Biblical Insights: August 2009

Wanted to know God in an intimate way?

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

The kingdom of God is forcefully advancing. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is reaching to all nations. Many people are getting saved everyday; and many are coming to the church. All of this are made possible because of the obedience of the believers who obeyed the commands of Jesus Christ in Mat 28:18-20 that says "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
The people of God plays a very important role in fulfillment of the "Great commission." In order to be effective in participating God's work, each one need to achieve a spiritual revival. God set a condition to achieve a real revival.

What are God’s conditions?
1. Acknowledge who we are before God-Humility
Humility -In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one's own unworthiness in the sight of God

a.We need to be dependent on God
Psalm62:7 My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Being dependent we are admitting our weakness and reaching out for His power. We are saying I can’t, but you can. In our weakness God will be made strong.

b. We need to take away the pride of life
Pro.8:13;16:5
Pride is the opposite of humility. God is calling his people to “humble themselves”. The word “humble” means “to bend the knee; to bring down; to place self under another.” Pride will not allow the prideful person to bow their knee to the Lord!

How can you tell if you have a pride problem? Here are the evidences of pride in a life:
1. Pride refuses to listen, it always interrupts others.
2. Pride likes to talk about itself all the time.
3. Pride has an intense desire to be noticed.
4. Pride believes that it deserves everything it gets.
5. Pride is not thankful.
6. Pride does not accept correction.
7. Pride does not like to follow instructions.
8. Pride exalts itself in the presence of others; it brags.
9. Pride criticizes and tries to makes itself look better by putting others down.
10. Pride thinks of its own needs first.

2. Acknowledging our role as prayer warriors - Called to be at/on "MUST"
a. We must fast and pray

Why do we need to fast? Many denominations today are operating without the power of the Holy Spirit. There is little physical healing, few deliverances from demons, and almost no signs and wonders following. In addition, most importantly there is no conviction of sin.

Our greatest spiritual weapon – I would say that combining prayer and fasting constitutes the strongest single weapon that has been committed to God’s believing people. In fact, the great revivals spoken in the scripture were preceded by fasting. Jonah 3:5. ”The Ninevites believed God. They declared fasting, and all of them from least to the greatest, put on sackcloth. Luke 5:35 says, "But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast." Joel 2:12 "Even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning

The time has come for God’s people to wake up and for church leaders to call for repentance with fasting and prayer.
This is the shortlist of our nations where sins scream for a response.
• abortion
• Lowering of moral standards
• Failure of parents and children to live amicably
• Destruction of family –due to adultery, easy separation, misunderstanding,
• Gambling
• Free flow of pornographic materials, as seen in television, heard on radio
• Our lack of love for one another, especially in those of different faiths.
• Our failure to study the word of God and abide by its principles
• Our lukewarmness toward God in every aspect of life.
• Immorality increase
• Corruption

Illustration: The first time I encountered the Lord Jesus Christ I saw signs and wonders and miracles. It's just happen after we know the truth of the gospel. We saw the spinal bones of the person who had a scoliosis were moving it last almost 30min in healing. Others leg was straightened up and grew to normal size.many who are barren bore a child. After knowing what they did before they minister to a seminar, they prayed and fast. By the time they pray the hair of our colleague, one of the facilitator straightened up because of the presence of God and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. When they gather together to have fellowship all they have to do is pray and listen to the Lord. By this signs and wonders and healing follows when they minister to the people.

Fast and pray so that you will not fall into temptation
What are willing to give? Can we sacrifice ourselves for the food of our stomach for the benefit of others?

b. We need to intercede for others
Do I invest time to pray for other or just my own petition?

My own experience: I always eat the right time with food. I observed that my flesh controlling me. Less regard on the work of the Spirit because my flesh is strong. I can’t hear more on God. So I decide to fast. Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

3. Acknowledging God as our first priority – seek his face

Deuteronomy 4:19; Psalm 105:4; Isaiah 55:6

a. We need to seek him first –making Him our first priority

The word “seek” means :to search out by any method; especially by worship and prayer. The word “face” refers to countenance; to turn toward his direction. God wanted us to make him as our primary focus and our first priority. The very first thing that we seek after we wake up everyday. Every first day of the week which is Sunday.

I ask our people whom we conduct our Bible study. Who are you here attend to church late? No one answered because they didn’t even go to church. Oh my goodness. The first test if we make God as our first priority if we go to church on time. But many are coming late. We have an appointment with God during this time and yet we will make him wait for us? Be prepared to meet thy God…

Illustration: Appointment with the president - make her wait for 15min…But friends we will meet God during our worship service. Let us not make him wait for us.When I decided to pray and seek God I found out that he is waiting for us to come to Him in humility and show himself to us.

Prayer: Lord forgive us and help us to be on time. When we come 2 min before it start we are late or on time. We need to come before it starts. So don’t be late when we go to church. We expect God to bless us yet we are late? We expect God to bless us yet we do not bless Him first. Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is with in bless the Lord!

Lord look at the people who wanted to have a real revival are coming to church late. We are meeting here the king of kings and the Lord of Lords
The picture of Jesus in the revelation:

If you really want to know what your priorities are today then ask yourself three questions:
1. On what activity do you spend most of your time?
2. on what do you spend the bulk of your money?
3. On what do you focus your thoughts?

b. we need to align our life to his will and purpose.
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

4. Acknowledging our sinfulness - repentance

1John1:8-10 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

a. We need to forsake sin – turn from our wicked ways
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, Acts 17:30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

we say,” I am saved and some of the things I do don’t matter”. Sin keeps us out of the presence of the Lord.
Isa.59:2.But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Sin closes the Lord’s ear to our prayers.
Psa.66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

b. We need to live a holy life

When we seek God and repent from our wicked ways we can develop an intimacy with God. The more we know His character the more we revere on Him. Fear of God will develop. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It makes us afraid to keep on sinning. Lev.11:45 I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

2 Cor.7:1Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2Cor7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
1Peter1:15-16 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."A
Heb.12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Holiness-The state of being holy; purity or integrity of moral character; freedom from sin
Applied to human beings, holiness is purity of heart or dispositions

God’s promise if we will do his conditions
1. Turn His ears to us God will hear us listen