Do Not Give Up!

Psalm 126:6  He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.  (ESV)

There is a time for sowing and a time for reaping. When it is time to sow, you must go out and sow (Prov. 20:4) whether you feel like it or not (v. 5). Here the Psalmist recalls a time of great rejoicing (v. 2), when the Lord had brought a great deliverance/victory to His people (v. 1, 3). But now the people find themselves in need of God's restoring again (v. 4). But they must "sow in tears" if they are to "reap with shouts of joy" (v. 5).

I always say that we must continue to cling to & trust in God through the trials if we want to come out of it with a stronger faith on the other end. If we abandon God during our trial we will be blind to His work in delivering us as well as the work in our hearts in the midst of it. We must continue to do the acts of faith, continue to live the life of a follower of Jesus even when it seems like God does not hear us, doesn't care, will never deliver us. Pray, continue in fellowship, worship the King, receive solid Biblical teaching, allow others to bear your burdens, continue in devotions, meditation, fasting.

Brad, you must continue to sow if you want to see the harvest. Do not give up. You will not be like the sluggard who seeks at harvest and has nothing because he failed to plow in autumn (Prov. 20:4).

"Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,

for it is time to seek the LORD,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hos. 10:12)

Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, help me, strengthen me to be faithful when its hard. Holy Spirit grant me a gift of faith - for this is hard for me. Lord Jesus pour out Your righteousness upon me. "Dear God, perform Your work in me. Do Your work through me."* I am desperately in need of Your strength, Your grace!

In Jesus' name - Amen,

                                  Son

*from Love & Respect, by Emerson Eggerichs

 

Prayer

Matthew 21:13  He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers."  (ESV)

In Jesus' day, temple worship had been turned into a money-making scam.  After tossing them out (apparently He had authority to do so), He quotes the prophet Isaiah who said God's house should be a house of Prayer to all nations (including foreigners).  Prayer is one of the key components of the New Testament church (Apostolic teaching, fellowship, prayer & praise - Acts 2:42, 47).  And the power of prayer (with faith) is the main point of Jesus teaching to the disciples that follows immediately (v. 20-22).

There is no temple in the New Testament, no sacred space, building or geographical location set aside (sanctified) for the worship of God.  We ourselves (believers) are the dwelling place of His Spirit.  So in His church (that's us) we ought to be regularly engaged in prayer - this key component of New Testament worship.  As Pastor Jeff said a couple of weeks ago - "Pray, pray, pray!"

Lord Jesus - its to You I pray.  Oh God my Father hear my prayer.  Holy Spirit make me a man of prayer - prayer without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:17).  Oh God, hear my prayer.  Make me, this sinner, a bible teacher - for Your glory, for Your kingdom, for Your people.

In Jesus' name - Amen,

                                   Son

Solitude

Matthew 14:23  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.  When evening came, he was there alone,  (ESV)

Solitude.  Time away, with the Father.  This was critical in the life and ministry of Jesus.  He does it twice here in a very short span (see also v.13).  And after each time of withdrawal a great miracle/time of ministry followed (the feeding of the 5000, v. 15f and Peter & Jesus walking on the water, v. 25f).  The second is not only a miracle providing "strong evidence for the divine identity of Jesus" (Literary Study Bible, p. 1480), but a time of ministry and teaching to Peter on faith.

Brad, you are certainly no better than Jesus.  An annual get away to reflect, pray, goal-setting, pray, read, pray (that's what Jesus did in His solitude).  This daily time is invaluable in your ability to minister to others.  You can't give what you don't have!

Oh God, fill me up.  I have no skills to lead a small group in my home tonight except the Holy Spirit.  Lord Jesus, give me wisdom I ask.  God my Father, strengthen me, for I know not what to do.  I am not an eloquent speaker.  Come Holy Spirit.

In Jesus' name - Amen,

                               Son