Jesus Offers Discernment

 

Jesus Offers Discernment

CHRIST IS THE KING SERIES

MATTHEW 7:1-5

 THEME:  When we reject a false righteousness, it will enable us to reject a false system of judgment also.

RELEVANCE:  The Lord wants us to exercise wise judgment regarding ourselves, other people, and the Lord himself.

INTRODUCTION: “They have a right to censure that have a heart to help.” -- William Penn

1. This is a final illustration of Pharisee’s practices pertaining to judging. The Pharisees were then judging Christ and finding Him to be inadequate. He was not offering the kind of kingdom they anticipated or asking for the kind of righteousness they were exhibiting. So, they rejected Him. Jesus therefore warned them against hypocritical judging.

2. This passage does not teach that judgments should never be made; Matthew 7:5 does speak of removing the speck from your brother’s eye. The Lord’s point was that a person should not be habitually critical or condemnatory of a speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye when he has a plank in his own eye. Such action is hypocritical. Though judgment is sometimes needed, those making the distinctions must first be certain with their own lives.

3. Furthermore when seeking to help another, one must exercise care to do what would be appropriate, appreciated, and beneficial. One should never entrust holy things (what is sacred) to unholy people (Phil. 3:2) or throw pearls to pigs.

4. The scribes and Pharisees were guilty of exercising a false judgment about themselves, other people, and even the Lord. Their false righteousness helped to encourage this false judgment. This explains why our Lord closed this important sermon with a discussion of judgment. In it He discussed four different aspects of judgment: discernment, dynamics, discretion, and discipline.

MESSAGE:

I.               Discernment: Judge Yourself Before You Judge Others (Matt. 7:1-6).

The first principle of judgment is that we begin with ourselves. Jesus did not forbid us to judge others, for careful discrimination is essential in the Christian life. Christian love is not blind (Phil. 1:9–10). The person who believes all that he hears, and accepts everyone who claims to be spiritual will experience confusion and great spiritual loss. But before we judge others, we must judge ourselves. There are several reasons for this.

Discernment is keenness in seeing and understanding for the purpose of good and shrewd judgment. The eyes of our soul require a discernment whereby we can instantly read the character of others. 

a.    Consider the Personal Repercussions (vs. 1-2)

                                                    i.     We Shall Be Judged (v. 1).

a.      The tense of the verb judged signifies a once-for-all final judgment. If we first judge ourselves, then we are preparing for that final judgment when we face God.

b.     The Pharisees “played God” as they condemned other people; but they never considered that God would one day judge them. 

                                                  ii.     We Are Being Judged (v. 2).

a.      The parallel passage in Luke 6:37–38 is helpful here.

                                                                                                                i.     Luke 6:37-38, Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: [38] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

                                                                                                              ii.     Not only will God judge us at the end, but people are also judging us right now; and we receive from people exactly what we give. 

b.     The kind of judgment, and the measure of judgment, comes right back to us. We reap what we have sown.

                                                iii.     We Must Not Be Judgmental (Matt 7:1-2).

a.      The word “judge” can mean evaluate or analyze. It also refers to private, judgmental attitudes that tear down others in order to build up oneself. 

b.     The command “judge not” does not refer to judging in a court of law, nor is it a blanket statement against critical thinking.

                                                                                                                i.     Believers should be discerning and make certain judgments.

                                                                                                              ii.     For example, Jesus said to expose false teachers (Matt. 7:15-23) and to admonish others in order to help them (Matt. 18:15).

                                                                                                            iii.     Paul taught that we should exercise church discipline (1Cor 5:1-5).

                                                                                                            iv.     Judgment is appropriate when confronting sin (1Cor. 5:12). 

c.      But as followers of Christ, we should not be critical or condemning in our attitudes toward others.

                                                                                                                i.     A judgmental, critical spirit differs radically from love.

                                                                                                              ii.     Believers’ special position with Christ does not give us license to take God’s place as judge.

1.     Those who judge in that manner will find themselves judged likewise by God. As God will have mercy on the merciful (Matt. 5:7) and forgive those who forgive (Matt. 6:14-15), he will condemn those who condemn (Matt. 7:2b).

2.     The way we as Jesus’ followers treat others is the way God will treat us. 

                                                                                                            iii.     The religious leaders taught that God judged the world by two “measures” -- mercy and justice. Each person receives what he or she measures out, either with mercy or with severity. 

d.     “Judge not, that you be not judged” may be the most-often-misquoted text from the Bible.

                                                                                                                i.     People frequently apply it as if it were a flat command against all moral judgment.

                                                                                                              ii.     In fact, people use it to judge what they consider a judgmental attitude on the part of another.

                                                                                                            iii.     Jesus, however, gave these words as one negative application of the Golden Rule. That is, we should not treat others as we do not want to be treated. We should seek to measure ourselves and others by the same standards. 

e.      Jesus declared it unacceptable to excuse our personal sin while holding others accountable for similar behavior.

                                                                                                                i.     When you perceive a fault in others, your first impulse may be to confront or reject that person. But ask yourself first if your awareness of the failure mirrors your own life.

                                                                                                              ii.     Your effort to help will be in vain if the person can point out the same fault in you. Practice your own remedy before you ask others to do it. 

f.      Jesus tells us to examine our motives and conduct instead of judging others.

                                                                                                                i.     The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we dislike in ourselves.

1.     Our untamed bad habits and behaviors are the very ones that we most want to change in others.

2.     Do you find it easy to magnify others’ faults while excusing your own? 

                                                                                                              ii.     If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism. Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.

b.    Consider a Personal Examination (vs. 3-5)

                                                    i.     We Must See Clearly To Help Others (Vv. 3–5).

a.      The purpose of self-judgment is to prepare us to serve others. Christians are obligated to help each other grow in grace.

b.     When we do not judge ourselves, we not only hurt ourselves, but we also hurt those to whom we could minister.

c.      The Pharisees judged and criticized others to make themselves look good (Luke 18:9–14). But Christians should judge themselves so that we can help others look good. There is a difference!

                                                  ii.     Our Lord Jesus Illustrates This Very Point With The Eye.

a.      Jesus chose the symbol of the eye because this is one of the most sensitive areas of the human body.

                                                                                                                i.     The picture of a man with a two-by-four stuck in his eye, trying to remove a speck of dust from another man’s eye, is ridiculous indeed!

                                                                                                              ii.     If we do not honestly face up to our own sins, and confess them, we blind ourselves to ourselves; and then we cannot see clearly enough to help others.

                                                                                                            iii.     The Pharisees saw the sins of other people, but they would not look at their own sins. 

b.     In Matthew 6:22–23, Jesus used the illustration of the eye to teach us how to have a spiritual outlook on life. 

c.      Jesus didn't point out our sinfulness so we would simply let each other off more easily.

                                                                                                                i.     He made it clear that a problem noticed usually requires more than one person's response. Both speck and log must be removed.

                                                                                                              ii.     The person with the speck-sized problem may actually be in a better position to help remove the log than the other way around.

                                                                                                            iii.     This means that when you notice a problem in someone else's life, you may have to ask that person to help you with the same problem in your own. A problem in common can be an excellent starting point for accountability. 

                                                iii.     We Must Not Pass Judgment On Others’ Motives.

a.      We should examine their actions and attitudes, but we cannot judge their motives—for only God can see their hearts.

                                                                                                                i.     It is possible for a person to do a good work with a bad motive.

                                                                                                              ii.     It is also possible to fail in a task and yet be very sincerely motivated. 

b.     When we stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat, He will examine the secrets of the heart and reward us accordingly.

                                                                                                                i.     Romans 2:16, In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

                                                                                                              ii.     Col. 3:22-25, Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: [23] And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; [24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. [25] But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. 

                                                 iv.     We Must Be Loving and Tender When Helping Others.

a.      The image of the eye teaches us another truth: We must exercise love and tenderness when we seek to help others (Eph. 4:15).

                                                                                                                i.     I have had extensive eye examinations, and I appreciated the tenderness of the physicians. Like eye doctors, we should minister to people we want to help with tender loving care.

                                                                                                              ii.     We can do more damage than a speck of dirt in the eye if we approach others with impatience and insensitivity. 

b.     Two extremes must be avoided in this matter of spiritual self-examination.

                                                                                                                i.     The first is the deception of a shallow examination.

1.     Sometimes we are so sure of ourselves that we fail to examine our hearts honestly and thoroughly.

2.     A quick glance into the mirror of the Word will never reveal the true situation (James 1:22–25). 

                                                                                                              ii.     The second extreme is what I call a “perpetual autopsy.”

1.     Sometimes we get so wrapped up in self-examination that we become unbalanced. But we should not look only at ourselves, or we will become discouraged and defeated.

2.     We should look by faith to Jesus Christ and let Him forgive and restore us. Satan is the accuser (Rev. 12:10), and he enjoys it when we accuse and condemn ourselves!

                                                                                                            iii.     Our personal priority must be addressing ourselves first (vs. 5). After we have judged ourselves honestly before God, and have removed those things that blind us, then we can help others and properly judge their works. But if we know there are sins in our lives, and we try to help others, we are hypocrites. In fact, it is possible for ministry to be a device to cover up sin! The Pharisees were guilty of this, and Jesus denounced them for it.

c.     Consider Your Personal Perception (vs. 5-6)

                                                    i.     The Reason We Must Judge Relates to Our Ministry of ‘Holy Things.’ (v. 6).

a.      As God’s people, we are privileged to handle the “holy things” of the Lord.

                                                                                                                i.     He has entrusted to us the precious truths of the Word of God (2 Cor. 4:7), and we must regard them carefully.

1.     2 Cor. 4:7, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

2.     No dedicated priest would throw meat from the altar to a filthy dog, and only a fool would give pearls to a pig.

3.     So who are these “dogs” and “swine”? (Matt 7:6)

a.      They are unholy or “unclean” people who, when presented with the gospel, treat it with scorn and contempt.

b.     “That which is holy” refers to the special, consecrated food that only the priests and their families ate (Ex 29:33-34; Lev 22:10-16; Num 18:8-19). It would be unthinkable to give this sacred food to scavenger dogs.

c.      In the same way, it would also be futile to give pearls to pigs. “That which is holy” and “pearls” picture the teaching of the gospel of the kingdom (see 13:45-46 where the kingdom of heaven is compared to a pearl of great value). 

4.     Jesus explained the futility of teaching the gospel to people who do not want to listen; such people will only tear apart what we say.

a.      Pigs do not realize the value of pearls; all they know is that they cannot eat them, so they spit them out and then trample them into the mud.

b.     Contemptuous, evil people cannot grasp the value of the gospel, so they scornfully cast it away.

c.      We should not stop giving God's Word to unbelievers, but we should be wise and discerning so as not to bring scorn to God's message. 

                                                                                                              ii.     When Is Evangelism Wrong? Is evangelism ever inappropriate?

1.     Sometimes our witnessing requires discretion. There are times and places when witnessing can be rude and offensive. As a result, the gospel will be ridiculed.

2.     When you witness, there will always be resistance to the message. Don't be put off. Resistance is normal.

3.     But when your witness provokes anger, slander, or ridicule, consider another time and place.

4.     All people need to hear the gospel, but effective witnessing occurs in appropriate settings.

b.     While it is true that we must carry the Gospel “to every creature” (Mark 16:15)….

                                                                                                                i.     It is also true that we must not cheapen the Gospel by a ministry that lacks discernment and appropriateness.

                                                                                                              ii.     Even Jesus refused to talk to Herod (Luke 23:9), and Paul refused to argue with people who resisted the Word (Acts 13:44–49). 

                                                  ii.     The Reason For Judgment Is to Have a Discerning Ministry.

a.      It is not that we might condemn others, but that we might be able to minister to them appropriately.

b.     Notice that Jesus always dealt with individuals according to their needs and their spiritual condition.

                                                                                                                i.     He did not have a memorized speech that He used with everybody. He discussed the new birth with Nicodemus, but He spoke of living water to the Samaritan woman at the well.

                                                                                                              ii.     When the religious leaders tried to trap Him, He refused to answer their question (Matt. 21:23–27).

                                                                                                            iii.     It is a wise Christian who first assesses the condition of a person’s heart before sharing the precious pearls. 

c.      Christians must exercise discernment; for not everyone is a sheep. Some people are dogs or hogs, and some are wolves in sheep’s clothing! We are the Lord’s sheep, but this does not mean we should let people pull the wool over our eyes!   

CONCLUSION:

When we reject phony righteousness, we become able to eliminate false systems or sanctimonious standards of judgment also. Our Lord invites us to exercise wise, loving, sensitive, compassionate discernment towards ourselves and other people. Will you accept his generous invitation? 

Consistency: an Aspect of Trust

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17

SUBJECT: Cultivating the Christian Attitude of Trust

THEME: We can foster the spiritual attitude of Trust by praying without ceasing; infusing prayer with consistency!

INTRODUCTION: Finally, we take our focus and train it thoughtfully on the idea of consistency and trust as we learn to pray without ceasing. I have encouraged each of us to infuse our prayer experience with communion and confidence. We commune deeply with those we trust and we have confidence in those who are worthy of trust—faithful. We have seen that on both counts God can be trusted as we “pray without ceasing.” Now I want to explore the role of consistency relative to trust while observing carefully how this relates to prayer. Trust is so important to how we function….

Referring to this very idea Dr. Covey says,

There is one thing that is common to every individual, relationship, team, family, organization, nation, economy, and civilization throughout the world—one thing which, if removed, will destroy the most powerful government, the most successful business, the most thriving economy, the most influential leadership, the greatest friendship, the strongest character, the deepest love. On the other hand, if developed and leveraged, that one thing has the potential to create unparalleled success and prosperity in every dimension of life. Yet, it is the least understood, most neglected, and most underestimated possibility of our time. That one thing is trust.[1]

If his statement feels a little overstated then please read it again slowly thinking about recent instances where there were violations of trust. Think about your personal experiences and those of your associates. What about state and national abuses of trust by government officials? While we are in the neighborhood, consider the degrading trust in the news media? Ponder further the aftermath, the climate in the wake of such breeches…. Yes, trust is so vital to how we function in society. It is also vitally important to our Christian development.

RELEVANCE: As Christians our inner life is deeply important to God and our spiritual welfare—attitudes, motives, and behaviors are equally weighty aspects of our growth in grace. Doing the right things and being the right person should be in harmony. You may recall how our inner lives are to be consecrated to the glory of our Lord God. Praying without ceasing enables us to commune with God, express full confidence in him, and become reliable as we develop consistent prayer habits.

FOSTER THE ATTITUDE OF TRUST THROUGH PRAYER  

First Thessalonians 5:17 again says, “Pray without ceasing.” The imperative is to sustain frequent and regular prayers as a part of a consistent prayer life. This is not continuous uninterrupted prayer by an individual, but living in an atmosphere of communion with God and with an attitude of prayerfulness—the ability to connect with God at any time and from any place.

The Apostle Paul commands, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints^[2]” (Eph. 6:18). He is urging believers to engage and even triumph in supernatural warfare with prayer as a major feature of battle strategy against our spirit-enemies. Please note Dr. MacDonald’s commentary on this fascinatingly powerful passage,

Prayer is not mentioned as a part of the armor; but we would not be overrating its importance if we say that it is the atmosphere in which the soldier must live and breathe. It is the spirit in which he must don the armor and face the foe. Prayer should be continual, not sporadic; a habit, not an isolated act. Then too the soldier should use all kinds of prayer: public and private; deliberate and spontaneous; supplication and intercession; confession and humiliation; praise and thanksgiving.

And prayer should be in the Spirit, that is, inspired and led by Him. Formal prayers recited merely by rote (without giving thought to their meaning)—of what value are they in combat against the hosts of hell? There must be vigilance in prayer: watchful to this end. We must watch against drowsiness, mind-wandering, and preoccupation with other things. Prayer requires spiritual keenness, alertness, and concentration. And there must be perseverance in prayer. We must keep on asking, seeking, knocking (Luke 11:9). Supplication should be made for all the saints. They are engaged in the conflict too, and need to be supported in prayer by their fellow soldiers.^[3]

With prayer being such a vital part of our Christian experience, we must devote thought and energy to be well exercised in it. So, how may be continue to build trust through prayers?

Thesis: We can foster the spiritual attitude of Trust by praying without ceasing; that is infusing prayer with consistency!

LESSON:

I.               Foster the Attitude of Trust through Prayer Consistency

A.    Another Great Reason for Praying without Ceasing is to have Consistency!

                                                  1.     I wish to lay out some parameters on the idea of consistency in prayer and its relationship to trust. The Lord commands and fully expects consistency of his people (Duet. 8:1), and when we do so we demonstrate a palpable fear of the Lord (Neh. 5:9). By serving consistently we prove our hearts’ devotion to one singular Master (Matt. 6:24), and deliver ourselves from criticism and suspicion of hypocrisy and deception (Rom. 14:22; 1 Cor. 10:21). Since our Lord has commanded us to “pray without ceasing,” it stands to reason we must be consistent. Consistent regarding our character, habits of prayer, relationships of intercession, and consistent with our Lord’s will. We simultaneously will have a consistent testimony delivering ourselves from any accusations of pretense, deception, insincerity, and even our love for expediency.

                                                  2.     Beloved, one persistent complaint against the people of God is that we say one thing and do another, we promise to pray for others but we fail to follow through, and such inconsistencies are hypocritical and deceptive! How can anyone truly trust us with praying for their heartfelt needs? How can God lay a prayer burden on people who generally cannot be counted on to follow through? Can our Lord depend on us to pray it through to fruition? How will the hard, inconvenient, time consuming, impossible, and chronic challenges we face ever be amended if expedience is our decisive criteria (Matt. 17:20-21)? How can we pray fruitfully without planning, scheduling, and sanctifying times…specific occasions and seasons for prayer? It is not my goal to dictate another’s devotional or prayer habits or how frequently you should pray each day. But simply to urge each of us to settle these significant matters before our Lord.

                                                  3.     So then, how may we be consistent to Almighty God and those we pray for? How may we become dependable prayer warriors who battle fervently and effectively on our knees (Jam. 5:16-18)? By what strategy may we develop a tenacious heart to pray God’s will on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10)? How can we have a consistent prayer life? One way to practice and cultivate prayer consistency is to “pray without ceasing” (1Thess. 5:17). We must move beyond merely affirming or commending prayer as a worthy spiritual discipline to actually practicing this holy habit consistently. While it is good to value prayer, it is better to pray!

                                                  4.     4667 Spurgeon’s Heating Apparatus

C. H. Spurgeon was showing some visitors over the Tabernacle (London). After taking them to the main part of the building, he said, “Come, and I’ll show you the heating apparatus.” Imagine their surprise, when he took them to a room where four hundred were gathered in a prayer meeting. The church with warmth of spirit must have the warmth-producing prayer meeting.—Al Bryant[4]

B.    Pray Consistently as an Exercise of Trust and Service

                                                  1.     We tend to trust people who come through consistently, and others will trust us with their needs if we pray consistently.

                                                  2.     We strive to be consistent because we desire to be worthy of trust; we want the Lord to trust us with prayer burdens and assignments and being consistent in prayer brings us into vital alignment with the character of real prayer warriors and the work of our Lord.

                                                  3.     4596 Myconius’ Dream

                                                             When Martin Luther set out on the work which shook the world, his friend Myconius expressed sympathy. “But,” he said, “I can best help where I am. I will remain and pray while you toil.” Myconius prayed day by day, but as he prayed he began to feel uncomfortable.

One night he had a dream. He thought the Saviour himself approached and showed him his hands and feet. He saw the fountain in which he had been cleansed from sin. Then looking earnestly into his eyes the Saviour said, “Follow me.” The Lord took him to a lofty mountain and pointed eastward. Looking in that direction Myconius saw a plain stretching away to the horizon. It was dotted with white sheep—thousands and thousands of them. One man was trying to shepherd them all. The man was Luther. The Saviour pointed westward. Myconius saw a great field of standing corn. One reaper was trying to harvest it all. The lonely laborer was spent and exhausted, but still he persisted in his task. Myconius recognized in the solitary reaper his old friend Luther.

“It is not enough,” said Myconius when he awakened, “that I should pray. The sheep must be shepherded; the fields must be reaped. Here am I; send me.” And he went out and shared his old friend’s labors.—Fiery Crags, by Boreham^[5]

                                                  4.    Prayer consistency evidences a real trust in the Lord; therefore, we approach his throne of grace…often…consistently. An unswerving prayer life is a definite expression of trust in the Lord's love, character, wisdom, and power! Our Lord will come through concerning all aspects of his excellent will. This much we know without even a ‘stitch of doubt.’ Prayer is powerful because it is rooted...deeply rooted in the awesome character and nature of the Almighty. Beloved, these realities motivate us to pray without ceasing!

C.    Look to the Word of God for Instruction and Encouragement to Pray Consistently

                                                  1.     Luke 18:1-8, And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; ² Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: ³ And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. ⁴ And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; ⁵ Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. ⁶ And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. ⁷ And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? ⁸ I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?^[6]

                                                  2.     Luke 21:34-36, And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. ³⁵ For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.^[7]

                                                  3.     Romans 12:12, Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer^[8]

                                                  4.     Ephes. 6:18-20, Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; ¹⁹ And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ For which I am an ambassador ^xin bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.^[9] (Also see Col. 4:2-4)

                                                  5.     Many other passages are applicable here as well. Use the holy Book to stir you and encourage you to engage God consistently…to intercede for others regularly…to carry a prayer burden until God comes through to execute his grand plans. Bible personalities like Daniel, Moses, Nehemiah, David, Ezra, and of course the Lord Jesus have guided me and helped me to pray far more consistently. Their recorded prayers are certainly worth the time when we meditate upon them. I have collected a number of such verses in my prayer binder to remind me of these obligations, responsibilities, opportunities, possibilities, and privileges associated with prayer to God. Along with a number of such passages, I have devotions on prayer to read and review in my prayer binder. These help me to focus on the nature and power of prayer and the blessings of interceding for others. Remember, prayer and the Word always go together; the two fuel each other and our prayer lives become quite deliberate and consistent.

D.    Be Careful to Establish a Time and Place for Prayer

                                                  1.     There should be a definite daily scheduled period of prayer. It is simply choosing the habit of conversing with God daily once we initially engage Him. It is appropriate to cry out to the Lord early on in our day to greet each day by calling upon Him. For many of us, we start praying soon after we awake.

                                                  2.     Our first season of formally praying from a list or from our journal is really a continuation of our “Good Morning Lord” prayer. Still…starting our day practicing real faith and recognizing the all-important presence of the Lord is so vital. What we start initially we can practice periodically throughout the day. It is an exercise of real trust and confidence in the Lord God.

                                                  3.     4618 Take Three 15-Minutes

When Billy Sunday was converted and joined the church, a Christian man put his arm on the young man’s shoulder and said, “William, there are three simple rules I can give to you, and if you will hold to them you will never write “backslider” after your name.

“Take 15 minutes each day to listen to God talking to you; take 15 minutes each day to talk to God; take 15 minutes each day to talk to others about God.”

This young convert was deeply impressed and determined to make these the rules of his life. From that day onward throughout his life he made it a rule to spend the first moments of his day alone with God and God’s Word. Before he read a letter, looked at a paper or even read a telegram, he went first to the Bible, that the first impression of the day might be what he got directly from God.^[10]

E.    Live each day in a Spirit of Prayer

                                                  1.     We should maintain an attitude of prayerfulness throughout our day. Continuing in fellowship and sweet communion with God is the idea—He becomes your constant companion in every experience. Call God up early in your day, and keep Him on the phone throughout your day!

                                                  2.     Your relationship with God will become more real and meaningful with this attitude of trust, dependence, and prayerfulness. Beloved, we must never stop looking to the Lord. There is no occasion where we are justified in giving up on the Lord. Periodically, repeatedly, and constantly throughout our days we take all of our concerns to the throne of grace confident we will obtain mercy and secure grace to aid us as the needs arise.

                                                  3.     Clearly, we should pray in a recurring fashion. Extemporaneously praying as needs arise, to confess sins, and to express thanksgiving and praise throughout our day are the habits all of God's people must cultivate. Instead of worrying we pray. Another option to living independently is persisting quite dependently upon the Lord. Refusing to 'handle it yourself', choosing instead to take it to the Lord in prayer.

                                                  4.     A person with a hacking cough would be a good illustration of this valuable discipline of ‘praying without ceasing.’ The audible cough is not always heard, but the tendency to cough is always there, so the Christian who prays without ceasing is not always audibly praying, but praying is always the attitude of his or her heart and life. We live in communion with the Lord; sharing each moment in His presence is a sheer honor. If we are truly anticipating His return, we will converse with Him consistently and continually.

F.     Be Mindful to Pray according to God’s Will and Promises

                                                  1.     1 John 5:14-15, And this is the confidence [boldness and courage even in intimidating circumstances] that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁵ And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.^[11]

                                                  2.     To practice praying the will of God, we will need to be students of the Scriptures. To be truly consistent we must pray the will of God. Clearly God has revealed his heart and mind there. You can certainly discern his will by being well acquainted with his holy Book. His promises tell us exactly what he wants to do. God’s commands tell us precisely what he wants us to do. His encouragements assure us that our needs are provided for; all we need to do is appropriate his allocations by faith. Our Father’s plan includes abundant life for his people in this age of grace.

                                                  3.     4609 Lincoln’s Serenity

The fate of the nation was hanging precariously in the balances. General Lee and his army had surged forward to the environs of Gettysburg, where the fateful, decisive battle of the Civil War was in the making. The sorrows and burdens of the war-torn nation had exacted its terrible toll on the occupant of the White House, Abraham Lincoln. Yet, on the eve of the crucial Battle of Gettysburg, he was calm and assured. His serenity was reassuring to his generals.

When they inquired, “How can you be so self-possessed in this hour of the nation’s mortal peril and darkness?” Lincoln said, “I spent last night in prayer before the Lord. He has given to me the assurance that our cause will triumph and that the nation will be preserved!”—Selected[12]

CONCLUSION:

Paul’s wise counsel to believers and churches is to “pray without ceasing” (1Thes 5:17). We can foster the spiritual attitude of Trust by praying without ceasing; that is, infusing our prayers with holy consistency—reliability…dependability!

Since our Lord has commanded us to “pray without ceasing,” it is incumbent upon us to be consistent. That is, consistent in our character, habits of prayer, relationships of intercession, and consistent with our Lord’s will. We simultaneously will have a consistent testimony delivering ourselves from any accusations of pretense, deception, insincerity, and even our love for expediency.

As I bring this article and this series to a close, please remember the truth that being consistent in prayer is organically linked to real trust in God and growing reliability in our character. The Lord fully prescribes consistency of character to his people (Duet. 8:1), and when we are reliable in prayer we unquestionably demonstrate a substantial fear of the Lord that moves us to faithfulness (Neh. 5:9). If our service and prayers are stamped with consistency we provide indisputable evidence of heartfelt consecration to a singular Lord and Master (Matt. 6:24)…we look to him faithfully, we trust him deeply and pursue his will alone! Such prayer warriors clean escape any notions or insinuations of hypocrisy and deception (Rom. 14:22; 1 Cor. 10:21).

Let us decide to “pray without ceasing,” in obedience to our Lord. We are not slaves to convenience and expediency. So…do you find that you promise to pray for others but fail to follow through? Can family and friends trust you with praying for their needs? Can God Almighty lay a prayer burden on you for a people, country, or a sector of his mission field? Are you willing to prayer-tackle the hard, inconvenient, time consuming, impossible, and chronic challenges of your life, family or church?  Can God count on you to do right event though it’s not easy, fun, convenient, or popular (Matt. 17:20-21)? Will you plan, schedule, and sanctifying time…specific occasions and seasons for prayer?

One way to practice and cultivate consistency is to “pray without ceasing” (1Thess. 5:17). What about your prayer habits? Do you pray without ceasing? God fully expects us, his children, to engage him and come to him in prayer regularly. You get to enjoy communion with your heavenly Father. You may cry out to him with confidence at any time. You can pray consistently because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Go ahead and trust our heavenly Father implicitly and explicitly...it really is okay. Beloved, a pervasive trust in the Almighty is an essential attitude for you and me to cultivate. Please do not allow dull routine and mere prayer rituals rob you of a vibrant and fruitful life with our Father at the center of it!

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[1] Covey, Stephen M.R. (2006). The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything

^[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 6:18–20). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[3] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1953). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[4] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1070). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

^[5] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1054). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

^[6] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Lk 18:1–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[7] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Lk 21:34–36). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[8] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 12:12). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[9] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 6:18–20). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[10] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (pp. 1058–1059). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

^[11] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Jn 5:14–15). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[12] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (pp. 1056–1057). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.