Thought for Today, and tomorrow

New years resolutions
January provides us with an opportunity to take stock of our lives and give thoughtful consideration to our future. They ask important questions like where am I going? How am I going to get there and will there be a place to park. It’s the time for New Year’s resolutions. Most people make pie crust promises; easily made, easily broken.

There are some fair dinkum questions that we should be asking at the beginning of the New Year. Why do so many of us find it difficult to change? If we could do just one thing of value this New Year what would it be?

Here is a useful list I use myself as a measuring stick to see where I am at.
• Live by the scriptures: be joyfull
• Submit to discipline: Be accountable
• Learn to praise God continually: be thankful
• Cultivate right relationships: be connected
• Protect and guard your thought life: be disciplined

On the last point I would like to expand a little, The Bible says as a man thinks in his heart (read his gut) so is he. Our focus can determine who we become. Its our daily practice that moulds our character.

Focus on the Good

When the devil in the garden wanted to tempt Adam and Eve, he didn’t point out all the good things that God had given them. He convinced them that God was holding out on them. He got them to focus on the one thing God had forbidden them to partake of. In this way their picture of God is tainted and God appeared a miser, who was keeping something for himself.

In reality God gives us so many things to enjoy richly. It may be a sunset, the sound of birds chirping. You owe him your very next breath. A useful exercise to do is to make a list of all the things that you are thankful for, no matter how seemingly insignificant. This may take several months to do, but just keep adding to it and review it regularly. A friend of mine in England who tended to get depressed did this exercise and was astonished to find that her list was over a thousand.

A similar list is found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians; “Against such things there is no law.” Paul encourages us similarly when he writes;

“ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things”.

Our focus is going to be somewhere, we as humans are creatures of habit and we tend to obsess over things. We tend to spend an inordinate amount of energy and time thinking and worrying about what may never happen. We are encouraged to overcome evil with Good. That means not just avoid thinking bad thoughts, but to actively replace them with good ones.

Love Thy Neighbour

Vision

I have visited the tip of Argentina, the region named Tierra del Fuego ("land of fire") by Magellan's explorers, who noticed fires burning on shore. The natives tending the fires, however, paid no attention to the great ships as they sailed through the straits. Later, they explained that they had considered the ships an apparition, so different were they from anything seen before. They lacked the experience, even the imagination, to decode evidence passing right before their eyes.

Søren Kierkegaard told a parable about a rich man riding in a lighted carriage driven by a peasant who sat behind the horse in the cold and dark outside. Precisely because he sat near the artificial light inside, the rich man missed the panorama of stars outside, a view gloriously manifest to the peasant. In modern times, it seems, as science casts more light on the created world, its shadows further obscure the invisible world beyond.

And we who built the skyscrapers in New York, who build today not just galleons but space stations and Hubble telescopes that peer to the very edge of the universe, what about us? What are we missing? What do we not see, for lack of imagination or faith?
Phillip Yancey A skeptics guide to faith

Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe. - Augustine of Hippo

Four Reasons to Explore the Christian faith

Here are four reasons that I would say are valid for the curious to further explore the Christian faith. I hope to expand on each of these in turn in upcoming blogs so keep visiting.

1. To understand the phenomenal impact of Christians and the Christian faith on history.
2. To have a better grasp on what Christianity is, so as to tell the fake from the real.
3. We must confront the ultimate questions of life.
4. To find Gods help when your world falls apart.

A little something from John Stott

We must never think of salvation as a kind of transaction between God and us in which he contributes grace and we contribute faith. For we were dead, and had to be quickened before we could believe. No, Christ's apostles clearly teach elsewhere that saving faith too is God's gracious gift.
--From "The Message of Ephesians" (The Bible Speaks Today series: Leicester: IVP, 1979), p. 83.

If we come to Christ and put our trust in him, a marvellous
but mysterious exchange takes place. He takes away our
sins, and clothes us with his righteousness instead. In
consequence, we stand before God 'not trusting in our own
righteousness, but in God's manifold and great mercies',
not in tattered rags of our own morality but in the
spotless robe of the righteousness of Christ. And God
accepts us not because we are righteous, but because the
righteous Christ died for our sins and was raised from
death.

--From "Your Confirmation" (rev. edn. London: Hodder and
Stoughton, 1991), p. 19.

Can We Trust The Bible?

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have
become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how
from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise
for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2
Timothy 3:14-17 NIV

1) Introduction

The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines valid as 1) actually supporting the intended point or claim as in a valid criticism or 2) executed in compliance with the law, that is legally or officially acceptable..

The aim of this essay is to demonstrate arguments that validate the scriptures, that is to give a broad outline of the concept of biblical apologetics and allude to those techniques which assert beyond "reasonable doubt" the legal validity of the scriptures. During the course of readings the author has found that there has been a plethora of material written on this subject, and much of the superstructure of this essay relies heavily on the thoughts and writings of others far more qualified.

This essay consists of two parts:

Firstly, we examine the nature of the Bible, its uniqueness and the singularity of its message . Brief reference is made of the centrality of its divine inspiration. This part of the essay concludes with a description of the ability of the scriptures to meet the needs of and mend the human heart..

Secondly, this essays looks at some of the objections and criticisms that have been raised against the scriptures. Reference is made to a ready defence for some of those objections. While the archaeological record and the world of science provide interesting insight and proofs for the truth of Gods word, the primary focus remains the person of Jesus Christ. We will examine evidence for his life, his death and resurrection. We will also look at what the bible itself has to say about the importance of the historicity of Christ.
This essay concludes that in spite of numerous and acceptable proofs for the validity of the bible, belief in it as the inspired word of God is a matter of faith, and requires a reader who approaches the Bible with humility.

2) The Unique Nature of the Bible
a) The inspired nature of the scriptures

At the foundation of all Christian thought is the understanding that God inspired the books of the Bible. Charles Finney in his book The Necessity of Divine Teaching states; "The doctrine of the necessity of divine influence to enlighten and sanctify the minds of men is very abundantly taught in the Bible and is generally maintained, as a matter of opinion at least, in all orthodox churches." Not only does this undergird the Christian faith, biblical inspiration is taught by the scriptures themselves.

The Book of Hebrews begins, "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son" (1:1–2). Special revelation has come through dreams, waking visions, and by "face-to-face" communication with God. This revelation has been shared in stories passed down verbally, expressed in ritual and sacrifice, and recorded in Scripture. Separate revelations, unfolding over the centuries, have been gathered into a harmonious whole, together giving us in our Scripture a clear portrait of God and his purposes.

The divine nature of the scriptures is not without its critics, W.E. Vine acknowledges that "the objections which have been raised against the divine inspiration and accuracy of the Scripture are almost innumerable. They have served the purpose of turning the attention more carefully to the Word of God with a view to weighing the evidences. The result has been to vindicate it at the points at which it has been attacked."

b)The unity of the scriptures.

There is a thread that runs through scripture, through allegory, metaphor, prophecy and psalm which forms a complete story; Gods redemptive plan for fallen man.
"One amazing characteristic of the Bible is its unity. The Bible is composed of sixty-six books, thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New. Yet those sixty-six books form a cohesive whole, one dynamic message of God’s dealings with humankind."
John R.W. Stott is alluding to both the inspired nature of the scriptures and its unity when he writes: " The biblical authors also made similar claims for each other. We find in scripture an elaborate cross-authorization. For example, they endorsed the law, and the psalmists extolled its truth, beauty and sweetness. Above all the New Testament confirms the Old, the apostolic authors drawing from it a rich variety of quotations as divine warrant for what they were writing."


c) the application of the Bible to the issues facing humanity.

No other book is more adept at addressing the deep needs of the human heart. The Bible has done more for the understanding of the human soul than any other book. Addressing Christian counselors, MacArthur writes; "They are realizing what they have actually always believed: that Scripture is superior to human wisdom (1 Cor. 3:19); that the Word of God is a more effective discerner of the human heart than any earthly means (Heb. 4:12); that the Spirit of God is the only effective agent of recovery and regeneration (Eph. 5:18–19); and that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ Himself (Col. 2:3)."
In the forward of J.E Church's book the publisher alludes to the overwhelming demand for modern translations of the Bible and goes on to assert the applicability of scripture to the problems of the human heart when writing;

"What are these readers seeking?... What they want is to find out for themselves the message of the Bible, to discover the secret of its extraordinary power to change lives and restore relationships, to lift the burden of guilt, to bring peace and joy to sad and restless people. In fact although they may not consciously realise this, they want to hear God speaking personally to them. In spite of the fact that this is rarely a wholly comfortable experience, they are prepared to go through with it because they know, with growing certainty, that in studying the Bible they are in touch with Reality."

3) Skepticism and defence of the Biblical record

a) Science

Mans dependence on science to help him make sense of his world has lead some to question their faith. Jack Hayford writes; "I have met Christian parents who have been afraid to send their children to college. Individual Christians were afraid of intensely studying fields like biology, medicine, psychology, and physics for fear of losing their faith. The problem is that these people had a faith built on a religious experience that somehow had become separated from reason. They did not understand that Christianity is Truth and not a religion.
These people did not have the proper intellectual foundation for their faith.
Apologists argue that the Bible does not aim to be a scientific treatise but is accurate as far as it concerns Gods redemptive plan. That having been said Josh McDowell makes the following observation:

"One of the wonders of the Bible is its scientific accuracy, even though the Bible is not primarily a scientific book. Whenever the biblical writers touch on scientific matters, their observation about nature, man, history, and society are generally accurate and free of the ancient and unsophisticated scientific inaccuracies of their contemporaries.


b)Attacks on the person and historicity of the Christ.

One of the best defences for the gospel is the effect that the scriptures have on the lives of believers. "Belief results in obedience; what we practice provides evidence of our faith. Faith is not merely a propositional affirmation. It determines action, produces obedience, and, through overcoming, becomes fruitful."

Ultimately, however, as Jesus is the central figure around which the whole Bible is focussed, skeptics have been keen to discredit Him. Josh McDowell writes, "Christianity does not stand or fall on the way Christians have acted throughout history or are acting today. Christianity stands or falls on the person of Jesus, and Jesus was not a hypocrite. He lived consistently with what He taught, and at the end of His life He challenged those who had lived with Him night and day, for over three years, to point out any hypocrisy in Him."

The Scriptures themselves attest to the centrality of Christ and the importance of the historicity of his bodily death and resurrection.

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the
dead, how can some of you say that
there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no
resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ
has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than
that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified
about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in
fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has
not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is
futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in
Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be
pitied more than all men.
1 Cor 15:12-18 NIV

J.N.D Anderson, Lawyer and professor of Oriental Law at the University of London is states; " The empty tomb stands, a veritable rock, as an essential evidence for the resurrection. To suggest that it was not in fact empty at all, as some have done, seems to me ridiculous. It is a matter of history that the apostles from the very beginning made many converts in Jerusalem, hostile as it was, by proclaiming the glad news that Christ has risen from the grave- and they did it within a short walk from the sepulchre. Any one of their hearers could have visited the tomb and come back again between lunch and whatever may have been the equivalent of afternoon tea."

c) skepticism concerning miracles;

Attempts to discredit Christ are not only a contemporary issue, but even occurred during Jesus' own lifetime. Miracles in particular posed a problem for the Jewish authorities as they appeared to support Christ’s claims and teaching.
The Jewish leaders of Christ’s own time attacked Jesus’ miracles. They couldn’t deny that what Jesus did constituted extraordinary events. There were too many witnesses. Nor could they doubt that the events had religious significance. So the Pharisees started a rumor that Jesus’ miracles were not caused by God but by the devil (Matt. 12:24). If Satan were the source of his power to cast out demons, Jesus answered, Satan would be fighting against his own, and unable to maintain his authority (Matt. 12:26). Thus, the charge is foolish and inconsistent. If we believe in the God of Scripture, no compelling argument against miracles will force us to doubt their reality.

The great biblical historian F. F. Bruce echoed these thoughts:
That Christianity has its roots in history is emphasized in the church’s earliest creeds, which fix the supreme revelation of God at a particular point in time, when "Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord... suffered under Pontius Pilate." This historical "once-for-all-ness" of Christianity, which distinguishes it from those religious and philosophical systems which are not specially related to any particular time, makes the reliability of the writings which purport to record this revelation a question of first-rate importance.
Clifford Ross acknowledges that "some people suggest that the Gospel testimony is full of embellishment. They base this assertion on the fact that the gospels were not written until some years after the death of Christ and therefore as the story of Jesus was told and retold, it must have become more fanciful. As one examines the Gospel testimony," (the evidence) "strongly mitigates against embellishment." Clifford goes on to argue that the disciples did not change the tough teachings of Jesus or downplay their own failures. There is also the remarkable agreement of the Gospel accounts and their failure to pick up on the "hot topics" of Jesus' day such as occupied the writing of Paul e.g. Circumcision are largely missing from the Gospels.


4. Conclusion

Apologetics concerns itself with arguing that the Bible is valid, plausible and believable. These arguments rely on evidence from a wide range of disciplines, from science , logic, Law and philosophy. Despite all evidence, "ultimately the inspiration of scripture is an article of faith, which must be accepted like any other doctrine".
Thomas Morris in his critique of Francis Schaeffers Apologetics adds "It is only by the grace of God that anyone believes as a Christian, but God often chooses human undertakings, such as apologetic arguments, as vehicles or instruments for his grace. Thus, there is value in examining how it is that human arguments can be related logically to Christian belief."This sentiment is born out in scripture in John 6:44:

"No one can come to me except the Father who has sent me draw him, and I will
raise him up in the last day."

Much of what we receive from scripture depends on the attitude with which we approach Gods word. The great reformer Martin Luther attests that "the Holy Scriptures require a humble reader who shows reverence and fear toward the Word of God and constantly says, ‘Teach me, teach me, teach me!’ The Spirit resists the proud. Though they study diligently and some preach Christ purely for a time, nevertheless, God excludes them from the church if they’re proud."
We can say with confidence as Luther did "Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura."

Sources

The NIV Study Bible 1995, The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids MI
The Concise Oxford English Dictionary Revised Tenth edition, {Electronic Ed}, 2002, New York
Chant, Ken. Authenticity and Authority of the Bible. Vision Christian College. Australia
Thomas V. Morris. Francis Schaeffer's Apologetics: A critique. 1976. Moody Bible Institute. Chicago
Darby, J. N. 1996. The Holy Scriptures : A new translation from the original languages . Logos Research Systems: Oak Harbor
Heritage of great evangelical teaching : Featuring the best of Martin Luther, John Wesley, Dwight L. Moody, C.H. Spurgeon and others. 1997, c1996. Thomas Nelson: Nashville
F. F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1960), p. 8.McDowell, J. 1997, c1991. Josh McDowell's handbook on apologetics (electronic ed.). Thomas Nelson: Nashville
Clifford, Ross. 1996 Leading lawyers case for the Resurrection. Albatross Books. Canada

Macdowell, Josh. Evidence that Demands a Verdict. Vol.1. 1979. Thomas Nelson. Vancouver.
Richards, L. 1998. Every miracle in the Bible. Includes indexes. T. Nelson: Nashville
Richards, L. 1998. Every miracle in the Bible. Includes indexes. T. Nelson: Nashville

Hayford, J. W. 1997. Becoming a Leader after God's Heart : A study of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. Thomas Nelson: Nashville
McDowell, J., & Stewart, D. D. 1993. Answers to tough questions. Originally published: San Bernardino, Calif. : Here's Life Publishers, c1980. T. Nelson Publishers: Nashville
NIV Study Bible, 1995, The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids MI

Hayford, J. W., & McGuire, P. 1997, c1994. People of the Covenant : God's New Covenant for Today. Spirit-Filled Life Kingdom Dynamic Study Guide. Thomas Nelson: Nashville
McDowell, J. 1997, c1991. Josh McDowell's handbook on apologetics (electronic ed.). Thomas Nelson: Nashville

MacArthur, J., F., Jr, Mack, W. A., & Master's College. 1997, c1994. Introduction to biblical counseling : Basic guide to the principles and practice of counseling (Electronic ed.) . Word Pub.: Dallas, TX
Church, J.E. Every man a Bible student.1976. Paternoster Press. Cape Town

Vine, W. 1997, c1996. Collected writings of W.E. Vine. Thomas Nelson: Nashville
McDowell, J. 1997, c1991. Josh McDowell's handbook on apologetics (electronic ed.). Thomas Nelson: Nashville
Stott, John R.W. P. 1975, c1972. Understanding the Bible. Anzea Books: Surry Hills

Richards, L. 2001. Every name of God in the Bible. Includes indexes. Everything in the Bible series . Thomas Nelson: Nashville, Tenn.

Right faith and wrong faith in contrast

1. Introduction:

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not
see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.3 By faith we understand
that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made
out of what was visible. 4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than
Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of
his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.5 By faith
Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could
not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was
commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please
God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he
rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about
things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith
he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Hebrews 11:1-7

This essay will attempt to give a biblical foundation for a definition of faith, and contrast this with what the Bible calls unbelief (wrong faith).

This essay is divided into two parts.

Firstly, right faith is described. Using the Bible, what constitutes or makes up faith is examined. Next, we look at the relationship between faith and works and faith and action, and the tension between the two as it is described in the scriptures. The role of faith in the prayer life of a believer is considered and the various stages in the development and expression of faith allude to.
This half of the essay concludes by alluding to a characteristic of God often overlooked in New Testament Christianity, that of Gods creativity. An explanation of the relationship this has to the Rhema word is attempted.

The second half of this essay examines the concept of wrong faith. It explores the antagonistic relationship between faith and fear. In particular we examine the Greek word Diakrino. We look at the difficult sayings of Jesus in the context of right and wrong faith. We conclude this part of the essay by examining an object lesson which displays Christ’s understanding of wrong faith and his attitude to it; The lesson of the fig tree.

We conclude by examining faith in the context of the church today.

All biblical references are taken from The Zondervan NIV Bible unless otherwise stated.


2. Right Faith

What is right faith?

6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to
him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek
him. Hebrews 11:6

The eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews gives us some remarkable insight into the world of true faith. From it we can draw several conclusions about the nature of faith and what true faith is concerned with.

1) Faith is essential to the Christian life, for

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

2) Right faith believes.

This means there is a fundamental trust in the goodness of the object of that belief. While many, if not most people believe that there is a God, the vast majority’s concept of God is one who is remote, authoritarian, and unloving or careless towards his creation. In contrast the picture of God, painted by the Bible is of one who is intimate and caring toward mankind, the pinnacle of his creation. His love extends to the point of sacrificing his own son to redeem fallen mankind.
This faith based understanding is even more remarkable when it is demonstrated by the prophets who spoke the word of God concerning God’s plan for salvation without having a full picture of the way in which God’s redemptive plan was to be worked out.

3) Faith brings life, and is demonstrated by lifestyle. Faith “takes dame religion by the hand and drags her into the everyday world, introducing her to friends, neighbours and associates.”

17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Rom 1:17

4) Faith also assists the Christian to endure hardship. Here is an example from the life of Moses.

“27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered
because he saw him who is invisible.” Heb 11:27

5) Here we see yet another important attribute of faith. True faith sees that which is unseen. (Heb 11:1) This ability of faith is the free gift of God and is available to all who earnestly seek him. Eugene Peterson in his Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral work quotes Richard Wilburs determination;

“ My eye will never know the dry disease
of thinking things no more than
what he sees.”

Faith, Works and Action

“We live by faith, not by sight”2Cor 5:7

Much of the New Testament letters concern themselves with the tension between faith and works, and the tension between law and grace. These tensions are very much interlinked. James attempts to resolve it this way

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith
without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. JAS 2:18

Romans 8 and verse 31 Talks about Israel having faced the same tension;

but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why
not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They
stumbled over the "stumbling stone."
Rom 8:31

As with the example of Moses (Heb11: 27) we can see that faith is demonstrated in action. Even more so faiths true nature is only revealed by action or by the spoken word.

• Abraham’s faith was revealed when he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac.
• The Canaanite woman’s faith was revealed as she pleaded for her daughter, demonstrating her belief in a merciful and compassionate God.
• Joshua and Caleb’s faith is clearly contrasted with the unbelief of the spies in their report back after reconnoitering the Promised Land. This exemplifies courageous faith, which will be discussed later.
• The woman healed of the issue of blood was healed owing to faith demonstrated by touching the Messiahs robe.
• Salvation came to the thief on the cross when he said “remember me when you arrive in paradise.” (paraphrased)
• Moses’ faith was to be demonstrated through speaking to the rock, but his unbelief was displayed when he struck the rock. Our actions and words not only testify to our belief but also to our lack of belief.
• The faith of the Centurion was displayed when he declared “Surely this man is the Son of God.”
  

Faith, Prayer and Maturity

Faith is by nature a gift of God. All faith begins as an expression of intellectual assent. These two statements appear contradictory at first glance. However it is impossible to believe in God unless he gives one the ability to, and in order to believe we must chose to believe in the invisible, the unseen. This is the primary grounding faith has, the fertile soil in which it grows. According to Ken Chant it is impossible to believe what ones rational mind rejects. With the rational mind we choose to believe what God has said to be true.

Faith begins to grow in the believer and becomes more evident as the life of God grows in them. One such demonstration of faith in the life if a believer is in the demonstration of the character and qualities of Christ, their “Christlikeness”. Evidence of Christ’s indwelling is seen in lives which are irrevocably changed; gangsters give up their life of crime, drug addicts break their addictions, sinners come to repentance, and the proud and arrogant become meek. This is the natural outworking of the spirit of Christ and the individual soul living in relationship. While faith can be expressed serendipitously, trust must come from a long-term relationship.

The third manifestation of faith is evidenced by a bold and courageous spirit. Frequently this type of faith is seen in the realm of spiritual leadership, and involves the impartation of divine vision. This type of faith is not as frequently operative in the lives of all believers. It is seen usually in response to the rhema word. Biblical examples include Moses knowing Gods way to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and Peters bold statement about who Jesus was.
All these manifestations of the life of faith can be present in the life of the believer but they must begin with the first.

Faith- filled prayer can be a powerful weapon in the hands of a believer.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have
received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

Faithful prayer can make the sick whole again.

Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if
you've sinned, you'll be forgiven--healed inside and out. Jam 5:15

Gods Creativity and the Rhema word

The courageous type of faith can only be demonstrated in the light of a clear unequivocal word from God, a word which is personal and specific. In New Testament Greek this concept is encapsulated in the word Rhema.

The perception amongst many Christians is that the creative nature of God somehow disappeared after the sixth day of creation. Those who read their Bible regularly are struck however at the remarkably creative ways God interacts with his people, he never acts twice in quite the same way;

• He speaks to a king through a hand writing on a wall.
• He rescues a prophet from starvation by means of ravens.
• He defeats an army through ditches dug in the desert.
• He rescues a family from embarrassment by turning water into wine
• He got taxes from the mouth of a fish.
• He healed with mud and spit.
• He defeated and army with clay pots and torches.
• He slew a giant using five smooth stones, a sling and the courageous faith of a shepherd boy.

God still works miracles today, we too need to look with the eyes of faith.

3. Wrong Faith

Faith and Fear

The word of God λόγος (logos) needs to be revealed in much the same way as the Rhema word needs revelation before true understanding can take place. There is however a degree to which we need to take some responsibility in receiving Gods’ implanted word.

2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the
message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not
combine it with faith. Heb 4:2

The second part of this essay examines the concept of wrong faith. Those mentioned in the passage above were condemned because of not activating their faith.

There is an antagonistic relationship between faith and fear. By its very nature fear is the antithesis of faith . Fear is disbelieving God. It is not believing that God is good and a rewarder. Therefore fear is really belief in something which is erroneous. Scripture tells us that;

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose. RO 8:28

It goes against all the evidence that shows God to be trustworthy and faithful if we fear him. It is fear that cannot live in the presence of God’s perfect love.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1John 4:18

Fear is wrong believing. Below are listed nine common symptoms of wrong belief. Note that unbelief is, at its heart, self focussed whereas faith focuses on the glory of God.

1. Remorse over yesterday's failure.
2. Anxiety over today's problems.
3. Worry over tomorrow's uncertainty.
4. Procrastination with one's present duty.
5. Resentment of another's success.
6. Criticism of a neighbor's imperfections.
7. Impatience with youth's imperfection.
8. Skepticism of our nation's future.
9. Unbelief in God's providence.


Diakrino

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all
without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must
believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown
and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything
from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-7

To get a better understanding of the enemy of faith we need to examine the Greek word διακρίνω (Diakrino). In the passage above the word doubt is translated from the Greek to waver, stagger or doubt.

It is in the context of faith that Christ makes many of his “difficult” statements.

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;
anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38
and
anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39
Whoever
finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake
will find
it. MT 10:37

Christ is saying if our eyes of faith could only truly see Jesus for who he is, love without bounds (without wavering) can be our only appropriate response.

We conclude this part of the essay by examining an object lesson which displays Christ’s understanding of wrong faith and his attitude to faith;

The lesson of the fig tree.

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the
roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you
cursed has withered!"

22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "I tell
you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the
sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will
happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for
in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when
you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that
your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. " MK 11:20

Jesus’ remarkable statement about faith is made in the context of the cursing of the fig tree. According to G. Christian Weiss this was not a fit of anger, but a profound spiritual lesson. Weiss’ essay encapsulates the subject so well that I have sought to paraphrase it here.

Fig trees produce two different types of fruits, and are known by different names in the Middle East.
The Baakoor are the early figs which mature in spring while the regular figs are called Kirmoos and mature at the end of summer beginning of autumn. Baakoor cannot be dried or left to ripen, but must be eaten from the tree in their “green” state. They have a soft puffy consistency and are sickly sweet to the uninitiated.
Interestingly also, the fruit appears before the leaves in fig trees, which when fully developed are large in size and heavy in texture. If the early fruit had not developed by the time the leaves had formed, the conclusion would be that they would not grow on that tree.
In cursing the tree Jesus was telling a dramatic parable. Jesus loathed hypocrisy, condemning profession without productivity, without fruits. “This fig tree,” says Weiss “by its show of leaves, should also have had fruit, but its leaves were only an empty, false profession.”


4. Conclusion

In many ways the church of today sadly reflects the barren fig tree, having fruits without leaves, and profession without productivity. While at this point in time the church may well be seen by many as irrelevant. The church of today has been wracked by theological and denominational division. She has been plagued sexual scandals and the like. Divorce statistics in the church mirror those of the world. Prosperity doctrine and other false teachings abound. Ultimately, however the church will be the radiant bride. In some ways we reflect the nation of Israel in their oscillation between belief and unbelief, right faith and wrong faith.

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out
of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those
who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18 And to whom did God swear that
they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that
they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Therefore, since
the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of
you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel
preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to
them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have
believed enter that rest, just as God has said, HEB 3:16 to 4:1

Gods’ word however is irreversible. The same God who created the universe holds the Church in the palm of his hand. Ultimately Gods’ sovereign purposes will happen. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. Christ will return to a radiant mature church. The church will be the city on the hill that cannot be hidden, the church of “irresistible” influence. That is the vision God has placed amongst the called. That is a task the chosen constantly work towards. But we need the faith gift of God, his divine revelation, and the boldness to approach his throne with confidence, not wavering.

Prayer

Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in Heaven, but
for getting God’s will done on earth.—Robert Law

Introduction: The lost treasure

Prayer has been practiced for centuries. There is archeological evidence of prayers and liturgies from practically every culture and people group in the world.

Prayer is intrinsic to the Christian life. It revives and invigorates. It is central to bringing to fruition many of the mighty works of God. It is a key link in the idea of partnership with God. It is central in the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, and is present at the point of a person’s justification.

In sprite of its paramount role the vast majority of Christians remain prayer illiterate. Many believers struggle to understand what prayer is. Many of them are slack in their approach to and practice of prayer. Whilst much of this has to do with our fallen nature and a lack of understanding of our new status in Christ, some of the reasons may lie in our misunderstanding of the nature of prayer itself.

This essay begins by exploring what makes Christian prayer different from other prayer. We see firstly that God is the focus of Christian prayer. Next we examine the role faith plays in Christian prayer. We conclude the first part of this essay by looking at the dialogical nature of Christian prayer.

Secondly we examine what the Bible says about when prayer fails. We explore some of the reasons for prayer failing, including wrong motives, lack of faith, and empty religiosity.
We look at how these had an impact on the ministry of Christ and how the early church struggled with these same issues.

This essay concludes with a picture of what the Christian prayer life looks like. In this we look at the role discipline plays in the prayer life of a believer. We contrast this with the pervading post-modernist culture. Following on from this we look at the journey towards maturity in the Christian life. This essay concludes with an exhortation to explore the territory of prayer further.

All biblical quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International version unless otherwise indicated.


Christian prayer is distinctive

"When it comes to knowing God, we are a culture of the spiritually stunted"

What makes Christian prayer distinct from that of pagans?

Frederiech Heiler’s work Das Gebed is widely recognised for its significance in dealing with the phenomenon of prayer. He draws out six distinctive types of prayer; primitive, ritual, Greek cultural, philosophical, mystical and prophetic. Heiler’s primitive prayers are characterised by self-centred requests, promises for prosperity, good rain for crops and the like. For the vast majority of people this would sum up their understanding of prayer. God however created prayer to be an active and vibrant part of our Christian walk. A means of his grace. A measure of his steadfast love to us. How does Christian prayer differ from this? What makes Christian prayer distinctive. Firstly…

Christian prayer is God focussed

D.A. Carson in his book A call to spiritual reformation, which looks at priorities in the prayers of Paul, states that the number one need of the church today is a greater knowledge of God.

In Christian prayer God is the focus. This may seem like an obvious statement. Isn’t all prayer God focussed? Not according to the Bible. There is frequent mention in scripture of those who seek to impress others by their pomposity and long praying. (Matt 6:7) By contrast Robert Faricy writes;

"True prayer is simple, childlike, uncluttered by a lot of thoughts and ideas.
Real prayer speaks straight from the heart. It says simply ""I love you
Lord" or
"thank you for loving me."

There is a petitioning nature in prayer. "Prayer begins by asking." God loves us to bring our requests to him, to share our lives, our concerns and struggles with him. We should do this both individually and corporately. (Eph 6:18) (1 Tim 2:1)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:6

This is at the heart of simple prayer – it is a crying out to God.

Much of the book of Psalms is an example of such simple prayer. Cries of the heart.
Psalm 4:1 reads:

Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from
my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer. PS 4:1

We see this petitioning prayer throughout the Old Testament. We have an example in Exodus 17:4.

Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They
are almost ready to stone me." EX 17:4

Hebrews 5:7 testifies that this was indeed the case in the life of Christ.

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions
with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was
heard because of his reverent submission. HEB 5:7

Christian Prayer is Characterised by Faith

As Christians we have the promise of being heard. This gives us great boldness to come into the presence of God and to petition him, trusting that he will hear us, and answer us according to his nature. Christians have the gift of faith to empower their prayers.

"Faith is by nature a gift of God. All faith begins as an expression of
intellectual assent. These two statements appear contradictory at first glance.
However it is impossible to believe in God unless he gives one the ability to,
and in order to believe we must chose to believe in the invisible, the unseen.
This is the primary grounding faith has, the fertile soil in which it grows."

According to Ken Chant it is impossible to believe what ones rational mind rejects. With the rational mind we choose to believe what God has said to be true."

From the above statements we see that the prayer of faith is based on Gods word, his promises and faithfulness in fulfilling those promises. When we pray with faith we appropriate these same precious promises and manifest the purposes and kingdom of God on the earth.

In 2 Peter 1:3&4 we read;

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that
through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption
in the world caused by evil desires. 2PE 1:3&4

Prayers for blessing and protection are perfectly acceptable in the Christian vocabulary, but we are all called to come up to a higher plane, a better place. The place we are called to is to manifest Christ and his glory to the world, through "acknowledging him in all our ways". In this context prayer is more akin to worship. (Rom 12:1)

Christian prayer is Dialogic

One way in which Christian prayer differs and goes beyond mere prayer is that it has more to do with Gods nature than our own. True Christian prayer is a partnership between heaven and earth. It is relational. It is dialogic in nature. We not only speak to God but he speaks to us and through us.
In 1 Corinthians 12: 2 &3 Paul writes:

"You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and
led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by
the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord,"
except by the Holy Spirit." 1Cor 12:2&3

Paul goes to great pains to draw a distinction between the idols that were around the Corinthians at the time and the living God. Here God is described as the one who speaks. God is the one who reveals himself, and it is his pleasure to do so. It is relationship, and not empty religious ritual that God requires.

The Lord says:
"These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me
with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of
me
is made up only of rules taught by men.
Therefore once more I will
astound these people
with wonder upon wonder;
the wisdom of the wise will
perish,
the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish." ISA
29:13&14

Note in these verses how it is God who takes the initiative and the role which signs and wonders play. While God needs to give no proof of his existence, (Rom 1:20) signs are a way of God stirring up the faith of those who tend to rely on their own understanding.
The difference is connectedness / relationship. The God of heaven promises to hear our prayers.

God also reveals what we are to pray for. He sets the agenda. In essence we partner with God when we pray, but it is him who prays through us.

This is the context in which prayer is discussed in Romans 8:26& 27

to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that
words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of
the
Spirit, becIn the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do
not know what we
ought ause the Spirit intercedes for the saints in
accordance with God's
will. RO 8:26

By contrast, the implication in 2 Peter 1:5-9 is that if we do not grow in our faith, if it is not evidenced by a growth in Godliness, then our Christianity is unproductive and useless. It is this unproductiveness in prayer that we examine in the section which now follows.

When prayer fails

How come are our prayers sometimes not answered?

This is a difficult question not easily answered, and one which requires both tact and grace.

Wrong motives
The blessing of God is always upon the purposes of God. To be successful in the Godly sense, we need to be connected to the person and purposes of God. Praying with the carnal mind can impede the efficacy of our prayers. True prayer is not carnal, but seeks ultimately the will and purposes of God.
We read in James 4:1-3

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires
that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and
covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not
have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because
you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
JAS 4:1-3

Lack of Faith

We see that faith is essential for salvation in the life of a believer, (Heb 4:2) and in living in a vibrant, growing relationship with God. (Heb 11:6) Remarkably a lack of faith can constrain the power of God.

Matthew 13:53-58 gives us an example;

When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his
hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed.
"Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55
"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his
brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren't all his sisters with us?
Where then did this man get all these things?" 57 And they took offense at
him.
But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a
prophet without honor."
And he did not do many miracles there because of
their lack of faith. MT 13:53-58

Jesus, had been known to those of his home town as the son of Joseph. He is seen by the Nazarenes as a mere man. The townspeople could not reconcile what they had doubtlessly heard about with the reasoning of their carnal minds. In effect we see here a denial of the supernatural.

Faith, when not lived out in action is no faith at all. (James 2:18) When our lives are not characterised by the Godliness which God desires, this can have a profound effect on the fruitfulness of our prayers. We read in 1 Peter 3:7:

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and
treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the
gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 1PE
3:7

Religiosity

The prophet Isaiah wrote at a time of great prosperity for the people of God. Their opulence and extravagance extended to their religious life. We read in the first chapter of Isaiah however;

Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They
have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread
out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer
many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
16 wash
and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop
doing wrong,
ISA 1:14-16

God is clearly not pleased with the religion practiced by the people the passage addresses. While they had an outward veneer of Godliness their hearts are said to be far from God.
It could be argued that Isaiah’s message is in the context of the old covenant, but Gods condemnation of empty religion extends throughout scripture.

Paul is quick to contrast knowing God with empty religious practice in his letter to the Galatians. The church at Galatia was going through an identity crisis. A group within the church advocated observance of the Mosaic Law, particularly circumcision. Paul writes in Galatians 4:9&10.
But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. Gal 4:9&10
One of the characteristics with religious people is that while they believe in God, they deny his supernatural power. How then if they do not believe he is able, can they boldly request Gods favour, coming to Him as they do without faith.

Limited information

We are not all knowing and all seeing, like God. Our prayers at this stage cannot see the end from the beginning. I remember a Sunday school teacher saying God will always answer our prayers. He may say yes, He may say no, he may say wait a while. God is ultimately sovereign.
Our prayers are based on only partial understanding but they should always be combined with faith.(1Cor 13:9,13)


Conclusion: The way forward

"There is a difference between knowing the path and walking it."

The place of discipline

In order to pray we need to regularly be placing ourselves in the realm of prayer. That is to say, be approaching the throne of heaven with a humble and contrite heart. To seek God and to desire relationship with him we need to draw near to him.

In prayer, almost more than any other facet of life, the map is not the territory. Prayer cannot be understood only in the mind, in a dry, academic way. It must be experienced with the heart. It is frequently necessary to still the mind and to shut out the voices of ourselves, the pressures of life and other people. It is in the stillness of the garden of Getsemane that Jesus confronts possibly his darkest hour. We see many examples of this in the life of Jesus. (Matt 8:18)

In Luke 5:16 we read that Jesus’ made it his habit to pray in quiet places.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

And another example, given by Jesus himself shortly before the teaching of the Lords prayer.
We read in Matthew 6:6

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your
Father,
who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret,
will reward
you.. Matt 6:6

The place of prayer is something which the Patriarchs knew – Abraham established altars of worship to God wherever he went, and Jacob dug wells. Jacob was also a man who knew the value of a place, and a time for prayer. According to Genesis 24:63;

"And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening." Gen 24:63

The place of prayer is the marathon, not the sprint. We are called to a place of faithfulness in prayer.(Romans 12:12) Intimate relationship with God is a journey. While God is not distant, and all Christians have the promise of Gods abiding presence, the frequent tending of the garden of prayer and attention to the word leads down a path to intimacy and maturity in God.

God is interested in our character, long term, not our comfort, short term.
Just like Jacob, there is a great need to dig our wells deep into God.

In the same way water from the well sustains life, prayer brings life and nourishing to the soul. As we meet with the living God we are nourished and encouraged. We leave satisfied and hunger to be united with Him once again.

As water is a powerful agent for transformation, creating such wonders as the Grand Canyon, and smoothing river stones, so prayer can transform the spiritual landscape of cities, of families, of nations and of individuals.

Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and
breakers
have swept over me.
By day the LORD directs his love,
at night
his song is with me--
a prayer to the God of my life. PS 42:7&8

While there are many different types and practices in prayer, the path toward maturity in prayer has a number of milestones.

The path to mature prayer is grown through adversity.(John16:33) It will involve a crying out to God and a learning to rely on Him. Perhaps most importantly the number one need is to know God experientially.

We need to explore prayer actively, in a disciplined and biblical way, always relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Lets walk the path.

Bibliography

Chant. K. Faith Dynamics. Vision Christian College. 1993. Sydney
D.A. Carson. A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and his prayers. 1992. IVP. Nottingham
Dalrymple.J. Simple Prayer. 1984. Michael Glazier .Delaware
Elwell. W. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Second Edition. 2003. Baker Academic. Mich. (paraphrased)
Faircy.R. & Rooney. L. The Contemplative Way of Prayer.1986. E.J.Dwyer. Sydney
Morgan, R. J. 2000. Nelson's complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville
Narraway. T. Right Faith and Wrong Faith in Contrast, Vision Christian College Assignment
The Holy Bible. New King James Version. 1982. Thomas Nelson. Nashville
The Matrix. Village Roadshow Pictures
The Zondervan NIV Bible Electronic Edition , Zondervan Reference Software, 1989
Warren.R. The Purpose Driven Life. Zondervan. 2002. Michigan (paraphrased)