B2B Concert of Prayer – Multiplied by Dividing #935

Posted on January 25, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 935

Wine jug with bread and fish“Multiplied by Dividing”

…Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. (Luke 9:16)

I was challenged last Sunday by the message I heard preached about Jesus’ miraculous feeding of the five thousand. The Pastor brought the whole scenario to life from the disciples’ perspective.

The disciples had already solved the problem of feeding the crowd of five thousand men before they even approached Jesus. As a result, they did not come to Him with a question but rather with a demand to send the people away. …and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.”(Luke 9:12)

Jesus, wanting His disciples to view their situation through eyes of faith, put the problem back on them. But again the disciples looked to their own natural capabilities for a solution and quickly realized how ridiculously inadequate they were. But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” (Luke 9:13) The disciples were overwhelmed by the problem, yet they obeyed Jesus’ instructions. …And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all sit down. (Luke 9:15) The disciples did not understand how the problem would be solved, yet they trusted Jesus. After Jesus prayed and blessed the five loaves and two fish He divided them up twelve ways and directed His disciples to step out in faith and begin dividing up their portion to feed the multitude.

Imagine yourself in the disciples’ shoes facing this enormous crowd with a handful of bread and fish, tentatively breaking off the first piece and perhaps directing the recipient to break off a piece for themselves and pass the remainder around. Imagine the initial knot in your stomach as you stepped out in faith, trust, and obedience. Imagine how your confidence grew as you observed that the portion broken off was not depleted, but rather multiplied again and again. Imagine how you probably began to laugh and step out with more enthusiasm – almost to the point of dancing as you distributed the bread and fish with ever increasing faith—and joy.

How open are we and our church communities to the needy that cross our paths? It may be a coworker, family member, or a stranger that we encounter. Do we ask God to send them away? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? (James 2:15)

Have you ever been tempted to withhold the Lord’s tithe? During times of financial crisis, the tithe portion of the income the Lord blesses you with looks mighty tempting. Bring the full tithes into the storehouse…And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:10)

The miracle of multiplication occurs in the division. May you step out in trust and obedience to God’s Word and may your faith increase as you divide your ‘portion’ among those in need and see the Lord’s miracle of multiplication to His glory and the glory of His Son, Jesus.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Joy in the Morning #934

Posted on January 18, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 934

weeping“Joy in the Morning”

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. (Psalm 84:5-7)

Have you ever noticed that the enemy of your soul is always seeking to trip you up when you are most vulnerable such as when your life journey takes you through a difficult trial? Praise God that these dry valley experiences are also when He provides the strength and living water of His Holy Spirit to equip us to stand firm and steadfast as He leads us out of our valley experiences and into the joy of His presence.

The Valley of Baca was believed to be in Palestine and part of the route traveled by those making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It is said that it was lined with gum-exuding (weeping) Balsam trees. The valley is also said to have been lined with burial tombs. The name ‘Baca’ is a variant of a root word meaning ‘to weep’. The imagery of the Psalm is that as we seek to have a closer, more intimate relationship with our God and Lord, we sometimes have to endure a valley experience of weeping and sorrow. Indeed, Jesus taught that His followers would suffer weeping and lamentations while the world rejoiced: Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy… (John 16:20-23)

When Jesus walked among us He was called a ‘man of sorrows’. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; (Isaiah 53:3) However, He never lost sight of the vision and plan and purpose of God and so He endured and persevered. …for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)

Following justification by faith and salvation through Jesus Christ, God calls us into a sanctification process where He shapes and molds us to be more like Christ. During sanctification some of the desires of this world that we would place ahead of God, the “idols” in our life, become evident and have to be purged.

Being sanctified is like traveling through the Valley of Baca on our way to ‘appear before God in Zion’. Here we will learn to rely on His strength and not on ourselves or worldly things. Here we will bury our fleshly desires that hinder our service to God. Here the enemy will come and seek to turn us back, and it is here that God provides all that we need to stay the course and safely traverse the valley.

God’s Word says you are blessed when your heart seeks to ‘go up to Zion’. Furthermore, He will renew your strength as you travel through your Valley of Tears. Not all at once, but one day at a time, one sanctifying change at a time, one temptation at a time. You will go from strength to strength in His power as you remain steadfast in seeking to follow Jesus.

May you know the joy of the Lord that is set before you. May you know that life in this world is temporary and the life to come with Him is eternal. May you seek to serve Him and fulfill your God-given purpose in the present time. May you endure your Valley of Tears with hope for the future because: Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5) May you enjoy the journey to Zion in the power and strength and joy of the Lord.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Lot Lingered #933

Posted on January 11, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 933

Lot“Lot Lingered”

But he lingered…(Genesis 19:16)

I marvel at how alive the Word of God is. Each time I read through the Bible God’s Word speaks to me in a fresh and timely manner. As I began a new reading plan this three word phrase in Genesis challenged me to dig deeper.

Lot knew God was going to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah yet he hesitated to leave. The angels of the Lord had to forcibly lead Lot and his family out of the city. …So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. (Genesis 19:16)

Why in the world would he hesitate and linger? The answer to Lot’s behavior begins with some compromising bad choices he made years earlier.

Lot made a good business decision albeit a poor spiritual one. From a worldly perspective Lot made a wise choice when Abraham allowed Lot to take first pick of the territory he would occupy.

Then Abram said to Lot…Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere… (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot…settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. (Genesis 13:8-13)

Lot acted selfishly and recklessly by choosing where to live solely from a materialistic perspective. He sought to prosper himself materially while risking his family’s spiritual well-being by immersing them into a wicked, sinful environment. He gave no thought to Abraham’s well-being in choosing first and thought only of what would prosper him.

Over time, Lot’s life of compromise further integrated him into a corrupt environment. What started out as pitching his tent near Sodom ends up having a house in the city. …Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 5:6; 15:33)

So we see Lot hesitate to leave it all behind. Furthermore, his wife disobeys God and looks back as they are leaving, to her demise. The challenge of God’s Word to us is clear. Are we living a life of compromise with a wicked and corrupt generation or do we maintain an eternal perspective, being in the world but not of it? For many…walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Philippians 3:18-20)

May you hold on to the things of this world loosely, able to follow the Lord’s direction and call without hesitation, lingering or looking back. May all your life decisions be made prayerfully and selflessly without compromising your Christian values. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. (Psalm 73:25)

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Chasing the Wind #932

Posted on January 7, 2015 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 932

hamham“Chasing the Wind”

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:11)

At the start of each New Year people look back and survey their past. They make resolutions to correct deficiencies in their life most, if not all of which will be broken and forgotten in a few weeks.

Solomon’s reflection was done in summation of a test that he put himself to. I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” (Ecclesiastes 2:1) Whatever his eyes desired he got. Whatever he deemed to be pleasurable, he indulged in. Wine, women, and material possessions – he delved into it all. Then when he looked back at it he declared it all to be meaningless like chasing after the wind.

Do you, like Solomon, survey your work and accomplishments and wonder if it was worth the hassle? Do you sometimes wonder what the point or purpose is to your life? Do you feel your life is going nowhere fast – like a hamster in a wheel?

The difference between a hamster wheel and a surface with traction, purpose, and forward motion is the motive of our heart. If our motive is selfish pleasure we are chasing the wind as Solomon discovered. If our motive is to know God, to grow in a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him, and to bring Him glory by all that we are and do then we have traction, meaning, and purpose. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)

When our heart motive is to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness and to serve the Lord at whatever we do we gain meaning and purpose to our work lives without the added burden of striving to meet our personal needs since we trust ‘that these things will be given us well’ (Matthew 6:33). This revised motive relinquishes control and shifts focus from us to God.

May God free you from the worry of the daily cares of this world and that He will show you the ministry opportunities He has called you to in every facet of your life.

May this new year be filled with meaning and purpose as the Lord blesses and prospers your life to His glory and the glory of the Father.

May you grow in your personal relationship with Christ throughout this new year gaining an abundant harvest of the fruit of His Spirit to nourish you and all you encounter through the divine appointments He has already orchestrated and planned for you.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Imitate #931

Posted on December 28, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 931

mimic“Imitate”

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good… (3 John 1:11)

I worked with a Christian man who in spite of the high stress nature of his job always exhibited a calm, peaceful demeanor. I never saw him ‘lose it’. I, on the other hand, lose it far too often. The vaccine against losing it is found through the Word of God.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3-4) I find myself reciting this Scripture verse throughout the day when the stress levels peak. When I keep my mind stayed on Jesus, He calms my spirit and gives me peace in the midst of stress and chaos. He orders my steps and gives me wisdom and favor with those who are demanding a piece of me all at the same time.

I am concerned with ‘losing it’ because I know I am being watched. I am watched by all who know me or meet me. I am watched by all who access my social media posts. I am watched by my children and family members as well as neighbors and acquaintances. I am watched by God.

I do not hide my Christian faith and my desire is to represent and reflect Jesus Christ in my daily walk in the world and not just behind the cloistered walls of a church community. If my Christian faith is real, it is real, uncompromised and evident no matter the context I am in. It is not a light that can be turned on and off. The presence of Christ in me must be a perpetual flame bringing the light of the Gospel to dispel darkness. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

We are by nature imitators. We can all relate some mannerism, phrase, or euphemism that we ‘picked up’ along the way from someone else. Am I in my daily walk providing contagious Christianity or infectious evil to those who are exposed to me and might imitate me? For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we…give you in ourselves an example to imitate. (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Being Christian does not mean heaven on earth. We will slug it out in the trenches of daily life alongside others who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. We will experience all that they experience both good and bad. …he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  (Matthew 5:45) How we react to these experiences testify to the character of Christ in us. Our life walk speaks louder than anything we may say. Our life walk needs to be worthy of imitation to the glory of God. Remember…those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7)

We cannot imitate Christ unless we spend time with Him and get to know Him. We get to know Him through daily prayer and study of the Word of God. Such intimate knowledge that is required to sustain a walk of integrity of faith does not come from a Sunday to Sunday experience. Jesus commanded us: …Follow Me…Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… (Mark 1:17; Matthew 28:19) May the light of Christ be evident in your life walk for all to imitate and bring Him glory.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Rooted #930

Posted on December 21, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 930

root“Rooted”

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7)

When I want to give my wife a gift of flowers, I bring her a potted plant. I learned early on in our marriage that although appreciative of the thought and the expression of my love, she viewed cut flowers as dead plants. When you think about it, it makes sense. The difference between a potted plant and a bouquet of flowers is roots. No matter the amount of effort to preserve the bouquet, without roots they are dead.

The Word of God has much to say about roots in a spiritual sense. If we are not spiritually rooted in Jesus Christ then we are spiritually dead. Indeed, we all began that way until we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior and we were made spiritually alive in Him. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—… (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Even the mightiest of trees is dependent upon a healthy root system for stability, strength, and life. A healthy root system requires a depth of properly watered good soil to provide nutrition and stability for the tree. Our environment, circle of friends, etc. define our soil conditions. Having accepted Jesus Christ decades ago I see clearly now why the Lord ripped me out of the environment I was in and moved me a thousand miles away to start in fresh soil. Had I remained in my old environment I would have been like seed on rocky soil and would have fallen away from the faith. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. (Luke 8:13)

Good soil comes from walking with Christ and sometimes that requires being transplanted. Was being transplanted easy and fun? In a word – No. But it was necessary and I praise God for His loving care and protection to establish me and to root and ground me in His love. …so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Is the fruit of the Spirit of God evident in your life? …the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; (Galatians 5:22-23) If not, check the health of your roots and the health of the soil they are in. Are your roots well watered with the Living water of the Word of God? Is your soil well aerated, able to receive the life-giving breath of the Spirit of God or is it hard and compacted by bitterness, sin and unforgiveness? Are your roots weakened and dying from being infected by the fungus of impurity that you have allowed to invade your environment?

May you yield to the Master Gardener having accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener… My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father. (John 15:1-8) May your life glorify God as you walk with Him, firmly rooted in Jesus Christ.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Filthiness #929

Posted on December 15, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 929

06.BadWords (Small)“Filthiness”

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:4)

Filthy, foolish, and crude talking is all around us. In the course of a day we are immersed in a cesspool environment of foul language from coworkers, customers, even family and friends. Then, one day something triggers and you speak out bad words also.

Before accepting Jesus Christ and being born again by the Spirit of God, I was oblivious to the filthiness of the environment that I was so much a part of. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world…among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  (Ephesians 2:32)

But now as a Christian I have become keenly aware of this world environment and I feel filthy. I am especially remorseful and repentant when I realize that I have let the environment get under my skin and my old nature rears its ugly head. This is a battle that we will be engaged in as long as we are in our body of flesh. Paul writes concerning this battle in his letter to the Romans. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! … (Romans 7:21)

How do we walk in purity and integrity in this world? …be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life… (Philippians 2:14-16) We shine the light of Christ by holding fast to the Word of life.

What does it mean to hold fast to the Word of life? In a nutshell it means to get a grip on God and don’t let go. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me… (Galatians 2:20) You cannot have any firmer grip than to have Christ living in your heart.

The first step is to sanctify, that is set apart, your heart and home as a place where the Spirit of God is welcome. Because the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp…therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you. (Deuteronomy 23:14) How much filthiness do you allow yourself to see, hear, and be entertained by? How much filthiness do you allow into your home?

Second, you need to remain in the Word. Discipline your lifestyle to have uninterrupted time reading, praying, studying, and meditating on the Word of God.

Third, walk with God – continually. Quiet devotional time each day is good but it does not end there. Pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:17) When confronted with filthiness during the day, silently pray for the individual(s). When confronted with temptation, pray. Your day should be characterized by continual silent prayer as you draw on the power and strength of the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ in you.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Walk by Faith #928

Posted on December 8, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 928

walk-by-faith_2cor5v7“Walk by Faith”

So we are always of good courage… for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)

One of my favorite lines from the Star Wars movies is ‘Go with the force, Luke’. This was an exhortation to Luke to not rely solely on his physical senses.

Isn’t that the way it is for us also when it comes to our life choices? We tend to rely upon our experiences and our physical senses oftentimes before relying on the authority of God’s Word.

Our senses can deceive us. Have you ever noticed how the same group of people can see and hear the same thing, yet interpret it differently? Ask any police officer who interviews eye witnesses when investigating a crime scene. When God’s voice spoke glorifying Jesus, the crowd that was there differed in their understanding of what had happened. Some thought it had thundered. Others said an angel spoke. (John 12:28-30) In the last days, Satan will use signs and wonders to deceive people. Those who rely on the authority of what they see, hear and feel will be more easily deceived than those who rely on the authority of God’s Word by faith. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception… (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Peter had his share of sensory experiences as he walked with Jesus. Yet he writes concerning faith that the authority of the Scriptures superseded all that he experienced firsthand. And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:19-21)

Paul writes in our reference Scripture that he is always of good courage because of his walk by faith and not by sight. Now being courageous does not mean being without fear. The courageous overcome paralyzing fear by their faith. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) When our senses rule, we become more anxious and stressed out about life issues and fear paralyzes and hinders us in working through difficult circumstances.

Paul suffered much in his lifetime yet he writes about contentment, hope and courage. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10) This is walking by faith, not by sight.

We will suffer hardships in our life also. How well we deal with them and overcome them depends upon our walk of faith. Faith steps do not come naturally to our human nature but with practice our faith grows. Growing in faith comes by remaining in the Word of God – reading, study, committing it to memory.

May you be of good courage as you face each day in the presence, power and strength of the Lord, walking by faith and not by sight.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Honoring Parents #927

Posted on December 1, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 927

live-long-and-prosper“Honoring Parents”

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)

This commandment of God is timeless.  We never outgrow it. We are exhorted in God’s Word to be obedient to our parents when we are children; Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1) and we are to give them honor when we grow up.

The Greek word for ‘honor’ means to place a high value on your parents. Honor is much more than lip service or the occasional touching base out of a sense of obligation. It stems from a sincere inward attitude of valuing your relationship with them.

We are a geographically dispersed society.  Family units are rarely located in a single community where personal interactions occur on a daily basis. Given our current technology, even widely dispersed family members can remain in touch and involved in each other’s lives – provided that they truly desire to do so.

Some people have been hurt by their parents in the past and they feel their parents are not worthy of honor. God’s commandment makes no distinction. In these situations honor begins with forgiveness and it is followed by prayer for them. It becomes easier to nurture and heal a relationship with someone that you no longer harbor bitterness toward.

The fact is that we just get so busy with the things that we do place a high value upon that we neglect and ignore fostering and maintaining a relationship with our parents. If they are out of sight, then they are out of our mind and are not included in our lives. This is not what God intended.

I spoke with my Dad on a weekly basis even though we lived a thousand miles apart. They were not long conversations. We talked about what was happening in our lives and we both felt connected and included in what was happening even though we did not live in the same community. My Dad has long since passed away and I miss our conversations. I speak with my Mom weekly and even though our conversations are trying and repetitious due to her dementia, I believe that it helps her to feel valued and honored in the manner that God intended.

It does not take much effort or time to honor our parents. A little goes a long way. We just need to care about obeying God’s commandment and we need to be sincere in valuing them.

May the Holy Spirit speak to your heart about your obedience to God’s commandment to Honor your Mother and Father. May He give you the sincerity of heart and the grace to build and strengthen your relationship with them.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Righteous Anger #926

Posted on November 23, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 926

Anger Danger“Righteous Anger”

…and he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart… (Mark 3:5)

We seem to be living in a world environment that is on a rolling boil hair trigger waiting to erupt in anger and rage. What are some of the things people do that get ‘under your skin’? What is it that ‘works your last nerve’ and gives rise to anger? How can you tell if your anger is justified or not?

Anger is a powerful emotion that can be frighteningly dangerous when it is given full vent. Anger in itself is not a sin. Jesus was angry as is recorded in our reference Scripture and we know from the truth of God’s Word that Jesus never sinned.

…be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil…(Ephesians 4:26-27)

Anger, however, can lead us to sin. The sin results from our motive for our anger as well as what we choose to do with that anger. Sin stems from where we let our anger lead us. Jesus experienced anger but for the right motives. He was angry and did not let it lead Him to unrighteous action.

Anger can lead to good. It can lead to thanksgiving. The Pilgrims who first settled in America at Plymouth Colony were angry with the Church of England’s moral corruption and with religious persecution. The Pilgrims’ anger led them to leave their home country and lay the foundation for the world’s greatest free nation.

Jesus’ anger with the Pharisees’ hard hearts led to the healing of a man’s withered hand. In contrast, the Prodigal Son’s brother’s anger stemmed from his jealousy and led to hurt feelings and alienation from his father and brother. Moses’ anger with the Israelites led him to disobey God and to angrily strike the rock to give them water. In both cases the motives for anger were wrong and they both let their anger lead them to unrighteous action.

God has ‘wired’ each of us with passions. There are things that passionately motivate us to action. Sometimes that passion is joyous and sometimes it feels like anger. What are some unselfish things that provoke your passion and zeal? What issues exist that motivate you to positive action? For some their passionate anger rises when confronted with child abuse, abortion, or desecration of the American Flag. What motivates you to make a positive difference, even for just one person?

May the Holy Spirit help you to discern selfish anger from righteous anger. May He give you the grace to quench selfish motives that give rise to unrighteous anger.

May the Holy Spirit empower you to positive action – to make a difference in this world in the Name of Jesus Christ. May your righteous anger lead to thanksgiving and glory being given to God.

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