Tag: ask Him

Don’t Make Yourself God’s Enemy

Don’t Make Yourself God’s Enemy

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have chosen to follow Christ above all things, especially above the world.  Jesus taught that we cannot be loved by this world because we are not truly a part of it.

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.  (Mt 6:24 CEB) 

The Bible reminds us that we can’t serve two different masters.  So we must make a clear and firm choice about our allegiance.

 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, the world therefore hates you.  (Joh 15:19 MEV)

The world hates Christians because Jesus chose us out of the world, and we chose Jesus.  We have put Jesus first above all other relationships, alliances, and commitments.

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  (Jam 4:4 NKJV) 

Friendship with the world equals hostility toward God and the Word of God. Many in the world malign and ridicule believers, and all those who value the Bible.

Stop loving the world and the things that are in the world. If anyone persists in loving the world, the Father’s love is not in him. 16 For everything that is in the world—the desire for fleshly gratification, the desire for possessions, and worldly arrogance—is not from the Father but is from the world.  (1 Joh 2:15-16 ISV)

Everything—EVERYTHING—that is in the world [ambition, avariciousness, passions, arrogance] is connected with this world’s way of doing things; and does not connect to a love of God the Father.

As we continue to choose to follow Jesus and to obey God’s Word, we would do well to seek God’s face and ask Him for continuing grace to live a holy life.  We know that God hears and answers our prayers, so we may pray with confidence and assurance.  God bless you.

Call Out to God

Call Out to God

God wants us to call out to Him and to ask Him for His help when we are in need.  His word shows us this truth repeatedly.

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.  (Jer 33:3 NKJV)

God tells us that when we call out to Him that He will answer us and show us wondrous things which we never imagined.  Hallelujah!

It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.  (Isa 65:24 NKJV)

This Bible passage (above) says that even BEFORE we call to the Lord, He has already answered us. And while we are still telling God what we need, He has already heard our cry!  What a loving, kind and responsive God we have.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  (Ps 145:18 NIV)

The Scriptures say that God is close to those who call out to Him in truth and honesty.

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  (Ac 2:21 ESV) This is a sweeping promise that God gives us that EVERYONE who calls upon Him for help shall be saved—without a doubt.  Glory to God most High!

Wisdom to Speak

Wisdom to Speak

God has promised over and over in the Bible, that when we need to know what to say and how to give an answer for our faith, the Spirit of the Lord shall give us wise words to speak.  We need to trust Him to fulfill this promise, and we must place our faith in the Lord in the moment when we are tested.

And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.  (Mk 13:11 ESV)

The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue.  (2 Sam 23:2)

Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.  (Lk 21:14-15, emphasis added)

But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak . . .  (Mt 10:19, underlining added)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  (Jam 1:5)

When we lack wisdom, the Bible instructs us to ask God for it, and reminds us that He will answer our prayer without criticism but with abundant generosity.  Hallelujah!

We need to settle it in our hearts—ahead of time—that God will supply us with wisdom in the midst of any challenging ordeal.  Simply ask Him to give you the words to speak.  And the wisdom that God gives to us will not be able to be opposed.  (Lk 21:15)  Glory to God!