The Gospel Message, put simply: Sin (following our selfish desires as opposed to following God's sovereignty in obedience to His will) separates us from God, and because we're separated, it leads us to death. Jesus, knowing we were sinful put on flesh and became a man, not like us in our sinfulness, but like Adam before the fall. He was literally the perfect man! The Bible says the wages of sin is death, and because of our sin we're called to death, YET through His death, Jesus paid that penalty. Jesus cancelled our sin debts on the cross. But it doesn't stop there! By rising again, death has lost all power over us! Jesus, the firstborn from the dead proves that WE can and will also rise again to be glorified like He was. All who believe in and are called by His name shall be saved from Sin, and rise again in Him.
But it seems like all too often, rather than glorify and lift high the One who was raised up in our place and took our sin and its consequences upon Himself, we glorify ourselves. So today, I'm posting a call and a prayer, and I hope that each will call you to love Christ more clearly! (My commentary will be in italics)
From 1 Chronicles 7: 12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.
Think on this a moment: we have the Holy Spirit residing in us if we've given over ourselves to Jesus completely. Jesus said we'd worship in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus was the Sacrifice, but our bodies are also to be a living sacrifice. Have you dedicated your temple, yet?
13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people,
Do you feel lost, forlorn, abandoned? Maybe it's not God who's abandoned you (though He does turn us over to our sins, to teach us, and give us a chance to repent), but maybe you have gotten away from Him. It's hard to receive a blessing, when we're blocking out the One giving it! He's a good Father, and He disciplines the ones He loves.
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Are you seeking out God? Are you humble? Humility in Prayer is not putting our needs high, it's placing ourselves low, and bowing before the throne of God!
15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
If your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and you're humble, don't you think the Lord will hear you? If you're worshiping in Spirit and Truth, won't the High Priest hear and advocate on your behalf?
16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. Does His name dwell with you? Are His words written on your heart? Does He dwell with you forever? Humble yourself! 17 And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules, 18 then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel.’ Jesus is that King, established on thee Throne forever! It's time we let Him be King, and surrender. Now for our model prayer:
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven, (Bowing before God)
hallowed be your name. (Worshipping God)
10 Your kingdom come, (Humbling/Lowering ourselves before God)
your will be done, (Submitting to God’s will)
on earth as it is in heaven. (Recognizing God’s Authority to Rule)
11 Give us this day our daily bread, (Asking for Physical and Spiritual needs)
12 and forgive us our debts, (Repentance over Sin)
as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Intercession/Praying in power over others)
13 And lead us not into temptation, (Recognize God’s power over temptation)
but deliver us from evil. (Recognize God’s Power through and over tribulation)
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
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