Q: People may have lied on "you", talked about "you", whispered about "you", misunderstood "you", mocked "you",betrayed "you", and walked out on "you" BUT remember GOD FAVORS "YOU"..Check out the video by Hezekiah Walker called "God favored me", it will encourage "you" today to keep standing.
A: Grace is another word for favor. I know of a person who was "lied" about (Luke 22:57). I know of a person who was "talked" about (Matt 16:8). I know of a person who was "whispered" about (John 7:12). I know of a person who was "misunderstood" (Mark 4:12). I know of a person who was "mocked" (Luke 23:36). I know of a person who was "betrayed" (Mark 3:19). And I know of a person who was "walked out" on (John 16:32). I know a person who, when all this was happening to Him, responded by saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34)." Jesus Christ showed favor, grace, to His enemies at the moment one would least expect it to happen. Hezekiah Walker talks about enemies, haters and fake friends who come against us in his song. Those who were the Lord's "enemies," those who were "hating" on Jesus and those who were His "fake" friends were all extended His grace when the average person would say they least deserved it. That sounds even more familiar when we think of our own lives.
While we can easily point out those who are our enemies, have hated on us or whom we would consider a fake friend, we must not forget those times when we were all those things to someone else. Moreover, there was a time when we were even an enemy to God. But, God showed us His favor. "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life (Rom 5:10)!" It is one thing to recognize God's favor on us when others are sinning against us. It is something quite different to recognize it when we have sinned against others and Him. And just like God forgave His enemies (us), we are to extend that same forgiveness to our enemies. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Eph 4:32)." God showed his favor towards the world when it least deserved it in order that He might offer the world salvation through His Son. Now, in Him, we show favor towards our enemies in order that Christ may use us to save them. We extend the "favor" of God we have received from Him through faith in Jesus to those who don't deserve it. We do it because we didn't deserve it either. Be blessed.
Q: Jesus "only" helps those who help themselves..Is that a "true" statement?
A: No, I don't believe it to be a true statement. If we could help ourselves, ultimately, we would not need Jesus. It is the notion that we can somehow help ourselves that is behind religion and legalism. Religion is man's best effort to reach up to God, but Christ is God's only method to reach down to man in forgiveness and offer him true life. We are told that salvation is a gift (Rom 6:23). A gift is something that is given out of one person's love for another. It was not earned or deserved. We are also told that salvation is by grace through faith (Eph 2:9). Grace, like a gift, is given out of love and mercy. It is not a reward for works (helping ourselves). God does not finish what we begin. He doesn't fill in the blanks we left unfinished. Sadly, many Christians are paralyzed by the notion that they can help themselves. It is hidden in religious terms like, "be a better Christian," "become more Christlike," or "you must strive to be sinless." These, and phrases like them, are just another way of saying "God helps those who help themselves."
"But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ (2 Cor 11:3)." Salvation and the Christian life is very simple. It is all Jesus and none of us. We simply respond in faith to what He offers us. Years ago, I remember sitting in church next to a young lady as the pastor gave an altar call for people to go and "rededicate" their lives to Jesus. This lady whispered to me, words to the affect of, "I can't go down. I have too much sin in my life." Looking back on that moment, my heart sinks. How many Christians are paralyzed by the thinking that they must be "good enough" in order to approach God? She knew she couldn't "help herself" and thus feared God wouldn't "help her." I wish I could go back in time and tell this lady it is not about you "rededicating" your life to God or "overcoming" sin in your life. It is about recognizing that, in Christ, you have overcome and your sins are no longer counted against you. That is a message that sets people free to be who they already are in Christ. Lord "help" us to understand this truth. Be blessed.
Q: What does the word "righteousness" mean? And what makes us (Christians) "righteous"?
A: Righteousness means the "condition acceptable to God." Christians are righteous because of our faith in Jesus Christ. "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Rom 3:22)." The moment we accept Jesus Christ as savior, the instant we were born again of the Spirit, we receive Christ's righteousness. It is not given to us as a reward for our efforts, but as a free gift. It is not maintained through our works either. We do not build upon it through self effort. There are only two types of righteousness. There is self-righteousness which is a sense that one's beliefs, actions, or affiliations are of greater virtue than those of the average person. Or there is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. One is of the Devil. The other is from God. Most self righteous people are those who believe they have found a way to be obedient to God and therefore, feel it is their obligation to get you to do the same. They are the ones who put confidence in the flesh.
In Philippians 3, Paul talks about his personal experience with putting confidence in the flesh. After talking about how he could boast about being "faultless" as it pertained to his "legalistic righteousness," he comes to an interesting conclusion. "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ (Phil 3:7)." Paul, the man God used to write over half of the New Testament says his self-righteousness was no righteousness at all. If he cannot boast in himself we shouldn't boast of ourselves. This truth is summed up quite clearly in the book of 1 Peter. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God (1 Peter 3:18)." What brings us to God? It is Christ's work on our behalf. It is not our work on behalf of ourselves. Things like church attendance, giving, bible study, avoiding sin and ministry work have there place, but they do not make us righteous in God's eyes. The righteousness we have is a "righteousness that comes from God and is by faith (Phil 3:9)." Be blessed.
Q: Why is "prayer" so important in a Christians life?
A: Prayer is nothing more, and nothing less, than personal and intelligent conversation with our God. Prayer, or to pray, means many different things. It can mean "to ask" (i.e. Why?), a "need or desire," a "wish," to "call to one's aid," a "vow," to "intercede" and many other meanings. When you think of all the ways in which prayer is used it makes it clear why Jesus said, "when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Mat 6:6)." I believe He said this because it is only when we are alone, in secret, that we are open and honest with our prayers. It is no different than going to your earthly father and saying "Can I speak with you in private?" Or when you go up to someone and say, "I need to get something off my chest." These are phrases that immediately signal that something personal and unfiltered is about to be spoken. And that is how God wants it with us. In other words, be honest.
Therefore, prayer is important because it brings us into a deeper understanding of our God and who we are in Christ. It would not surprise me if that knowledge is what was behind the Apostle Paul encouraging believers to "pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17)." That means pray when you wake up, pray in the shower, pray at breakfast, pray on your way to work, pray at work, pray on your way home, pray at dinner and pray before bed. If it is on your mind to speak to the Lord, then do it. Nobody even has to know you are praying. Remember, we "do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Rom 8:26)." It is not about our use of fancy words or being seen my men when we pray. It is simply a time of focusing on the Lord in order to be comforted by Him and seek His guidance. And, honestly, it can also be a time to just vent, cry or throw our hands up in frustration and scream "Help!" It is all good and God doesn't mind. Parents often remind their children that they can come to them with anything and be accepted. It is not any different with our Father in Heaven. Be blessed.
Q: Is it ok to ask God "why"? If so, does that that mean we have no faith if we do ask Him "why"?
A: Yes, it is okay to ask God "why?" and it is doesn't mean we lack faith. It is fitting that these questions are asked the day after Father's Day. For anybody with children, they know that one of a child's favorite questions is to ask is "Why?" Thankfully, God has infinitely more patience than we do since the constant barrage of questions can become overwhelming, but we know it is the only way a child knows how to learn. Asking "why" means a child/person is seeking the cause or reason for something. If someone were to give us a treasure chest we would ask "why?" Well, God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Ptr 1:3) and blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph 1:3)." Our natural response would be to ask why God has done all this for us. God did all this because He loves us. Our lives then become one of discovery, just like a child, as we learn all we have in Him.
One of the best truths to remember in all this is that in the midst of our discovering of all we have been given, if along the way, we lack faith, God is still faithful. "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (1 Cor 1:9)." How often does a child rebel against their parents because they don't understand something? Yet, when they do the parent stays faithful to their child waiting for them to come around so they can reason with them. For example, God changed Jacob's name to Israel "because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome (Gen 32:28)." We have seen Israel, as a nation of Jews, over the centuries be anything, but faithful to God. But, God has remained faithful to them even to this day. It is no different with us as Christians. When we ask God "Why?" whether from a heart of inquiry or a lack of faith, God is still there with us. "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Heb 10:23)." It is humbling to know how much God loves us.
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