4/30/14

From Jim McGuiggan... Prayer and God's silence


Prayer and God's silence

I don’t want to know all the answers—I only want some understanding on numerous issues that perplex me about prayer. I don’t want to fully understand every issue generated by every question—I only want to have an understanding of the direction I should be going as I think about them. I don’t want to substitute answers to my questions for actual praying—I couldn’t keep from praying if I were ordered to!

[It irritates me more than a little when people speak to people like me who are filled with questions and treat us as if we thought “knowledge” was a substitute for living; as if we were more interested in “head” knowledge than “heart” knowledge. I don’t think that to seek understanding is one form of ducking out of real living.

While I don’t think “knowledge” is everything, I’ve no reason to believe that God gets a kick out of how we exult in our ignorance (if and when we do that). There’s nothing particularly pious about that airy dismissal of serious reflection on central issues—“Oh questions like that don’t bother me. I just trust the Lord.” Yes, I can see that trusting is right and makes sense but then some of us are bothered by such questions even though we do trust the Lord. A pursuit of understanding could easily get out of hand but so can a mindset that’s too willing to remain ignorant. Maybe we should credit one another with the best motivation while we all trust the Lord completely.]

Jesus never tried to prove that prayer “works”. He took it for granted and prayed. He might never have thought about the matter (“Does prayer work?”)—that wouldn’t surprise me in the least. When we wonder if prayer “works” it’s almost always in the context of asking “for” things; that is, when we’re making requests. Like, “Give us this day our daily bread” or, “Heal my very sick child” or, “Please bring Harold back home to us” or, “Please keep our marriage from falling apart.” This is legitimate prayer material, of course, and it’d be tragic if we couldn’t make our requests known to God. There’s no reason for us to apologize for doing it (Philippians 4:6) even though later in life we might apologize to God for some of the things we requested.

Prayer “works” as surely as a friend enjoying conversation with his friend “works”. In what way does it “work”? Well, it enriches the friendship, deepens our sense of the “personal” nature of God (you can’t pray to a “force” or a “process”) and his interest in our lives and all this has “social” consequences for the worshiper since it cultivates intimacy with God and inner strength and stability. It generates likeness to God (friends become like their friends) and that in turns means everyone around us will benefit.

Yes, but isn’t prayer all one-sided? We do all the talking and God says nothing! I can see how people can come to feel that way—how difficult can it be to understand that? I notice, however, that if we get some of the “big things” we ask for—cure from some debilitating disease, a saved marriage, a redeemed child, a serious financial rescue, and the like—then we don’t think God has been speechless. In situations like that we think he has spoken loud and clear. The truth is, even if this is a crass way to put it, I don't think we care much if we never heard the “voice” of God so long as we know he listens and responds to our requests, especially at critical moments and in major things.

Then again, while it’s true we pray audibly I would say that my speaking to God is almost always silent though conscious. If my talking with God can take place without a sound maybe God speaking to me can occur without a sound.

It’s commonplace for us to say that God “speaks” to us in scripture and we’re content with that truth. We don’t constantly feel the need to have God speak to us audibly though there are times when we’d like that (we assume the conversation would always be pleasant, don’t you know). We’d have a conversation with God and no doubt we’d fill it with the questions of the day, the things people argue about but I would guess that the main thing we’d gain by a God who speaks to us audibly is that we'd "know" he is truly there, he’s real and he truly does have an interest in us. I don’t think any of the above is strange and I’m certain that if I knew I could bear to have him speak audibly to me—that what he chooses to say to me are pleasant words rather than words of judgment about how I am living out my life before him—I know I would want that.

If he ever chooses to do that I’ll be more than happy but in the meantime I confess that I’m happy for him to speak to me in scripture and life, as he now does. It’s his chosen way to communicate at present and while there is much I don’t understand in what he has said and while I’m sure he hasn’t said anything about some of my specific questions [he’s not a divine almanac or the repository of information for Trivial Pursuit] I’m certain of his central purpose in his communicating with me (as with countless others). But how he speaks to us is less important than what he says when he does speak in his own chosen way.

He has spoken finally to us in and as Jesus Christ and that colours our understanding of all that he has said, is saying or will say in the future.

From Mark Copeland... The First Gospel Sermon (Acts 2:22-41)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                   The First Gospel Sermon (2:22-41)

INTRODUCTION

1. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost...
   a. The promises of Joel, John the Baptist, and Jesus were being
      fulfilled!
   b. As foretold by Joel and John, a time of judgment and salvation
      was at hand!

2. After explaining the meaning of the miraculous events on that day,
   Peter...
   a. Quickly diverted their attention from the miracles to the message
   b. A message involving a crucified, risen, and exalted Lord!

[With Peter's message we find the proclamation of "The First Gospel
Sermon." For the first time, the gospel of Christ was preached and people
were told how to respond.  Let's take a closer look at...] 

I. THE SERMON

   A. JESUS ATTESTED BY GOD...
      1. Peter proclaims Jesus as a Man attested by God through His
         miracles - Ac 2:22
      2. Done in their midst, they could not deny the signs Jesus did
         while alive!

   B. JESUS PUT TO DEATH...
      1. By crucifixion, which they themselves did with lawless (Roman)
         hands - Ac 2:23
      2. Though according to God's predetermined purpose and
         foreknowledge - cf. Isa 53:10-12
      3. Jesus' death and their involvement they could not deny!

   C. JESUS RAISED FROM THE DEAD...
      1. God raised Jesus, having loosed the pains of death - Ac 2:24
      2. Peter offered three proofs that Jesus rose from the dead
         a. David's prophecy, fulfilled in Jesus - Ac 2:25-31; cf. Ps 16:8-11
         b. Eyewitness testimony, by the twelve apostles - Ac 2:32; cf.
            Ac 1:21-22
         c. Outpouring of the Spirit, which the audience themselves saw
            and heard - Ac 2:33
      3. Compelling evidence to those who were present!

   D. JESUS EXALTED AS LORD AND CHRIST...
      1. The outpouring of the Spirit was the result of Jesus'
         exaltation - Ac 2:33
      2. Jesus' exaltation was also prophesied by David - Ac 2:34-35;
         cf. Ps 110:1
      3. Thus the crucified Jesus was now Lord and Christ! - Ac 2:36

[Powerfully, effectively, Peter presented Jesus as a good man who was
crucified, raised from the dead, and now exalted as both Lord and Christ.
As we continue, let's notice...]

II. THE RESPONSE

   A. THE REACTION...
      1. They were cut to the heart (convicted of their sin) - Ac 2:37
         a. This implies they believed the message about Jesus
         b. As told:  "know assuredly that God has made Jesus...Lord
            and Christ" - cf. Ac 2:36  
      2. They asked Peter and the apostles, "What shall we do?" - Ac 2:37
         a. Indeed what can one do, what should one do?
         b. Some say there is nothing one can do, for that would
            suggest salvation by works
         c. But obedience is not inconsistent with salvation by faith 
            - cf. Ro 1:5; 6:17; 16:25-26
         d. Indeed, Christ is the author of salvation to all who obey!
            - He 5:9; cf. 1Pe 1:22
         e. Thus the gospel must be obeyed! - cf. 1Pe 4:17; 2Th 1:7-8
         f. Even as Paul was told to go to Damascus, where he would be
            told what he must do - cf. Ac 9:6; 22:6
         g. And as Cornelius was to send for Peter, who would tell him
            what he must do - cf. Ac 10:5-6,33,47-48

   B. THE REPLY...
      1. They were told to repent - Ac 2:38
         a. Which is what Jesus wanted His apostles to proclaim - cf.
            Lk 24:46-47
         b. To repent is to make the decision to turn from one's sins
            toward obeying God
      2. They were told to be baptized - Ac 2:38
         a. Which is what Jesus wanted His apostles to proclaim - cf.
            Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15-16
         b. To be immersed in the name of Jesus for the remission of
            sins - cf. Ac 22:16
      3. That they might received the gift of the Holy Spirit - Ac 2:38
         a. That is, to receive the Holy Spirit as a gift (for more,
            see here)
         b. Which had been promised and now poured out - cf. Ac 2:33
         c. And was now promised to all those who obey Christ - cf. Ac 2:39; 5:32

   C. THE RESULT...
      1. Following further exhortation:  "Be saved (save yourselves,
         ESV) from this perverse generation" - Ac 2:40
      2. 3000 gladly received his word and were baptized - Ac 2:41
      3. Those baptized were "added" by the Lord to His church - Ac 2:41; cf. Ac 2:47

CONCLUSION

1. What an amazing conclusion to a day that started with amazing
   events...
   a. Jesus was proclaimed as a crucified, raised and exalted Lord!
   b. Three thousand souls responded immediately to the gospel!

2. When the gospel is shared, what should people do...?
   a. Believe (know assuredly, with conviction that Jesus is the Lord
      who died for them) - Ac 2:36
   b. Repent of their sins (make the decision to turn from sin and turn
      to God) - Ac 2:38
   c. Be baptized for the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy
      Spirit - Ac 2:38-39

Is that what you were told to do when the gospel of Christ was shared
with you?  Or were you told a "different gospel" (cf. Ga 1:6-10)?  To
ensure that you are truly saved, make your response the same as those
souls on the Day of Pentecost...

   Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day
   about three thousand souls were added to them. ~ Ac 2:41

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012

From Gary.... Yaba duba doo!!!



 (Click on the link above to view)

(Ashleigh and her dog Pudsey)


Watch this video; I have, several times!!!  There is a connection between the two of them that is amazing; and that connection is love.  That is LOVE in all caps!!!  Did I mention that you should watch this video??? Take some time and JUST DO IT!!!  And then I thought of Jesus...

John, Chapter 13

Joh 13:1  Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end


Ashleigh loves Pudsey and that sentiment is obviously returned- enthusiastically!!! Jesus loved those who followed him to the end; do we return such love, or not?  I know how I feel about this and hope you feel the same....

ps. How about that song at the end of the video- you know, the one from the sitcom, the Golden Girls. "THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND" Makes me just want to say "Thank you, Jesus"!!!!!