chapter 24
"Let each disciple of Jesus seek to avail himself of the rights of his royal priesthood, and use the power placed at his disposal for his circle and his work. Let Christians awake and hear the message: your prayer can obtain what otherwise will be withheld, can accomplish what otherwise remains undone."
Again, this is simply encouraging. It takes prayer out of something we do in order not to feel guilty or something we do to check in with God. It is a place where things CHANGE. It is a place where God wants to meet with us, tell us His heart, and effect change in our lives and in the lives of others.
I loved what Murray said earlier in the chapter about how much God trusts us because He has given us His name. I oftentimes think the Lord is a bit crazy for what He has entrusted to us, but it is also inspiring to have the creator of the universe on your side. I want all of us to be awakened to just how great God is towards us, and as we are, our prayers will change. Instead of coming into the place of prayer thinking that we have to convince God to do something, I want us coming to Him convinced that He is for us and will accomplish what we are asking for in His name.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
23
Chapter 23
"The one thing He commands us as His branches is to bear fruit. Let us live to bless others, to testify of the life and the love there is in Jesus. Let us in faith and obedience give our whole life to that which Jesus chose us for and appointed us to - fruit bearing."
So, my guess is that most of us would not pick many parts from this chapter and put it on a bumper sticker. It was a tough word, but a true word. Obedience is our call and our way to honor God. His commands, though, are not impossible - if we walk by the spirit, then they become what we WANT to do not what we HAVE to do. The key is surrender because we cannot accomplish the commands of God by our own strength.
"The one thing He commands us as His branches is to bear fruit. Let us live to bless others, to testify of the life and the love there is in Jesus. Let us in faith and obedience give our whole life to that which Jesus chose us for and appointed us to - fruit bearing."
So, my guess is that most of us would not pick many parts from this chapter and put it on a bumper sticker. It was a tough word, but a true word. Obedience is our call and our way to honor God. His commands, though, are not impossible - if we walk by the spirit, then they become what we WANT to do not what we HAVE to do. The key is surrender because we cannot accomplish the commands of God by our own strength.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
22
Chapter 22
"The chief thing is, not to know what God has said we must do, but that God Himself says it to us. It is not the law, and not the book, not the knowledge of what is right, that works obedience, but the personal influence of God and His living fellowship. And even so it is not the knowledge of what God has promised, but the presence of God Himself as the Promiser, that awakens faith and trust in prayer."
Thanks, A.M., for this common but crucial reminder that the Word of God is actually WORDS FROM GOD. He has not only spoken them, but He still speaks them today. The Word is current to us because the author is still speaking from His heart through His book. This reminds us that as we learn to pray, the Word should be vital to us because it is an incredible avenue to communicate with God. If one of the big points is to pray the will of God, then the Bible should become part of our language and response to God in intercession.
"The chief thing is, not to know what God has said we must do, but that God Himself says it to us. It is not the law, and not the book, not the knowledge of what is right, that works obedience, but the personal influence of God and His living fellowship. And even so it is not the knowledge of what God has promised, but the presence of God Himself as the Promiser, that awakens faith and trust in prayer."
Thanks, A.M., for this common but crucial reminder that the Word of God is actually WORDS FROM GOD. He has not only spoken them, but He still speaks them today. The Word is current to us because the author is still speaking from His heart through His book. This reminds us that as we learn to pray, the Word should be vital to us because it is an incredible avenue to communicate with God. If one of the big points is to pray the will of God, then the Bible should become part of our language and response to God in intercession.
21
Chapter 21
"But let us not be discouraged. The abiding of the branch in the vine is a life of never ceasing growth. The abiding, as the Master meant it, is within our reach, for He lives to give it to us."
The past several chapters have been heavily focused on dying to self, selflessness, absolute surrender, etc. And while I appreciate his lessons and agree with him biblically, the tone has been pretty intense. Murray does not beat around the bush, and so he has clearly laid out our path to walking in faith and abiding in the vine - complete life transformation and nothing less.
The reason I picked the quote above is because it reminds us what Christ lives for. If we are to totally sell out and die to our flesh and so on and so on, then, for me, that only makes sense as I remember that Christ has done that for me. Further, His sacrifice and what He gives in exchange for my sacrifice is incomparable, and so it inspires me and puts my choices into a more clear and healthy perspective. He LIVES to give it to us - that is really good news!
"But let us not be discouraged. The abiding of the branch in the vine is a life of never ceasing growth. The abiding, as the Master meant it, is within our reach, for He lives to give it to us."
The past several chapters have been heavily focused on dying to self, selflessness, absolute surrender, etc. And while I appreciate his lessons and agree with him biblically, the tone has been pretty intense. Murray does not beat around the bush, and so he has clearly laid out our path to walking in faith and abiding in the vine - complete life transformation and nothing less.
The reason I picked the quote above is because it reminds us what Christ lives for. If we are to totally sell out and die to our flesh and so on and so on, then, for me, that only makes sense as I remember that Christ has done that for me. Further, His sacrifice and what He gives in exchange for my sacrifice is incomparable, and so it inspires me and puts my choices into a more clear and healthy perspective. He LIVES to give it to us - that is really good news!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
20
chapter 20
"'Do all to the glory of God,' and 'Ask all to the glory of God' - these twin commands are inseperable: obedience to the former is the secret of grace for the latter."
The big question of this chapter is 'what does it mean to 'do all' and 'ask all' to the glory of God? If the glory of God is so important, then how do we do it? I appreciate Murray's answer, which in a nutshell, is dying to self. As a result of this death, according to Murray, our will will be crushed and God's will, via the Holy Spirit, will come through every aspect of our lives. Our life will be His is how he writes it.
While I agree with Murray's answer, his language and stance might be a hiccup for some. Bob made the same point last night in a more digestible way - we are called to walk blameless (with nothing inbetween) before God. Dying to self is often thought of as this terrible lifestyle of hating ourselves and wretching on the floor of the prayer closet in tears. Dying to self certainly has 'death' involved - the death of our flesh - but it is not a death that we are meant to mourn because the death we experienced is replaced by the life of Christ. Instead of your focus being on what needs to die/how hard and painful and impossible it will be, try focusing on the goodness and beauty and mercy of God as your reward. God does not offer His life to us as some bone he is just throwing to us - remember, HE CAME TO US! He wants to give us His life.
hope this helps!
"'Do all to the glory of God,' and 'Ask all to the glory of God' - these twin commands are inseperable: obedience to the former is the secret of grace for the latter."
The big question of this chapter is 'what does it mean to 'do all' and 'ask all' to the glory of God? If the glory of God is so important, then how do we do it? I appreciate Murray's answer, which in a nutshell, is dying to self. As a result of this death, according to Murray, our will will be crushed and God's will, via the Holy Spirit, will come through every aspect of our lives. Our life will be His is how he writes it.
While I agree with Murray's answer, his language and stance might be a hiccup for some. Bob made the same point last night in a more digestible way - we are called to walk blameless (with nothing inbetween) before God. Dying to self is often thought of as this terrible lifestyle of hating ourselves and wretching on the floor of the prayer closet in tears. Dying to self certainly has 'death' involved - the death of our flesh - but it is not a death that we are meant to mourn because the death we experienced is replaced by the life of Christ. Instead of your focus being on what needs to die/how hard and painful and impossible it will be, try focusing on the goodness and beauty and mercy of God as your reward. God does not offer His life to us as some bone he is just throwing to us - remember, HE CAME TO US! He wants to give us His life.
hope this helps!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
19
Chapter 19
"Give yourself, and live, to do the works of Christ and you will learn to pray and so as to obtain wonderful answers to prayer. Give yourself, and live, to pray, and you will learn to do the works He did, and greater works. With disciples full of faith in Himself, and bold in prayer to ask great things, Christ can conquer the world."
This points to what we heard from Steve and what I mentioned on Monday: We must both pray and act. We cannot use prayer as a shield to hide from obeying the commandments of God to go and advance His Kingdom. Yet, we also cannot advance His kindgom with our actions if they are not birthed in and covered by prayer. Our goal is avoid being powerless and prayerless.
As we have fasted and prayed, we have petitioned God for many things. Next week, we will go and seek to stand upon the promises and goodness of God that we have sensed in the place of prayer. I believe that this span of time is extremely important, because we are walking in the balance and blessing of what James spoke of concerning 'faith' and 'works.' Let us continue to seek Him and to also move with Him in the things that He has called us to - it's gonna be good!
"Give yourself, and live, to do the works of Christ and you will learn to pray and so as to obtain wonderful answers to prayer. Give yourself, and live, to pray, and you will learn to do the works He did, and greater works. With disciples full of faith in Himself, and bold in prayer to ask great things, Christ can conquer the world."
This points to what we heard from Steve and what I mentioned on Monday: We must both pray and act. We cannot use prayer as a shield to hide from obeying the commandments of God to go and advance His Kingdom. Yet, we also cannot advance His kindgom with our actions if they are not birthed in and covered by prayer. Our goal is avoid being powerless and prayerless.
As we have fasted and prayed, we have petitioned God for many things. Next week, we will go and seek to stand upon the promises and goodness of God that we have sensed in the place of prayer. I believe that this span of time is extremely important, because we are walking in the balance and blessing of what James spoke of concerning 'faith' and 'works.' Let us continue to seek Him and to also move with Him in the things that He has called us to - it's gonna be good!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
18
Chapter 18:
"Prayer is not merely the cry of the suppliant for mercy; it is the highest forth-putting of his will by man, knowing himself to be of Divine Origin, created for and capable of being, in king-like liberty, the executor of the counsels of the Eternal."
"As image-bearer and representative of God on earth, redeemed man has by his prayers to determine the history of this earth. Man was created, and has now again been redeemed to pray, and by his prayer to have dominion."
Just trying to get my mind around this....
PS - crazy how Murray must have listened to Steve Thompson's messages, isn't it?
"Prayer is not merely the cry of the suppliant for mercy; it is the highest forth-putting of his will by man, knowing himself to be of Divine Origin, created for and capable of being, in king-like liberty, the executor of the counsels of the Eternal."
"As image-bearer and representative of God on earth, redeemed man has by his prayers to determine the history of this earth. Man was created, and has now again been redeemed to pray, and by his prayer to have dominion."
Just trying to get my mind around this....
PS - crazy how Murray must have listened to Steve Thompson's messages, isn't it?
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