"Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 Just as it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:26-39 NASB
I looked at Romans 12 this morning, just as we've been challenged to read each day, and in the midst of reading it, was drawn to the words Chip Ingram used in his first video. That Chapters 1-11 lead into Chapter 12 that we were in and that his book and video series were about. I went back to chapter 8.
Have been thinking about this new RBB Systems Prayer Group that began yesterday. Was incredibly in awe of God's timing in yesterday's verse of the day.
"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13 NASB
We are a society that is gorged on videos and so-called reality shows. Original movies really are far and away a rarity.
I look at the streams of life, the ways that this world is consumed with things that bring about anxiety, unrest, that are intended to make the world look for some leader to tell them what to do. If you’ve read your Bible at all, that's no coincidence.
I also look at people a lot. I observe far more than I speak about.
Satan's the one behind the idea of fate. Of coincidence. Of time-through-chance.
He is all smoke and mirrors.
To distract the believers of this world by way of material things and thinking, to get them away from their first love, which is Jesus Christ. To discourage and to attempt self-condemnation. To cause them, in any and all ways to be ineffective for the Plan of God the Father.
He also works on keeping those who don't yet believe to stay that way. By his many false convincing proofs.
We can easily be overcome if it's just us in this battle. If we are attempting to handle life on our own.
As this part of Romans 8 begins...I don't know exactly how to pray. It would be nice, in a selfish way, if we just knew words to say and that Jesus would verbally tell us yes or no. Made for television programs often portray Christian prayers that way.
Reality is we don't know how to pray any more than the Disciples, and like them, we can ask!
I felt lead to start that prayer group at work. Coasting along in life isn't walking by faith. Coasting along and doing whatever happens isn't living by faith.
Many in my life erroneously have tried saying "God will not give you more than you can handle". Read that part of Romans 8 again. If we were not given more than we could handle then the works of God would not be evident in our lives.
We were promised ahead of time that life would be rough as a believer, but also too, a heart and life set on obedience to Jesus Christ would be taken care of.
When we walk by faith and not by sight, it's then that we see God's hands in our lives.
Our lives, throughout the conflicts that WILL happen in it ought to cause people to wonder how it is we aren't falling apart when the reality of what they perceive happening to us says that we should be falling apart.
We have a responsibility not to blend in with the world, but to reflect a life lived for the One who saved us. That's our reality.
Where are you in walking by faith?
Does life move you enough that your prayers need the Spirit to intercede for you?
Are you so wrapped up in trying to build a slice of Heaven here on Earth that you're not being what God intends you to be?
Are you so worried about your health, your job, your relationships that you've never truly taken those things to the cross of Christ to deal with?
Reality is this world is going to follow God's intended plan for it. We aren't going to find extraterrestrial life. We aren't going to live on the Moon or Mars. We aren't going to solve the problem of world peace. We won't stop wars and rumors of wars. We are here for a purpose in this moment of history. To live out lives that are all-in for Christ Jesus. We are looking to be just as much fisher's of men and women as Jesus was and taught the Disciples to be.
It's going to likely be rough. It might not be. It's either a blessing or not if your life isn't rough.
I have on occasion had opened in prayer but didn't have the words to say. I pray more often than I used to. It's no sign of weakness. It's asking for strength in ways that we cannot see yet.
Are you living in the past? Stop.
Are you living with an overwhelming desire to secure your future? Stop.
Live in the here and now as an obedient Christ Follower. Live a life that is about seeking to show Jesus to this world. Live out your part of Romans 12. The desire of your heart will be something that pleases God when we seek to be what we are intended to be. God's will is for your sanctification, not necessarily your satisfaction. His Will is to reflect Jesus in you to the point that is what the world sees in you.
Reality is much different than what's seen on TV. Reality is we need to depend on Jesus. Reality is when we try to do it ourselves we find little to no joy in it.
Reality isn't what Satan wants people to know. Reality isn't defined by him.
Scripture says to seek the Lord Jesus while He can still be found. A time is quickly approaching when He is going to return and take those who are truly believers with Him.
Reality is you are either trying to live for you or live for Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment