their prayers are demands and not requests in humility.. Are you willing to submit yourself to His answer?

The Following are Some Important Points of Prayer

Sin

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalms 66:18). A Christian needs to open every door of his heart to the Lord. To have total relationship with God, total openness of heart is mandatory. This openness allows the Spirit of God to inhabit every room of the heart. Temptation: As long as a person is in the body, temptation is a factor for a believer to be aware of and to overcome. Jesus told His disciples, “…watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). We learn here that a state of prayer will keep the desire of temptation from having power in the believer’s life. Pray believing: “Therefore I say to you, what ever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24). Jesus said in John 14:13 that whatever a believer asks in His name that He would do.The only condition of the believer’s prayer is that His Father be glorified in the believers request. The believer’s prayer must be directed by the Holy Spirit to be honored of God. Therefore, a believer must pray according to the mind of the Spirit of God (1 John 5:14). Unforgivingness: Unforgiveness held in the heart of a Christian is a prayer breaker. For giving others even when you have been wronged, is God’s method for hearing prayers. It goes without saying that to forgive a person is not easy when one has suffered great hurt to his person and future. However, living in the love of Christ, a believer can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13). Confession of sin: Keeping short accounts with God is the key to success in your prayer life. Confession of sin held in the heart or in outward actions is the way to keep your prayer life vital. This is because unconfessed sin blocks a Christian’s spirit from being free before God. This freedom is mandatory for your prayers to be heard and answered. Scripture teaches us, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalms 66:18). To continue to grow in Christ, a believer must depart from that which hinders the Holy Spirit. Prayer in worship: True worship for a person is in the heart or spirit of a believer. Prayer is a way of communicating what the heart is expressing in worship. Worship for a believer should start his day; the length of time spent praying is according to necessity. Worship takes the believer out of the natural and sets the heart on Him who is above. Individual worship is in praise and thanksgiving unto the Father and the Son (Ephesians 5:1920; Hebrews 13:15-16). Prayer to start the day: “Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning; for in you do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk; for I lift up my soul to You” (Psalms 143:8). To start every day with a request that God, through the Holy Spirit direct your pathway, is to show great wisdom and spiritual intelligence. To do this is to give our day to Him who created it. This. allows us to look to Him for help and guidance, for in so doing, “He will not leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). “For He is faithful who promised” (Hebrews 10:23).

Listen in Quietness

“In your patience possess you your souls”(Luke 21:19). An important aspect of meditation and prayer is to listen in a place of rest, peace, and quietness of soul. Listen for the communication of the Spirit of God in your heart. Strength of faith is increased in waiting on the Lord in quietness. Peace of soul is also increased, which results in a pattern of resting in the Lord.

Read the Scriptures

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23). The word of God has the power to cleanse the heart of the one who receives its message in faith (John 15:3). Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:48), He also is the Word of God (John 1:1). Whosoever eats of Jesus, through the Spirit and the Scriptures shall never die (John 6:50, 58). Scripture received in faith, works in the believer to bring life (1 Thessalonians 2:13). The heart receiving and eating the word daily brings life and strength to walk after Christ. The believer who is living in the power of God, is the one who is devouring the Word of God in faith. Reading Scripture daily in faith will bring a believer this help: “Y our word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Psalms 119:105).

Meditate on the Scriptures

“I will meditate on your precects, and contemplate your ways” (Psalms 119:15). The believer who meditates on Christ, His ways, His work, and His gifts, will become as the Psalmist who said, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation” (Psalms 119:99). The understanding of life, for man on the earth and the kingdom of God, will come to the believer who meditates on Christ as He is revealed in Scripture. Revelations of God to the unbelieving is not possible. God’s blessing to the believer who will meditate on Christ is new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).

Cast Down Every Imagination

“Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). A renewing of the mind is the result for every new believer who will follow Christ in the Spirit. We are instructed in Romans 12:2 that not conforming to the world is necessary to renew the mind. The Christian’s life is to be transformed by a renewed mind; that renewed mind is the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). The renewed mind of Christ takes the believer away from living for and after the natural man, the flesh. However, this renewing of the mind will not be accomplished without a battle of faith.

Expect a Battle

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). For the Christian the battle is a spiritual battle. This fight of faith is to put away what is natural to man and follow the Lord Jesus in the life of the Holy Spirit. This life of living and walking in the Spirit is the only way the Christian can win the battle. Ephesians 6:14-17 gives a list of the defensive armor and the offensive weapons that are needed to win the battle. The Christian will surely need these weapons for the fight. It is certain that the world, the flesh, and the devil will attack him. However, if the believer lives in his armor and uses the weapons given to him, the battle is his. Because, “…we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37).

Seek Counsel of God

“You will guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalms 73:24). There are many decisions that a Christian needs to make in life that are not written in Scripture. For example, should I marry this person, how much money should I give, Lord what would you have me to do in this matter, etc. A Christian needs counsel of the Lord to give Him wisdom and direction in decision-making. Living in the counsel of God is a place of dependence. This was the place in which Jesus walked during His entire earthly existence (Philippians 2:5-8). James tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally, and without reproach and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Many circumstances in life are without a human answer.. Therefore, a Christian should seek counsel of the Lord for what many times seems like a hopeless problem. The counsel of God is of the highest counsel, and a blessing to the hopeless.

Look for Correction

“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Hebrews 12:6). Every believer who is being transformed into the image of the Son of God is also going to experience correction from the Spirit of God. This correction is never a joyous event. It is like a heavy rainstorm when one is counting on a sunny day. This may not be enjoyable, but it brings life in every drop of rain. So it is with correction of the Lord when we receive it in faith. Correction yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who receive it in faith (Hebrews 12:10).

The danger in the heart of the believer when correction is taking place is that bitterness may set in, rather than submitting to the transforming work of the grace of God. This chastening is for those who are the sons of God. If you do not receive chastening of the Lord, you do not belong to Him, you are a bastard, not a son of God (Hebrews 12:8). In nature it is a father who shows love to his son by chastening and correcting him. A son who rebels will suffer much affliction in the years ahead. A son who submits to a father will receive much benefit. So it is with the Father of spirits, His love brings correction (Hebrews 12:9).

Be Thankful

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15). If a believer does not dwell in the peace of God, neither can he be thankful. Thankfulness is a condition of the heart. Thankfulness is recognizing that we have nothing in this life except what has been given to us. The same is true of the gift of life in Christ Jesus. The words of the Apostle Paul should also be every believer’s words, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Occupying our minds in thankfulness to God will allow the joy of the Holy Spirit to have preeminence in the heart. Life in this world is not without sad occasions; however, thankfulness unto God will bring joy out of sorrow. Blessing Him in thankfulness, who is above all things, will not always change the circumstances of life, but it will change the circumstances of our heart. Job’s heart was a heart of faith and thankfulness. Upon learning that he had lost all his wealth, his children, and the loyalty of his wife, Job acted in this manner;“Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Job acted like a man with a thankful heart even in dire circumstances. Hard as circumstances are at times, as it was for Job, so it is the place of ultimate joy and blessing for the Christian as well (Job 42:12-17).

Obey God

“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness” (Romans 6:16). After Jesus had fasted for 40 days and nights, Satan came to Him to tempt Him. The devil tempted Him in three ways, which are common to all men. First, Jesus was hungry, having not eaten for forty days. In Matthew 4:3, the devil attempted to take Jesus away from the place of dependence on His Father by satisfying the flesh. Jesus answered Satan, “It is written; man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Second, Jesus came into this world as a dependent obedient servant to His Father, to fulfill all that was written of Him (Luke 24:44). Satan tempted Jesus to act in His divinity, apart from His Father’s will. Jesus answered Satan, “It is written again, you shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Matthew 4:7). Third, the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. Satan then offered all the kingdoms of the world to Jesus if He would fall down and worship him. Jesus answered Satan with these words, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lor d your God and Him only you shall serve” (Matthew 4:10). In these three temptations are the temptations of the flesh, the temptations of the world, and the temptation to become subservient to the devil. These temptations are what all men are tempted by even today. The Christian has this record of how Jesus answered the devil in each one of these temptations. The Christian has the power of God within him to take the same dependent course Jesus took, dependence on the Father. The flesh is weak, but the spirit is strong, that Spirit within a Christian is the Holy Spirit. For the Christian who is set on a dependent life to obey God, we find this encouragement. “We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37).

The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of Spiritual Riches

A Believer’s Experience

Many times in Scripture God is called the Rock (Psalm 18:2; 28:1; 92:15). Also Jesus is called the Rock (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-8). The Rock is Jesus Christ. He is the foundation of the kingdom of God (Matthew 16:18). He is also the Chief Cornerstone of the Church (Ephesians 2:20). The fruit of this kingdom is righteousness (a clear conscience), peace (no spiritual turmoil), and joy (joying in God our deliverer). The Holy Spirit is renewing the spirit in the believer through following Jesus Christ. He has filled his heart with hope in His eternal promises. The higher the believer looks up, the more magnificent and real Jesus is to him. Quotes from meditations of a believer: “Looking up into His heavens, my soul rests for I have found the secret of life In God, the eternal Shepherd of my soul, and my fulfillment. When I, by faith, look into the heavens above, where Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1-2), I see the nail prints in His hands and the spear gash in His side. When I meditate on such as this, knowing that my sin was put on Jesus when He died and shed His blood for my redemption, I am moved beyond words to think that I was an enemy of God when He poured His riches on me, Christ died in my place (Isaiah 52:12-15; chapter 53; John 3:16; 1 John 2:2). The riches of His love through His grace is more than I can understand.”

Cold Facts

Old Testament prophesies for over thousands of years can be seen and documented for truth. One person counted them and found over 300 prophesies of the Messiah, some yet to come. In the New Testament the fulfillment of a great many of these prophesies is easily seen. All things have not been consummated yet in this world, so some are still in the future. One prophecy has been fulfilled in our time, a large one. Scripture predicted that the Jews would come back into their land again, in this Scripture and in many others (Ezekiel 39:25-29). After the Jewish war ending In 135 A.D. the Romans, because of the rebellion of the Jews, started scattering the Jews all over the Roman Empire. For 1800 years they were not a country, or in their own land in any numbers or Jewish government. It is said in the year 1900 A. D. that 100,000 Jews lived in Palestine. Today 7 million Jews live in Israel, but this is not the complete fulfillment of this prophesy as there are still more to come. A person of good Biblical knowledge said years ago: If you want to know where we are in fulfillment of the Biblical prophecies, “Watch the Jews.” This prophecy of Israel back in their land is astounding. No nation has ever dissolved for 1800 years, and then come back to be the same nation again. Jews from all over the world send money to Israel to support the nation. Three prophecies of Jews returning to their land are: Isaiah 11:11; Jeremiah 32:37-44; and Ezekiel 39:21-29. However, in the Minor Prophets there are many more. We have watched this prophesy come true in the day in which we live. The believer has built hope on truth, for the other prophecies that are recorded in the New Testament are yet to be fulfilled.

Fellowship with God

“God is faithful by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9).

This is amazing!!! This God ruling over heaven and earth, the only God that ever was or will ever be, brings the believer into full fellowship with His Son Jesus, the Son of God. “Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: — I have made the earth, and created man on it. I – My hands – stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded” (Isaiah 45:11, 12). More verses where God declares His deity with no other gods before Him or after Him (Isaiah 43:10-13; 44:6, 24-25; 45:18-19). God has called all people in His creation into fellowship with His Son, who died for the sins of all mankind (1 John 2:2).

The Mercy Seat

God had mercy on mankind by His word to His Son to complete and fulfill the Law of Moses (613 commandments). Jesus said, “…therefore, what I speak, just as the Father told Me, so I speak” (John 12:50). The mercy seat that was located in Israel’s temple was on the top or lid of the ark. The High Priest over Israel killed an animal once a year and took the blood into the temple and sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat to atone for Israel’s sins (Leviticus chapter. 16). Jesus Christ became the mercy seat for all who come to Him in faith (Hebrews chapters 9-10). He became the mercy seat by totally fulfilling the Law of Moses, which has passed away (the Old Covenant) (Hebrews 7:11-16) and brought in God’s New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Mark 14:22-25). It must be stated that this New Covenant is to and for Israel; the Gentiles enter into God’s favor by grace alone, through faith. Jesus Christ is God’s Rock of the New Covenant. He proclaimed in this verse: “Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Friendship with God

The mercy seat has all power to forgive sins. Jesus Christ is now that mercy seat. When falling on Him spiritually, Christ not only forgives all that person’s sins, but brings him into fellowship and friendship with God as well (John 14:23; 15:1-7, 11). This falling on Jesus is done by faith to believe that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was dead in the tomb for three days and nights. He then rose from among the dead, alive for evermore according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Revelation 1:18). For example: When God spoke to Abraham and told him what He would do for him, “Abraham believed in the Lord, and He accounted Abraham’s faith to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Abraham was given divine righteousness through his faith. God also made Abraham His friend which is recorded in Scripture three times, (2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8 and James 2:23).

How is the Gift of God to be Exercised?

Hearing – The Christian’s gifts and calling

First of all, the new believer needs to understand when he comes to Jesus in faith that God gives that person a new life, a resurrected life. Whereas he was once a dead man, now he has resurrected life! He is alive for evermore! The blood of Christ washed away all of his sins (Colossians 1:19-22). For the Christian then, there is no wall of separation between him and the Creator. Second, the believer needs to see that he has been raised up from among the dead, along with Christ into a new resurrected life to live unto Jesus (Romans 6:3-5). In Biblical terms, as a believer, he died with Christ 2000 years ago, and was raised with Christ from among the dead through Resurrection Life to be with Him. The believer had been dead in trespasses and sins and now, by the power of God, the Holy Spirit has given him a new life in Christ (Ephesians 2:5). Now the Christian has the righteousness of Jesus Christ in him, perfect righteousness. “For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus) (2 Corinthians 5:21). This verse shows that God only accepts one form of righteousness, His Son. This illustration may help the reader, if he does not yet understand. A person was standing at heaven’s gate and said to the gatekeeper, open the gate and let me in. The gatekeeper said why should I open the gate and let you in? The person said, I have been a good person all my life, and I have not done hardly anything wrong. The gatekeeper said to him, I cannot let you in because you are an unrighteous person by your own admission. Only for those who have perfect righteousness can I open the gate. This man was greatly befuddled and just stood there not knowing what to do. In the meantime another man came to the gate whom the first man knew. The first man knew that this second man had been a drunk, a liar, an adulterer, a thief and had committed many other such sins. The second man called to the gatekeeper to open the gate. The gatekeeper said to the second man, why should I let you in? The man called back to the gatekeeper, because when I came to faith in Jesus Christ, I confessed my sins to God and repented of doing them anymore. Then God made me His son; I was born anew by God (John 1:12-13) and I received His Holy Spirit into my spirit; I also received the gift of the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. That is why you must open the gate. At that point the first man watched as the gate swung wide open, and the second man walked through; and the angels began singing “a sinner has come to his everlasting home” (Luke 15: 7, 10). Jesus said, “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).

Can a Man be Made Righteous by his own Efforts or Deeds?

“As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one” (Psalms 14:1-3; Romans 3:10). We must remember that it takes only one sin to make a person a sinner and an unrighteous person. No unrighteous people will be found in heaven. Only those who have the righteousness of Jesus Christ will be there.

I am Afraid I Cannot Live Up to God’s Standard.

When a person believes God rather than what men say, his faith will be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Scripture is God’s word to mankind; to know and trust involves reading, studying, and listening with understanding, and over time the depth of what is of God and what is not will come by rightly dividing the word of truth. Truth will be imparted to every believer who does not act in willfulness. The Holy Spirit is Truth; those led by the Spirit will hear the Lord (Romans 8:14). The more correct knowledge the believer has of the word of God, the more he will rest, trusting on the Creator and know Him. Many a sensitive soul has lived in fear of losing his salvation because he sinned.

If he is not a believer, he has good reason to fear, for Scripture prophesies the future of the unbelieving (Revelation20:11-15). It applies to those who shun the free gift of God through Jesus Christ. However, we will speak only to the person who has received the Lord Jesus Christ. God has given a promise to those who have believed Him. It is this: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me”? (Hebrews 13:5). A person may then say: I have believed on the Lord Jesus to follow Him, but a temptation was too great and I yielded to it and sinned. If in your heart you feel heaviness in your soul for the deed or deeds, God has the remedy to restore you to unbroken fellowship. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). If you are a believer, but do not talk to the Lord about your sin, two things may come upon you: “…My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He also chastens and scourges every son who He receives” (Hebrews 12: 5-6). This is never a joyful experience, and a believer can become bitter against the Lord and blame Him for what the believer has done (Hebrews chapter 12). The next thing that may happen is that God’s dealing with one of His sons is – quiet time. Isaiah describes this: “Truly you are God, who hides yourself, O God of Israel, the Saviour”! (Isaiah 45:15).

This condition between God, the Saviour and the believer could go on for some time. The answer is for the believer to confess his sin and again come back to his first Love of Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:4). He needs to open up every room in his heart and invite the Saviour in to cleanse every room with His divine love. Humbling oneself is the foundation of the restoration. “…He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins…” (1 John 1:9). Then take hold of your faith in Jesus and become stronger in faith than you were before the fall. Humility is the key to spiritual riches, as the Scripture teaches. God will not resist the humble who regards the word of the Lord like a prize (Isaiah 66: 1-2). This Scripture shows the value God puts on humility. “For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble (low in position or condition), and to revive the heart of the contrite ones (broken in spirit by a sense of guilt) – and the souls which I have made.-” (Isaiah 57:15-16). Contrite: Broken in spirit by a sense of guilt. Humble: Low in position or condition (Thorndike Barnhart Desk Dictionary) If the believer does not know how to humble himself, ask the Lord to show you. If you still can’t hear Him, ask the Lord to bring you to a point of being humbled to improve your hearing and understanding of His love, which is what the Lord has for each and every one of His own.

The Dog Story

I know a man who purchased a dog when the dog was six months old. He was a very friendly dog and in most cases very obedient. He was easy to train and he craved affection. When a neighbor’s dog started to come over to their house, each day the two dogs stayed around the home playing in the yard. This lasted for many months. But after that they started going further and further from the home. Then the dogs started going out into the street (the dog was not trained to be around traffic. He could certainly be hit by a car. So that man started a new phase and dog training began. At first the dog did not understand the message (hearing, he could not hear), so into the pen he went when he did not obey, (Before this, the dog had not been penned up for a long time.) Each time he was let out of the pen at the end of the day, he would sink very low as he came out of the pen. He had been humbled by being denied his former freedom. It took many times to help him understand. When the neighbor’s dog came over and they started to go off together, the man’s dog would have to be called back and the dog would be put back in the pen. After a while of this training, the dog finally understood what he should not be doing. He was a good dog but his wishes, if allowed to be continued, may well have gotten him killed by a car. It does not appear that believers are much different from the dog. They can learn to follow the commandments of Jesus and come to understand His word, if they are willing, with little correction. If not, God is able to discipline His own people. Faith in the word of God is the believer’s salvation, for out of it comes life. Scripture teaches: “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Here are the words of Jesus to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). Reader, do you believe Jesus? Then, if you have put your faith in Jesus to follow Him, when you die your spirit and soul will go to be with God, the Creator of all things, and live forever with Him.

Your body will at some point go back to become again the dust of the earth (if the Lord has not yet come for His Church). However, the believer’s cognition in the soul and spirit, when released from the body, will go to be with God.

What Faith Can Do

The Example of George Muller’s Life

(1805 – 1898)

We should not shrink from opportunities where our faith may be tried. The more I am in a position to be tried in faith, the more I will have the opportunity of seeing God’s help and deliverance. Every fresh instance in which He helps and delivers me will increase my faith. The believer should not shrink from situations, positions, or circumstances in which his faith may be tried, but he should cheerfully embrace them as opportunities to see the hand of God stretched out in help and deliverance. Thus his faith will be strengthened.

The Results of George Muller’s Faith in Jesus Christ

George Muller was a Christian evangelist and director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England. In his ministry he cared for 10,024 orphans, providing educational opportunities for the orphans, and established 117 schools which offered Christian education to more than 120,000.

The Christian’s Reward and Eternal Abiding Place

“We are confident, I say, and pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8) (New Translation J.N.D.).

The Christian’s Divine Hope

“Looking (up) for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

 

D . Neely
8-10-22