CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 723

“Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile”

1 Samuel 17:32-45 …Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around …. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul … So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine … in the name of the LORD…

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In 1988 General Motors had a marketing campaign that attempted to rebrand its Oldsmobile product line from that of a ‘respectable’ car to one that was ‘cool’ in its appeal to younger buyers. They claimed that this ‘Was not your father’s Oldsmobile’. The idea was that this car was uniquely and personally yours in its appeal and styling.

It can also be stated that when it comes to our relationship with Jesus Christ that what is needed is ‘Not your father’s relationship’, nor your mother’s relationship or your Pastor’s, your friend’s or anyone else’s for that matter. The relationship that is needed with Jesus Christ is uniquely and personally yours. Just like David could not go out and do battle with Goliath wearing Saul’s armor, neither can you do spiritual battle with someone else’s armor or faith. Likewise, someone else’s faith in Christ cannot be your basis for salvation and eternal life.

Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. – Isaiah 36:6

Many people, when discussing their faith, talk about the religion or denomination that their parents belonged to. Some claim not to have any faith because their parents did not. For others, their entire faith relationship resides in their membership in a particular church denomination. It is time to shed our victim mentality (It is my Parents’ fault) and the false security of religiosity crutches and stand on our own two feet and make the decision for ourselves concerning our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

… For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’”So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. – Romans 14:10

The truth of God’s Word is that every knee will bow before God and give an account. At that time we can look around for Parents, Popes, or Pastors to speak on our behalf and they will not be found. Only Jesus Christ, our advocate, will be able to stand up for us and say to His Father, ‘I know him and he knows Me. I died for him and paid the price for his sin’.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

If you do not have the blessed assurance of eternal life, ask God to reveal Himself to you by His Holy Spirit and to receive salvation through Jesus Christ. Make your relationship with Jesus uniquely and personally yours.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you … For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.- Matthew 7:7 & – Luke 19:10

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God