Reflections

Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13 HCSB

There is no other name which men can be saved except Jesus.  There is power in His name.  We know that as Christians when a person calls on the name of Jesus for salvation they will be saved.  Jesus will never say “I will not save you” to a person seeking salvation from Him.  We know in our hearts that every person who calls on Jesus to be saved will be saved.

However, when it comes to prayer we do not have that same conviction.  We hesitate in our prayers.  We doubt God’s willingness to answer.  We question our worthiness.  Yet Jesus said whatever we ask in Jesus’ name He will do it.  If Jesus can save, He can heal.

Prayer has been abused by many in the pulpit by telling us to focus our prayers on what we want and our selfish desires.  The Bible tells us if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart.  If Jesus is truly Lord over our lives and He is our master, then it makes sense that He would do whatever we ask in His name.

The Bible says that the Father wants all to come to the saving power of Jesus.  He does not want anyone to perish.  That is why when a person ca Los upon the name of Jesus to be saved the Father will save Him because that is His desire.

If our desires line up with Jesus’ desires, then what we ask in His name will come to pass. That is why it is crucial that Jesus is the Lord over our lives. We must allow Him to be our Master. As our master and Lord, He will do what we ask in His name because He truly reigns over our lives.

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“In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a disease in his feet, and his disease became increasingly severe. Yet even in his disease he didn’t seek the Lord but only the physicians.” 2 Chronicles 16:12 HCSB

Does God still heal people?  There is a debate in the church that healings were miracles done for the early church, but it is not necessary now since we have the Bible.  The truth is medicine is trial and error and though we have made great strides in the medical community it is not an exact science.  Even though we have found cures for some things, and we can treat many diseases, there is no guarantee that healing will always come with treatment.

Yet God is Jehovah Rapha – our healer. It is foolish only to look for help from physicians. The first person we should turn to and cry out to is God. We must pray a prayer of faith for our healing. The Bible has so many instructions about healing. God did not stop healing when the Bible became more accessible. It is in God’s nature to heal. He is our creator, He is also our healer. The same God who saved you can and will heal you. All you have to do is ask and believe. King Asa did not bother seeking the Lord regarding his sickness. So many Christians are like this today, they would rather seek the physician over Jehovah Rapha. You do not have to wait until you are dying to call on the Lord. Whenever you need Healing call upon His name and believe He will heal you.

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Then Shemaiah the prophet went to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them: “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have abandoned Me; therefore, I have abandoned you into the hand of Shishak.’ ””

2 Chronicles 12:5 HCSB

In the New Testament Jesus tells us if we abide in Him, Hw will abide in us.  Another time he tells us if we deny Him before others, He will deny us before the Father.  The effort we put in our relationship with Jesus matters.  So many want to put little effort in their relationship with God., but still receive many blessings.  The Bible is clear we reap what we sow.

In the Old Testament the children of Israel had a bad habit of abandoning God for idols.  Time and time again they God and ignoring the law of Moses.  God made it clear, if we abandon Him, He will abandon us.  We are told to draw closer to God so He can draw closer to us.  We need God in our lives.  We should be cultivating our relationship with Him and other believers.  A time may come when all you have is God.  So don’t abandon the Lord Your God.

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“I will thank Yahweh with all my heart; I will declare all Your wonderful works.”

Psalms 9:1 HCSB

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the USA.  It is a time of family gatherings and people traveling to various places.  People come together to give thanks.  It has become a tradition in our country to gather as families during this time.  It is good to give thanks and reflect on the blessings we have.

For some this time of year can be stressful. Some do not have families to gather with or some families are experiencing turmoil. Whatever the case maybe we should give thanks to God. This is a time to reflect on God’s wonderful works. No matter your situation – give thanks. We may experience the highs and lows in life, but God is worthy of our praise.

When we focus on thanking God, it will cause our heart and mind to focus on His goodness.  This thoughtfulness can bring us great joy.  Just think about His faithfulness and thank God for always being there even if you are alone.  It is good to give thanks.  So even if things do not go this week as you plan just remember to thank God in all situations.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.

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“For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again!”

Matthew 24:21 HCSB

Many of speculated about the Great Tribulation.  Some have even said it has already happened.  Jesus is telling us here that this tribulation will be like no other in the history of the world.  We have seen some great tragedies from the past.  Think about World War II.  There was the Holocaust and Nuclear Bombs dropping on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  We have also seen various types of terrorist attacks and wars.  Recently we endured COVID.  Still these events do not compare to what Jesus was talking about.

So many teachings are out there about the Great Tribulation.  There are those who have predicted the events that will surround this time including the Rapture.  Another thing that Jesus said would happen is that many will leave the faith.

Many of the trials and tribulations we go through is to prepare for the end of things and endure what is to come.  It is evident that our faith will be challenged.  Right now God developing our perseverance, building our character and establishing our hope.  This is preparing for what is to come.  Our faith is being exercised now and is growing.

Knowing that a difficult time is coming, we need to prepare. We prepare by building up our faith through the word of God. Meditating on His word day and night. We do not need to fear what is to come because Christ is in us. Remember in the end we win.

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“So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12 HCSB

How do you work out your salvation?  The clue is in the verse – obedience.  As Christians we think about our salvation and being able to escape death.  However, our walk is to be marked by obedience.  Jesus told us that if we loved Him, we would keep His commandments.  When making disciples we are to teach them the commands of Jesus to obey.  The evidence of our salvation in obedience.  How can you call on the name of the Lord to be saved and then decide to continue to walk contrary to His teachings.

Salvation is a regeneration process. We are born again, we are being sanctified. We cannot continue to be children of disobedience. So, when we are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, we are supposed to walk in obedience. Obedience is the work we are supposed to do in our process of being saved.

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“In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him.” Hebrews 1:2 HCSB

In the Old Testament God would speak through the prophets.  There were some who would hear God directly, but prophets were the ones who spoke on behalf of God.  Today we have prophets, but every believer can hear from God.  In these last days God speaks to us through His Son – Jesus.  Jesus is the word made flesh.  All things were created by Him and for Him.  Jesus said as His sheep we know His voice.  You do not need a prophet to hear from Jesus.  You have direct access to Jesus.  We also have God’s word and the Holy Spirit.

The above verse also tells us that in the last days God would speak by His Son. So we are in the last days. This is another reason to rejoice. If you never allowed yourself to hear Jesus take some time in prayer and listen for His voice. The best way to do this is to take a scripture or two meditate on them and then write down whatever you hear. This is Jesus speaking to you.

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“We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV

What is your reputation?  What is the church’s reputation?  Paul is very encouraged by the faith of the Thessalonians.  Not only did Paul see evidence of their faith but of the work, love, endurance and hope in Jesus.  This should be the testimony of every believer.  They were a people of faith, and they were motivated by love.  They also faced persecution and were enduring during this time. 

Today the church in the United States has become complacent.  We do not face persecution like the early church did during Paul’s time.  We have the luxury of sharing our faith openly.  We can build opulent church buildings and gather without fear of being persecuted.  As a result many of taken their faith for granted.  They have allowed themselves to have one foot in the world.  They don’t feel the urgency of the last days as the Thessalonians did.  So, what is the church’s reputation now?  Are we known for our faith, our work, our love, our endurance and hope?

Do we even share our faith with others? We should be just like the Thessalonians, having works produced by faith and labor prompted by love. Think how the church would impact the community if we lived out our walk like this. Whe we read the letters of Paul to the different churches we should take his words so heart. They should serve as an encouragement and reminder to us today. Remember that Jesus is coming back, and we will give an account. Today if Jesus examined your walk with Him what would it look like?

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“Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the man who carries out evil plans.”

Psalms 37:7 HCSB

In order to make progress we must be on the move.  We feel the same way with prayer, we have to keep it moving, we must do something until our prayers are answered.  If our prayers are not answered, we feel anxious and want to do something as if God is moved by our actions.

Silence in prayer can be just as important as crying out to God. We should seek a word from the Lord and often times that requires us to be still before the Lord and just wait on Him. The greatest tension can be in the waiting. We want an answer right away. There is so much for us to learn about God in the waiting. We are told to draw near to Him and He will draw near to us. So next time in you pray, take some time to quiet yourself in God’s presence and just listen for Him to speak to you. One word from God can change your entire situation.

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“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 NKJV

When we get saved there is still a process that takes place.  Even when we are born again, we must move from infancy to maturity in the faith.  So many new believers struggle because they are trying to live for God based on the world they were saved from when they gave their life to Christ.  It is more than just saying the sinner’s prayer and being saved.  We have to renew our minds, or we will keep falling into the same sins of the world.

The Bible tells us many ways we can renew our minds. The most important is to meditate on God’s word day and night. What we consume in our minds is what drives us. If we spend most of our time meditating on what the world says then it will be reflected in our behavior. Yet if we meditate on God’s word it will result in an upright and Holy life. It is important to renew our minds through God’s word.

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