For those who are following my blog, please note that I have changed the name from “Observations:Great and Small” to “Thinking Theology.”
OB
Dec
08
Among the many blessings that God has bestowed upon men, prayer is essential and unique, both in the nature of its function and more particularly in its outreach from man to God. Prayer is a gift from God to his saints, a line of direct communication between the Almighty and His children. Prayer is not a means whereby one attempts to hector God, through persuasive speech, into granting every request. Prayer is relational. Though God is the giver (James 1:17) and man is the recipient of those blessings, unlike any other gift it requires first that man asks. Through prayer God can strategically maneuver His will and purpose for the sake of blessing and maturation of his children. And for man prayer is an ever present access to the source of his peace and the foundation of his being. To call out to God is to get an answer from God. God’s line of communication is never busy. You will not get the operator while crying out to Him. Prayer is your direct petition into the heart of God.
A perusal of the Book of Acts will reveal that early Christians engaged in prayer. From the very beginning of his book, Luke, the author sheds light into the activities of those New Testament Christians. Central to that early church life was the role of supplication in prayer: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” (Acts 1:14). Notice the word, “constantly.” Prayer wasn’t a spiritual discipline that they practiced when things weren’t going well or when someone was sick. It wasn’t a ritual to be enjoined as a patterned matter of formality. Rather, prayer was part of them, an underpinning of their faith in expression and devotion. They prayed constantly. This sort of dedicated passion for prayer is portrayed clearly in the formative life of the Body as recorded in the book of Acts and should be equally true for Christians in every age.
Luke, through divine inspiration, emphatically and unequivocally relays to his readers that prayer is an essential ingredient in the Christian life. Jesus on one occasion instructed his disciples that they would be witnesses, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In order for his disciples to fulfill God’s divine call, they would need guidance from God. The Book of Acts covers a period of about thirty years. Fifty days after the Sabbath of Passover week, God poured His Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. The story of Pentecost, as revealed in Acts 2, begins a movement that neither the powers of Rome nor the religious leaders of Israel could stop. This drive began with the conversion of approximately 3,000 to Jesus of Nazareth. Following the Day of Pentecost, one observes the apostles and other Christians going forth with passion for lost souls, with power to preach the Gospel, and with purpose to reach people for Christ. The disciples had one thing in mind—the preaching of Jesus as the savior of the world. Christians are to manifest this same passion for the unconverted, the same determination to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and the same purpose of making disciples for Jesus. The Book of Acts begins in Jerusalem and ultimately reaches Rome. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter announced in dauntless language the redemptive work of Christ. A new era had dawned upon the world of humanity. Newton Flew (1886-1962), English Methodist scholar, in his momentous work on Jesus and His Church, captures the significance of the Day of Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with the following comments:
A new era had been inaugurated by the Spirit as a result of the revelation of God in the whole work of Christ, in His earthly life, in His suffering on the Cross, in His resurrection from the dead. All who accepted this revelation through Christ as a divine message entered immediately into the New Israel, the one universal Ecclesia of God, which is manifest on the earth.[3]
In examining the sermons in the Book of Acts, one detects that salvation was a salvation from sin and death, however, this proclamation of salvation was always undergirded with prayer. With this concept in mind, the early church plunged headlong into the Christian faith and fellowship and prayer. Luke reports that the disciples “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). With the coming of Christ, one recognizes a world-transforming miracle—the Rule of God initiated by Christ in which God justifies the sinner through faith in Jesus.
As the Christian community grew and matured, they experienced fierce opposition from Satan and the religious leaders of the day. In Acts 4, Peter and John were preaching to the Jerusalem Jews. The Sadducees became greatly displeased with their message about Jesus and his resurrection, so they imprisoned them. Upon their release, Peter and John prayed to God for confidence, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness” (Acts 4:29). God responded in a divine way, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:31).
In Acts 6, there was a dispute between the Grecian Jews and the Hebraic Jews. The apostles weighed the matter and under the direction of the Holy Spirit determined to nominate seven men to handle the conflict in the church. Then the apostles remarked, “And will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). It is remarkable to witness the focus of the apostles. In order to complete the mission of the Lord, they had to have a singularity of purpose. The ministry of the word was associated with prayer.
In Acts 8, Luke reports the preaching of Philip this way: “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ” (8:5). Luke also reports the outcome of his preaching with the following commentary: “But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (8:12). In Acts 8:14, Luke reports that the people in Samaria had “accepted the word of God.” Upon the arrival of Peter and John, they began to pray for the people so that they may receive the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw the Holy Spirit was being given to the people through the laying on of the apostles hands, he became jealous and desired to buy the Spirit. Peter responded, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money” (Acts 8:20). Peter then encouraged Simon with these words: “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart” (Acts 8:22).
Acts 9 records the conversion of Saul with Jesus’ response to Ananias about his reluctance to go to Saul. It is significant that Jesus explains to Ananias the ministry of Saul to the Gentiles: “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel (9:15). Through divine intervention Saul was awakened to the person of Jesus Christ. While in Damascus, Saul was praying (9:11). After his conversion to Christ, he spent several days in Damascus. Immediately after his acceptance of Jesus, Luke reports that Paul did not hesitate to share Christ “before the people of Israel.” Luke writes: “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God” (9:20). Paul “grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ” (9:22). After leaving Damascus, he went to Jerusalem and “preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus” (9:27). Later, Luke gives several accounts of Paul’s ministry as he describes Paul’s preaching and teaching of Jesus in various cities. It becomes quite obvious that prayer was the launching ground for the ministry of Paul.
A perusal of Paul’s second missionary journey reveals the substance of his preaching. Luke begins his story of Paul’s travels with some editorial comments about the Holy Spirit intervening with missionary work in the province of Asia. He writes: “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia” (Acts 16:6). Paul experienced a vision following the Spirit’s denial of access to this area. Luke comments on this vision: “After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them” (16:10). Paul and Silas were later arrested following the casting out a spirit that enabled a slave girl to predict the future. Prior to Paul casting out this spirit, she proclaimed: “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved” (16:17). While in prison, Paul and Silas, “were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (16:25). As they were praying and singing notice what happened, ” Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose” (16:26). Prayer has the potential to loosen strongholds. Paul and Silas were in a desperate situation. The only thing they knew to do was pray and that prayer delivered them.
In conclusion, what is prayer? Praying is communicating with God. In prayer, the child of God can praise him, thank him, ask him, seek his will, and ask him to intervene in our situation. Whatever is troubling us or is on our mind, we can take it to God in prayer. God is not distant, but He is ever present. We approach Him as a friend, because that is what He is. Jesus said in John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” In first Chronicles 5:20 we read where God helped the tribes east of the Jordon, “He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.” As Christians we must trust that God is for us and not against us. We need to realize that “all things work together for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). The examples above show that God will hear our cries and respond. The words of Ambrose of Milan ring true: “Prayer is the wing wherewith the soul flies to heaven, and meditation they eye wherewith we see God.”
OB
Nov
25
I heard a story about someone who just became a Christian. Immediately, he proclaimed, “Thank God, I’m free at last!” He rejoiced because he was free from the burden of sin and shame and now was redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Following his conversion, a friend approached him and asked, “What version of the bible do you use?” He responded, ” I use the NIV.” His friend then proceeded to tell him that the NIV(my personal preference) was the “Newly Incorrect Version”, and for him to be biblically correct he must use the Authorized Version. Well, desiring to do what was right, he promptly changed over to the Authorized Version. A few days later another friend asked him, “What type of material do use for your devotional reading?” He answered and again his friend suggested that he change because he wasn’t sure about the publishing company. He changed this as well. This went on for several more weeks. Finally this new Christian, due to his experience with other Christians, came to the conclusion that the Christian life has more demands (burdens) than the life of a sinner, and the freedom that Christians are meant to enjoy has the potential to be expunged by ”Christians.” Unintentionally, fellow believers had burdened this man with all the “right” things to do and caused him to stumble. I’m reminded of the words of Jesus, “but whoever causes one of these little one who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).
How does this happen? How is it that Christians end up with only duty and burden, losing the joy of our first love and freedom in Christ? It is because Christians have lost (never understood) the proper foundation of the faith. Christians often end up majoring in “minors” and we lose our focus in what brings true liberty. Where is our freedom? My friends, it’s all about our position. Our freedom is “in Christ”, not in conformity to the so-called standards of man. Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit addresses this in his letter to the Christians in Ephesus, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1:7-8). It’s because of our faith in the Resurrected One that we have joy. Through our acceptance of the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection I Cor. 15:1-4) we have gained access to the Father and are privledged saints enjoying the blessings of our Father (Ephesians 1:3). Conformity to man is a never ending road. Once you have adjusted to one aspect, here comes another one. I want to encourage all of us to live our lives to please the Father. From Jesus flows freedom, joy and his precious blood that remits our sins!
In Christ = FREEDOM
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
O.B.
Nov
23
Truthfulness is a corner-stone in character, and if it be not firmly laid in youth, there will ever after be a weak spot in the foundation.
- Jefferson Davis
Nov
22
A.W. Tozer wrote many years ago: “Were some watcher or holy one from the bright world above to come among us for a time with the power to diagnose the spiritual ills of church people, there is one entry which I am quite sure would appear on the vast majority of reports: Definite evidence of chronic spiritual lassitude; level or moral enthusiasm extremely low.”
Christians make up a sizable majority in the United States, but our presence isn’t making much of an impact on society. Why aren’t we winning more souls to the Kingdom? It seems the salt has lost its saltiness and the light has lost it glow. The reason for this spiritual decline is that a large percentage of Christians aren’t living a life of Holiness. Eight times in Scriptures God said to His people, “Be Holy for I am Holy!” This is one of the major themes of Leviticus, a book that teaches us how to avoid sin and how to grow in holiness. Paul comments: “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness our of reverence for God” (II Corinthians 7:1).
Happiness, not holiness, is the pursuit of most people today including professed Christians. When problems invade our lives we cry out to Jesus, but this crying out is normally temporary. When resolved, we have the tendency to go back to our pattern, a life separated from him. God desires intimacy not occasional visitors. The words of John ring true: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). Jonathan Edwards cuts away the underbrush, “He that sees the beauty of holiness, or true moral good sees the greatest and most important thing in the world.”
Personal holiness is defined as committing one’s life to Jesus Christ. In God’s Kingdom holiness isn’t a luxury, but it’s a necessity. The author of Hebrews concludes, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Does God desire His children to be happy? Of course He does, but true happiness begins with holiness. Matthew under inspiration speaks to this matter, “Blessed (Happy) are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Charles Spurgeon stated, “If I had my choice of all the blessings I can conceive of, I would choose perfect conformity to the Lord Jesus, or, in one word, holiness.”
The book of Leviticus informs the New Testament Christians how to appreciate holiness and how to live a holy life. The word holy is used 91 times in Leviticus, and words connected with cleansing are used 71 times. There is no question that the book of Leviticus is about holiness. The key verse in Leviticus is “Be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45). The book of Leviticus is quoted or referred to over 100 times in the New Testament. This book explicates five basic themes that relate to the life of holiness: a holy God; a holy priesthood; a holy people, a holy land; and a holy Savior.
A Holy God
Contrary to what has been said, the emphasis in the bible isn’t the love of God, rather the holiness of God. Augustine H. Strong has said, “Love is central in God, but holiness is central in love.” Love without holiness could destroy God’s perfect law while holiness without love would leave no hope for the lost sinner. Holiness described in Leviticus is “that which is set apart and marked off, that which is different.” The Sabbath was holy because it was set apart for God’s people (Exodus 16:23). The priests were holy because they were set apart to minister to the Lord (Lev. 21:7-8). The tithe that the people brought was holy (Lev. 27:30). Anything that God said was holy had to be treated differently from the common things of life in the Hebrew camp. How does God reveal His Holiness? To answer this one must understand Canaanite religion. Canaanite religion was notoriously immoral consorting with temple prostitutes, both male and female. God commanded His people to stay away from their altars and shrines and to refuse their ways (Ex. 23:20-33). God made it clear to His people that He was a Holy God. To begin with He gave them a holy law that contained promises and penalties (Ex. 20:1-17). The ten commandments told the people what was right and what was wrong; what was clean and unclean. At Sinai, God revealed His holy presence, “And all the people saw the thundering, and the lightning, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they removed and stood afar off” (Ex. 20:18). God revealed his Holy presence when he opened the Red Sea and destroyed the Egyptian army (Ex. 14:13-15:31). The presence of the cloud and the pillar of fire reminded Israel that Jehovah was a Holy God. In declaration and demonstration, Jehovah made it clear to the people of Israel that He is Holy, righteous in all His works and just in all His judgments.
A Holy Priesthood
The Jewish priesthood belonged only to the tribe of Levi. Levi, the founder of the tribe, was the third son of Jacob and Leah (Gen. 29:34; 35:23). Aaron was the first priest and his male descendants became priests, with the firstborn son in each generation inheriting the high priesthood. God insisted that the priest be holy men, set apart for His service alone. The high priest was anointed with special oil, they wore special garments, and special laws that didn’t apply to the common people governed their lives. Only a holy priest could approach God’s altar and be acceptable to God. If the priests were not dressed properly (Ex. 28:39-43), if they didn’t wash properly (30:20-21), or if they tried to serve while unclean ( Lev. 22:9), they were in danger of death. Every true believer in Jesus Christ is a priest of God, with the privilege of offering spiritual sacrifices (I Peter 2:5, 9). In the Old Testament people had a priesthood, but in the age of GRACE, God’s people are the priesthood (Rev. 1:6).
Prayer: God, because of who you are, I desire to be holy. Help me this week to be Holy.
O.B.
Nov
18
This was given to me the other day. I would like to know what you think.
1. Moral principles are relative and cultural.
Agree – Disagree- Not Sure
2. For morals to exist God needs to be a part of the process.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
3. Moral principles are determined by Environment.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
4. Human behaviors are determined by Genetics.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
5. Morals principles are determined by man.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
6. People (in general) are Selfish.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
7. Abortion is always wrong.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
8. Stem cell research is a right thing to do.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
9. Adultery is always wrong.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
10. Restriction of free speech is unacceptable.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
11. Owning a gun is always wrong.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
12. God has sanctioned the use of the death penalty.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
13. It is wrong to use alcohol in anyway.
Agree-Disagree- Not Sure
14. Affirmative action is always right.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
15. It is okay to tell a lie if it prevents hurt feelings.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
16. Some gossip is okay if it doesn’t seem to hurt anyone.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
17. There is no situation in which killing another person is acceptable.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
18. Gay and Lesbians are born that way.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
19. Being in a homosexual relationship is aceptable because God’s grace covers all.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
20. There are situations in which anger is acceptable.
Agree-Disagree-Not Sure
Look forward to your response,
O.B.
