The Importance of Prayer

"In God’s name I beseech you let prayer nourish your soul as your meals nourish your body. Let your fixed seasons of prayer keep you in God’s presence through the day, and His presence frequently remembered though it be an ever-fresh spring of prayer.

Such a brief, loving recollection of God renews a man’s whole being, quiets his passions, supplies light and counsel in difficulty, gradually subdues the temper, and causes him to possess his soul in patience, or rather gives it up to the possession of God."

—François Fénelon, 17th century theologian and writer

May you be blessed as you seek the Lord today in prayer.

Roger

An Historical View of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Had Christ not risen we could not believe Him to be what He declared Himself when He "made Himself equal with God." But He has risen in the confirmation of all His claims. By it alone, but by it thoroughly, is He manifested as the very Son of God, who has come into the world to reconcile the world to Himself. It is the fundamental fact in the Christian's unwavering confidence in "all the words of this life."
— Benjamin B. Warfield, pastor and theologian


Benjamin B. Warfield (Nov. 5, 1851 - Feb. 16, 1921) was the principal of Princeton Seminary from 1887 to 1921. Some conservative Presbyterians consider him to be the last of the great Princeton theologians before the split in 1929 that formed Westminster Semiary and the Othodox Presbyterian Church.

For a short time in 1876 he preached in Presbyterian churches in Concord, Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio as a "supply pastor" — the latter church calling him to be their ordained minister (which he politely refused). In late 1876 Warfield and his new wife moved to Germany where he studied under Ernst Luthardt and Franz Delitzsch. Warfield was the assistant pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland for a short time. Then he became an instructor at Western Theological Seminary, which is now called Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He was ordained on April 26, 1879.

In 1881 Warfield wrote a joint article with A. A. Hodge on the inspiration of the Bible. It drew attention because of its scholarly and forceful defense of the inerrancy of the Bible. In many of his writings, Warfield attempted to demonstrate that the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy was simply orthodox Christian teaching, and not merely a concept invented in the nineteenth century. His passion was to refute the liberal element within Presbyterianism and within Christianity at large.

Throughout his life, he continued to write books and articles, which are still widely read today.

May we today, in 2009 continue to stand on the foundational principles of the Christian faith, declaring that Jesus Christ is exactly who he claimed to be: equal to God the Father, God in the flesh, the very Son of God who provides the only way to salvation and everlasting life.

Just as we read in the Holy Scriptures: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Belive, and obey! God Bless,

Roger

PRAYER: The Big Picture

Do you ever get frustrated, discouraged, or disappointed in prayer? I know I have experienced thoughts like: "Does God really hear me? Does He care? Am I just fooling myself that prayer makes a difference?" Those thoughts arise in most of us when going through very difficult times, and not receiving the answers we hoped for, or expected. Well, listen to what C.S. Lewis has to say about prayer, and maybe that would be helpful for you to see the "BIG PICTURE" regarding prayer.

Prayer is either nothing more than an illusion, or a real personal contact between developing, incomplete persons (ourselves) and the utterly whole and complete PERSON (God Almighty).

Prayer in the sense of petition (that is asking for things) is only a small part of what makes up prayer.
Confession and a sense remorse for the wrong we have done is truly the threshold of prayer.
Adoration and worship is the "sanctuary" of prayer.
Experiencing the presence, vision, and enjoyment of God are its bread and wine. At that moment of prayer God actually shows Himself to us.

The fact that He answers prayer is obvious, and not the most important point. The most important point is that He reveals Himself to us. What He does, within the context of relationship, helps us to learn who He is.
(This is my interpretation of what C.S. Lewis says in "The Efficacy of Prayer" in The World's Last Night)

Basically, what I believe C.S. Lewis is saying here is that there is so much more to prayer than just making requests of God. Clearly the Bible supports the action of going to God to make requests, but don't you think God already knows what it is you want? So why pray?

We pray to acknowledge God. We pray to experience God. We pray to thank Him, to worship Him, and give Him glory. We pray to develop a relationship with God. We pray to be in His presence, to begin seeing things through His eyes, to gain His perspective. In the process, He DOES hear our prayers, and immediately begins the process of answering those prayers.

BUT! We have to be careful we don't treat God like some kind of genie in a bottle. Oh how often we wish that we could have a "golden lamp" like Aladdin, and make whatever request we like, and always instantly have what it is we want. But God isn't like that. He loves us, and is developing us, helping us become mature and healthy believers, not a bunch of spoiled brats.

So, know that God does hear you. Know that God is good all the time, and that He really does care about you. He already knows what it is you want, what it is you need, but He requires that we approach him in prayer to achieve the ultimate end: A mature believer in Jesus Christ, living for His purposes, living a life that is pleasing to Him, and bringing glory to His name.

As the Apostle Paul prays for us in Colossians 1:9-12...
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of Light."

That's what God wants for us above all else. Yes, He does answer prayer! But He wants us to become mature in Christ first and foremost.

God Bless, and enjoy your time with God in prayer today.
Roger

The Truth Project

Have you heard of The Truth Project yet? Wow!!! What a great study on understanding our world from a "biblical worldview."

Did you know that the vast majority of Christians in America today DO NOT live their lives from a biblical worldview? Maybe you don't even know what that means. Let me expound on that for a minute. A "biblical worldview" means seeing the world through the lens of the Bible; understanding the word of God in such a way that all things you see, do, and say are influenced by the will and direction of God Himself.

Everyone has a worldview, we all operate in the world through some belief system. The problem comes when we fall for lies versus living according to truth. A worldview is basically truth claims about the world we live in. Listen to the following video clip from The Truth Project about the definition of worldview. The speakers are some of the greatest biblical scholars of our time: R.C. Sproul, Ravi Zacharias, Os Guinness, and Dr. Del Tackett.

Jesus said, "For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me" (John 18:37).

A pretty bold statement indeed! Jesus says if you are on the side of truth you listen to ME! Jesus also said, "I am the way, the truth and the life..." (John 14:6). Jesus is saying that he is the truth, and the only truth that is real truth is found in him.

A lot of people define truth in many different ways, there are competing truth claims all around us. Every day we have to make a decision to believe the truth as it is presented to us by the Bible, and Jesus Christ, or the opposing truth claims of other religions, or the secular world.

The sad news is that the vast majority of people who call themselves Christian today do not necessarily live their lives according to the truth as it is presented to us by God's word. The lies of the world are constantly pulling us away from God's perfect plan for life, and leading us down a path of destruction.

God has spoken the truth into every aspect of our daily living. The truth of God is not just for the church, it is for every aspect of life. Whether we are talking about science, education, sex, work, law, government, family, or the arts and media. It doesn't matter what aspect of life you are in, or speak of, God has given us guidelines and directions for how to live and operate in that area of life. If we ignore God's direction and do it our own way we are destined for disaster.

The Bible says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way..." (Isaiah 53:6). Our nation today is running pell mell away from God, forgetting God, and doing things our own way. If we in the church do not wake up and impact our culture positively for God, with the teachings and directions of Jesus, we are in for a very dark time.

May the church wake up and become the powerful influence in our culture that God intended. Find a Truth Project group near you and get involved in making a difference: for yourself, your family, your church, community, the nation, and ultimately the world!

God Bless you as you seek the Truth!

Roger

Praying For Our Nation

Pray for wisdom for President Obama and his team as they discern how our nation will remain vigilant in the war on terrorism.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." --Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

Lord, we praise and thank You for the peace we have in knowing that You are sovereign and in control of all the affairs of mankind. In our concerns for the world around us we thank You for Your kind and watchful care over all things—even events and circumstances that trouble us. Lord, we thank You that when we commit these things to You in prayer, You will bring us peace and hope in the knowledge that You are aware of them and have all things in hand.

Mighty God, we ask You today to help President Obama and those serving under him to be ever watchful of the threat of terrorism against our nation. Give them insight as to how to respond to prevalent and ever-changing threats, O God, and help them to do all that is right and necessary to properly protect our citizens and best utilize the men and women of our military against terrorists. Help and strengthen the President and his team, Lord, and encourage them to seek You as they face this issue. In Christ’s name, amen.

Praying Together,
Roger
(taken from, http://www.presidentialprayerteam.net/100days/48.html)

The Most Important Things

Of all the commandments of God, which is the most important? Jesus answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your hear and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' there is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:28, 30-31

Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

The most important thing in life is love: love for God, and love for others. Obviously we are to love and honor our parents, love our husband/wife, love our children, and other extended family members. That usually seems pretty easy, as we are very committed, quite naturally, to love our own blood/our family.

But God says first and foremost we are to love God; and not just emotionally, or conceptually, or religiously. No, we are to love God with every fiber in our body; heart, soul, mind and strength. The most important thing in life is to be in a loving relationship with God. NOTHING... (let me repeat that)... NOTHING is more important! And please understand, I am not talking about religion.

I often hear people say, "I'm not religious" or "Well, you are just the religious type." Or they may ask me, "Are you religious?" My answer to that question is unequivocally, "NO! I am not religious!" Christianity (although it is identified as one of the major "religions" of the world) is not about being religious, it is about living in a personal, living relationship with God, through His Son Jesus Christ.

In John 17:3 Jesus says, "This is eternal life: that they may KNOW You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Again, nothing is more important in life than getting to know God intimately and personally through a loving, personal relationship. Our salvation is dependent upon the reality of getting to know God in that way. Not "knowing about God," but knowing Him intimately and personally through a loving relationship very much like knowing my wife/husband. It isn't sexual, but it is every bit as personal and intimate.

So, NOTHING is more important than loving God. But Jesus went on to say, a second commandment is like it, or equal to it, and that is to love your neighbor as you would love yourself. So of equal importance is to love others as much as you love and take care of yourself. In reality, I think we all have to admit that loving your spouse, loving your mom and dad, and loving your children and grand-children is actually loving yourself. It always take some effort to love others as much as you love yourself, but when they are your own blood it usually isn't too hard to do that.

But Jesus said we are love our "neighbor" as ourselves. That means we are to love others, not being limited to our own family. We are supposed to actively express our love to others OUTSIDE our own families. That was why God established the Church. It is a training ground for learning to love others who are different from ourselves, who are not necessarily a part of our own blood relatives. As we learn to love others in the church, we learn to love others who are not even a part of the believing community (because "others" or "neighbor" includes non-Christians as well as other Christians).

Life is all about love. Because God is love, the most important lesson He wants you to learn is how to love. As we learn to love others, we become more like Him. Love is the very foundation of every command God has given us. "The whole law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love others as you love yourself." Galatians 5:14 LB

God wants us to love others, but He is particularly concerned that we learn to love others in His family (the Church). Why is God so concerned that we give special attention to other believers in the church? Because God wants His family to be known for its love for one another more than anything else. God said our love for one another, not our doctrinal beliefs, is our greatest witness to the world that God is real.

So I hope you are committed in this life to the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. We are called to love God, to love one another in God's family, and to love those outside the family of God as well. Step outside yourself today and begin to demonstrate that you love others as much as you love yourself. As it says in 1 John 3:18, "Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

Love,
Roger

HAVE YOU BEEN WITH JESUS?

Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Have you spent time with him in relationship? If you have, and if you do, it should be noticeable to those around you. Just as with the apostles, your relationship with Jesus should be apparent to all you come in contact with, even unbelievers.

What are the characteristics of a person who has been with Jesus?

1) When you spend time with Jesus, you become more like him. You will exhibit the "Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

People will observe there is something different about you from others. And especially if you are a new believer, your friends and family will begin to observe that you are different. They will say things like, "You've changed. What has come over you?" They will notice a more loving spirit in you. You will be noticeably more patient, kind, and gentle. And you will begin to demonstrate more self-control than before.

2) Also, a person who has been with Jesus will boldly share their faith:
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13). In the power of the Holy Spirit it will become your greatest joy to share your faith in Jesus with others. When you have been with Jesus, it will become a relationship that you can't hide from others, even if you wanted to.

3) A person who has been with Jesus will be a person who knows the Scriptures.
In order to be in relationship with Jesus, you must spend time with him in his word. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed" (John 8:31). You will begin to surprise yourself that you actually know what the word of God says about circumstances and situations you are dealing with in your daily life. And you will begin to apply those principles and teachings and actually start to live accordingly.

4) The book of Acts shows us that a person who has been with Jesus will also be a person of prayer:
"So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord...And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:24, 31). You will begin to see God work through the power of prayer, and you will gain confidence in God that He actually does hear your prayers, and answers them.

If you share your faith, if you know the Scriptures, and if you are a person of prayer, people will take note that you have been with Jesus. Then you will begin to have a real impact for the Gospel of Christ within your sphere of influence.

May God bless you with His presence,
Roger