Love Listens

“Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Mark 9:7

A heart full of love listens first to the Lord. There is a humility that remembers God created two ears and one mouth for a reason. The tongue untempered by love is a prime target for the tempter, Satan himself. However, love longs to listen and understand what Christ says, before making conversation. Words incubated in a heart of love have a positive affect on hearers. Love listens to Jesus before jumping to judgment.

We need the words of our heavenly Father to work out our wrong thinking, before we share potentially abrasive words. For example, we pause during family conflict to contemplate Christ’s teaching to be peacemakers. We become a voice of reason and patience where angry words have broken trust and erased respect. We listen to both sides and then offer solutions based on forgiveness and an ongoing process of godly counsel.

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” Luke 6:27

Furthermore, listen to others even when you don’t feel you are being heard. Your patient love does not have to make its point, because listening to and understanding the other person’s viewpoint is more important. As you lovingly listen you learn, from friends and enemies alike. Your quieted spirit becomes a student of anyone you meet. Perhaps you learn kindness from a cashier or acceptance from a greeter. Love listens and learns.

Love is slow to speak and quick to listen. It doesn’t seek to impress people with its smart and clever speech. Instead, it carries a conversation with emotional comfort and caring words. You are most comfortable in your own skin when your goal is to first listen to the Lord and then His precious children. Lovingly listen, some will invite your influence into their life. Consecrate your conversations to Christ and He will speak.

“But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” Hebrews 1:2
Prayer: Heavenly Father, use me to lovingly listen to You and Your children.

~Wisdom Hunters Devotional~

Intercession: The Throne Ministry # 31

Corporately Praying the Word (continued)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ; according as He has chosen us in Christ - actually picked us out for Himself as His own in Christ - before the foundation of the world (before the foundation of the cosmos, of all created order seen or unseen) was laid, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless before Him, in love predestinating us to the adoption of sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His Will, to the praise of the glory of His grace which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved: in Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor, which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), making known to us the mystery (secret) of His Will - of His Plan, of His Purpose. [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him (in Christ), [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in The Christ, the things in the Heavens and the things upon the earth; in Him (in Christ), in Whom also we were chosen as [His] inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of the One Who works all things according to the counsel of His Own Will, that we should be to the praise of His Glory, who first trusted in The Christ; in Whom also ye, hearing the Word of truth, the Gospel of the salvation of you, in Whom believing ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is the earnest, the guarantee, of the inheritance of us to the redemption of the acquired possession to the praise of His Glory."

[And as was Paul's manner, when he spoke of the unsearchable riches and glories of Christ, he burs into "praying in the Spirit" for those to whom he was writing; and in doing so he continued to reveal the Mystery of God Who is Christ, for the Word says that "in Spirit he speaks mysteries," because only the Holy Spirit can reveal that which is hidden in God].

"For I always pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may grant, give, you a spirit of wisdom and revelation - of insight into mysteries and secrets - in the [deep and intimate] full and thorough knowledge of Him, by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand 1. what is the calling, 2. [and] what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 3. and what is the immeasurable, the unlimited, the surpassing greatness of His power, of His might, of His inherent power, toward us who believe, according to the working of the (by the) operative energy of the manifested strength of His might, which might was wrought, was operative, in The Christ When He Raised Him from among the dead, and He set Him down at His Right Hand in the Heavenlies, far above every principality, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name named - above every title that can be conferred - not only in this age, but also in that which is to come; and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 32)

Consider Your Ways

Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!" You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” - Haggai 1:3-6

The prophet Haggai was sent to speak to the group who had come back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of the Lord. The Book of Ezra explains how the first group came back to begin the rebuilding process. Due to great opposition, the work came to a stop over the course of time. Haggai was sent by the Lord to re-start the work and get the people going again. The Lord was telling them to get their priorities straight. They had settled into their lives and homes but the temple was still not finished. They lived in paneled houses while God's house lay in ruins (Haggai 1:4). If they took a close look at their lives, they would see how their efforts had produced little.

Do you ever feel as though you work really hard, try to do the right things, yet nothing seems to come from it? Are you blessed? Do you see the Lord's hand in your work? If you feel as though you work to put your wages in a bag with holes, then maybe you need to "consider your ways." Check your priorities. Are you giving your first fruits unto the Lord? It is not just about your work for God that matters, it is about your heart before the Lord. Is He truly first in your life? Do you do things for Him because you love Him, or is it for other reasons?

These are the questions that we all must ask ourselves. Sometimes we get so focused on our own lives that we lose God's perspective. When that happens, we often begin to sense that things are not quite right. We do not see the blessings as we would expect or hope to see. As the Lord continued to tell His people through the prophets, “Repent and Return.” The message is the same for us today. Maybe it is time to put some new priorities in your life. Pray about what the Lord wants you to re-prioritize and ask Him to help you to make the changes He wants. Instead of pockets with holes, you will see storehouses that overflow with His blessings.

~Daily Disciples Devotional~

God With Us

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” Matthew 1:22-23

Wow! The Creator came to dwell with His creation. The all knowing One came to teach teachers and students limited by their lack of knowledge and understanding. The ever present One came to comfort hurting people stuck in their suffering. The all powerful One came to serve weak people, empowering them with His Spirit. The Almighty sent His only son Jesus into the world, fully God and fully man. Yes, the Word became flesh!

God is with us to face down our fears by faith. God is with us in our doubts. God is with us in our hurts applying His healing balm of grace. God is with us in our transitions to grow our trust in Him.  God is with us at work and home. God is with us in our uncertainty.  God is with us when we feel His presence and when we don't feel Him near. God is with us in our successes and in our failures. God is with us and for us for His glory!

"And surely I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of the age.”(Matthew 28:20 NIV)

God is with us in our modern technology and our antiquated activities. The Lord is with us in our big cities and our small towns. Jesus is with us when we feel joy, laughter and loss. Christ is with us to comfort us in our pain and encourage us to persevere for Him. He is with us in the ups and the downs. He is with us and He is in us to work through us!

Therefore, because Christ is with you, you can be confident of His wisdom and direction. Fools flounder for lack of faith, but you have the Faithful One as the facilitator of your circumstances. Immanuel entered the earth by birth and entered your heart by new birth. Your Savior Jesus has saved you from your sins and your Lord Jesus commands you to follow His ways and experience His life. He gave His life and came to life for your life!

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah7:14

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being with us on earth and for being my life.

~Wisdom Hunters Devotional~

Intercession: The Throne Ministry # 30

The Mystery of God Which is Christ

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through Him all things came to be ... Christ is the visible representation of the invisible God, the Firstborn (the Absolute Heir of the Father) and Lord of all creation. For in Him was created the universe of things in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, thrones, dominions, princedoms, powers - all were created, and exist, through and for Him (their whole being, willingly or unwillingly, moves that way - to Him; whether, as His blissful servants, they shall be as His Throne; or, as His stricken enemies, "His footstool"). Through Him as the Mediatorial Word, the universe has been created; and unto Him, as the final goal, it is tending. And He is before all things (in Him is no before or after. He is Pre-existent and Self-existent before all things) and in and through Him all things consist - cohere, are held together, (He is not their Cause only, in an initial sense; He is forever their Bond, their Order, their Law, the Ultimate Secret which  makes the Whole Universe, seen and unseen, a Cosmos, not a Chaos).

Moreover He also is the head of His Body, the Church: seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might have the pre-eminence, might occupy the Chief place - stand First and be Pre-eminent: for in Him all the Fullness [of the Godhead] was pleased to dwell, the Divine Fullness - the sum total of the Divine Perfection, powers and attributes - was pleased to dwell in Him permanently, and God purposed that through - by the service, the intervention of - Him (the Son) all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace through the blood of His Cross. And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel --- whereof I Paul am made a minister ... according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God, the mystery which hath been hid from the ages and from the generations, but now is made manifest to His saints, His people, to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations; (the Mystery) Who is Christ in you, the hope of the glory ... in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ... for in Him the Whole Fullness of Deity (the Godhead), continues to dwell in bodily form - giving complete expression of the Divine Nature. And you are in Him, made full and have come to fullness of life - in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and reach full stature ... for out of His fullness as a source we all received, and grace in exchange for grace (one grace after another and spiritual blessing, and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift ...).

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 31)

Being Bold In Prayer

I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected. - Habakkuk 2:1

How many of us open our Bibles and search for the writings of Habakkuk? The most likely answer: not too many of us and not very often. I remember the first time I actually studied this short, three-chapter book. To this day I still quote chapter two, verse one, back to the Lord. Habakkuk tells the story of how he questioned what the Lord was doing with His people. It is a great illustration of how we can seek out the Lord's plans, reason with Him, and then fall at His feet when He answers us personally. However, in this case, the answer was not in favor of the people, Habakkuk stood in awe of God's awesome power and mercy.

As Christians we tend to think too much about what God wants from us. We spend a lot of time praying for the things that we think He wants us to pray. We hope that He will not be upset with us if we pray for the wrong things. And then there are times when we are just amazed that He answered our prayers at all. It is one thing to be thankful and grateful for the Lord's gracious gifts, but we need to consider and question why we are just surprised that He answered in the first place. Our relationship with the Lord should be stronger than that. The Lord wants us to not only pray for the things we want and need, but also He wants us to reason with Him, wrestle with Him, and be honest in our prayers. In Isaiah 1:18 the Lord says, "come and let us reason together." Habakkuk had questions and he was not afraid to reason with the Lord, even to the point that he states in this verse that he will stand, wait and watch for God to do something. Talk about boldness! 

For each of us today, God wants us to be bold. He wants us to come to His throne of grace with boldness and receive the mercy He has freely given through His Son Jesus. God wants us to pray with that same boldness, asking, seeking and knocking to know His will. Is something on your heart today about which you are not being completely honest with the Lord? Do you have questions or maybe you are upset with the way things are going? Go to the Lord in boldness. Tell Him your thoughts and feelings then tell Him that you will "sit on the ramparts [watchtower]" and wait for His answer. Do not be afraid. You will see God's goodness, just as Habakkuk did. "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills." (Habakkuk 3:18-19) Now that is a great promise!

~Daily Disciples Devotional~

Intercession: The Throne Ministry # 29

Corporately Praying the Word (continued)

Beloved, "The prophets who prophesied of the grace [divine blessing] which was intended for you (for us), searched and inquired earnestly about this salvation ... the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow ... unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they did minister these things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:10-12). As the Church His Body moves in the good of that which God has revealed through His Word by the Holy Spirit of His Eternal Purpose in Christ, the heavenly hosts,the ministering servants of God, are being instructed as to our great salvation.

Let us also remember that we are in a battle against the spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies - against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness. It is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, accompanied by prayer in the Spirit, that is the effective weapon in this unseen realm; and as the Church moves in the good of God's Word, the enemies of God are being instructed as to their place, however unwillingly, as Christ's footstool.

Too many times we only read or listen to what others have to say and to teach of "The Christ," but wen writing the Letter of Ephesians, Paul says in chapter 3 and verse 4, "Whereby, when ye read (the Word of God), ye may [can] understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ"; and, in this case, the word "knowledge" is the Greek word "sunesis," and it means a "flowing together in understanding and comprehension of the mystery of Christ." And Paul's insight and perception into "The Mystery of God, which is Christ" is actually the Holy Spirit's insight, for it was the Holy Spirit Who inspired Paul as he wrote the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is saying: "When ye read (or be read unto or read together) ... ye can understand," in other words, by reading we can know accurately, we can distinguish, we can know Paul's perception and insight into the Unsearchable Riches of Christ. This is true because we are corporately "one Body" in Christ, and there is "one Spirit' Who reveals The Christ. The Holy Spirit is the only One Who can reveal unto us what is hidden in God.

With this in mind, let us corporately and prayerfully read together the following Holy Scriptures, which we have accumulated from many different inspired translations of God's Word, in order that we may receive together - as we read together - a fuller comprehension of what we have been called into and unto when we came to our Christ. And as we prayerfully read together, we are sure that the Psalmist of old is still uttering his "Selah"; pause, and weigh the value, and calmly think of this:

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 30 - "The Mystery of God Which is Christ")