The Prayer of Faith in Times of Trouble

James (probably Jesus’ brother) wrote these words:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.But: he must ask in faith without any doubting!
For the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  James 1:5-8

James’ insistence that we pray with faith, and without doubting is troubling to many of us.  Maybe not so much when we’re asking for wisdom, but what about when we are in trouble?  What about those times when we desperately need forgiveness?  

When I’ve sinned against God and my brothers and sisters, I admit my prayers are sometimes short on faith.  It’s hard to imagine God wants to give anything to me at those kinds of times.  Sure, when I’m strong and faithful, it seems like God should want to help me, but what about when I’ve been sinful and I’m in trouble, and I deserve what I’m getting? 

Two of the greatest men of faith of all time left us examples of such prayers. 

Jonah prayed from inside the stomach of the fish in Jonah 2.  If you know the story, Jonah had sinned by doing exactly the opposite of what God had asked him to do.  Not only was he willfully disobedient, his sin would surely result in the loss of many thousands of souls who needed to hear the message of repentance he didn’t want to deliver.  Talk about deserving his punishment, Jonah certainly did.  But even then, deserving his punishment and being digested inside a fish’s belly, Jonah prayed – and his prayer was in the PAST TENSE!  Jonah prayed as if he had already been delivered!  He knew he didn’t deserve it – but he also was supremely confident that God would hear him and would save him.  Read carefully, and you’ll see it. 

The past few days I’ve been struck by more such prayers from David; especially in Psalm 39, 40 and 41, and because they have many parallels to my own situation.  I have pasted Psalm 40 to highlight certain parts, but please study all three of these Psalms carefully and keep them deep inside your heart.  For if you aren’t now, you will someday understand the feeling one has when one is in great distress – made worse when it’s your own fault. 

Now read this over, and then I’ll comment below it on different things you should see as you read this prayer from David, a man after God’s own heart:

I waited patiently for Yahweh; & He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, & He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear & will trust in Yahweh. How blessed is the man who has made Yahweh his trust, & hasn't turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
 Many, Yahweh my God, are the wonders which you have done, & your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with you.  If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count.
Sacrifice and meal offering you haven’t desired; my ears you've opened; burnt offering and sin offering you haven’t required.
 Then I said,
“Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, O my God; Your Torah is within my heart.”
 I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; behold, I won’t restrain my lips, Yahweh, You know. I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I haven’t concealed Your loving-kindness and Your truth from the great congregation.
 You, Yahweh, won’t withhold your compassion from me; your loving-kindness and your truth will continually preserve me.
 For evils beyond number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I’m not able to see; they’re more numerous than the hairs of my head, & my heart has failed me.
 Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me; make haste, Yahweh, to help me.
 Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life to destroy it;
Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt. Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, aha!” Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let those who love your salvation say continually, “Yahweh be magnified!”
 Since I am afflicted and needy, Let Yahweh be mindful of me.
You are my help and my deliverer; don’t delay, O my God.

Starting at the beginning of this prayer, it reads like a psalm of praise from a glad heart, doesn't it?  But as you read further on, you’ll see that his situation is not good.  There are people who are seeking to kill him. 

But this isn't his only problem.  Not only do bad guys seek to kill him, but he deserves it.  Do you see in the middle section (verse 12) that he has sinned?  Bad guys don’t just seek to kill an innocent man, but they want to kill a man whose sins are “more numerous than the hairs of my head.” 

But wait … it gets worse!  Not only is he suffering guilt, and being chased by bad guys who mock him and want to kill him … but he knows that God won’t be impressed by worship, vows or sacrifices!  In other words, there’s nothing he can do to soften God’s heart or do good things to win back God’s smile. 

This is the secret of the prayer of faith: it’s when we realize God is our only hope, and He cannot be bought, teased, loved, or worshiped into forgiving us.  We simply call out in confidence that He is gracious.  He is – THE Deliverer. 

Yahweh is our only hope.  He is loving, powerful and faithful to deliver us when we don’t deserve it. 

David begins his prayer with the end.  He will proclaim God’s grace, he will keep the Torah in his heart, and he will not conceal it.  This is evangelism!  This is what Jesus meant when he said: “make disciples,” and “preach the gospel [good news]!” 

If you and I will live acutely aware of our own need for God’s mercy – and confidently proclaim our own redemption – we will be living “as if” we've already been redeemed (which we have).  If your confidence is based on your own goodness, this will be hard to believe.  If your confidence is in your church, your doctrines, your family and friends, your money or other things … your faith will be as fragile as the despair you face. 

That’s why we work so hard to continually grow faith. Our increasingly strong faith doesn't save us – only Jesus’ blood can do that – but our faith helps us trust that God is strong and loving, and then we can proclaim it!  Our faith causes us to reach out to the only One who can save us – in confidence, like David & Jonah, even when we don’t deserve it. 

Especially when we don’t deserve it!

Go study those three psalms and see what I mean.  We deserve our punishment, and more – but God will rescue us.  

He’s the only one who can.

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.  Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever!
Amen  - - 1 Timothy 1:15-17

The Disciples’ Solstace

So I heard this line of scripture quoted way out of context:

“Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more”

We live in a dark world, and it’s getting darker.  The consequences are that lights shines ever more brightly.  But then … remember that according to our Lord, “everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

Know what you get when there’s a very bright light in a very dark place? 

Contrast.

We are emerging from a world that had lots of shades of gray into a world that’s increasingly black and white.  The goats are separating themselves from the sheep, because they don’t want their actions exposed. 

As this trend gathers momentum, it will be increasingly difficult to choose the light.  Many of our friends and family will not so choose. 

I know this isn’t exactly a warm fuzzy Christmas message, but…

This may be one of the last Christmases.  Our Lord may return at any moment, and He Himself told us to prepare and be ready for His return.  But also, as the contrast increases between ourselves and our friends and family … disciples will become the prophets who are disliked by kings and peoples.  Our Father’s message of hope is also a message of repentance.  The message we deliver to the prodigal is: “come back home.”  The prodigal may not love that message, and he may kill the messenger.  It is the way of things. 

People don’t like change, and prodigals left home for a reason.  They want their “freedom,” and to be on their own and to choose to live selfishly and have fun.  They don’t want to get up early and work for the Father.  They only want to serve when it’s convenient, when it’s cool, popular, warm and fuzzy.  They certainly don’t want to leave their comfort zone and come into the light. 

If Christmas is really a celebration of the coming of Jesus into the world, then the first Christmas Eve was a night of tears and difficulty for our Lord’s Father.  Yahweh sending His Son into this dark world must have been the most difficult thing a Father has ever done or will ever do.  But He gave us this gift – the greatest one ever given.  And when His Son returned home, Jesus left us with the challenge to follow His example, and give ourselves daily. 

It’s all a question of perspective, really.  One human’s delirious joy at being saved is another’s dread of having light shined on his sin.  One loving Father’s difficult night became a celebration for a whole world.  And one Man’s gift – became our challenge, and gave rise to a new, eternal kingdom. 

The quote at the begging of this article is from Romans 5:

The Torah came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:20-21

One bit of this hit me really hard this Christmas morning, for the first time: “So grace would reign.”  Paul is writing that before Jesus’ sacrifice, the “ruler” (through the Torah) was: sin.  But now: grace reigns. 

The word for “grace” in Greek is: Charis, and it means simply: gift.  To put it another way, “giving rules.”  Giving!  Rules!  Can you see it?  Jesus gave Himself, God gave His Son, and we are asked to give!  Why do people hate our Father’s message?  Because He asks them to give – and they want to receive. 

Who’s your daddy?  Who’s your king?  Who rules your life?  Giving or taking?

merry christmas

False Light

Consider the words of the prophet Isaiah:

Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of worthlessness, & sin as if with cart ropes; who say,

“Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it; & let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near & come to pass, that we may know it!”

 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes & clever in their own sight!
 Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine & valiant men in mixing strong drink, who justify the wicked for a bribe, & take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!  

Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble & dry grass collapses into the flame, so their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust
 For they have rejected the Torah of Yahweh of hosts & despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 

Isaiah 5:18-24

Do you recognize the relationship between these characters?   

People who are wise in their own eyes are featured.  This is the one with high self-esteem, isn’t it?  The one so confident he is right that he can boldly demand that God do His work, and confident that His work will be to their benefit.  These are the folks who are "cool," "righteous," but who fellowship sinners – so long as they have money, popularity and power.   

Have you heard someone describe their church saying things like, “We have problems, sure.  We may not follow all the precise technical things of the bible exactly, but it’s my church, and I love them and will be loyal no matter what.” 

If you were a fool, would you know it? 

The truth is, of course, that being wise in your own eyes (or in the eyes of your friends) means that you are no longer putting God first.  God’s foolishness is far above the wisest wisdom of men (1 Corinthians 1.25).  His Torah is to be followed to the letter, and His Holy One to be followed, imitated, loved and obeyed.  

But when we start thinking we are smart, we substitute the darkness of our own folly for the light of God, and in fact call our own “wisdom” the wisdom of God. 

What about you?  Do you celebrate grace and continue in sin that grace may abound?  Do you tell yourself that your wisdom is sufficient, and your opinion as good as the next guy’s?  Do you walk in the True Light or the false light?

Will you humbly and reverently trust and obey?  

Light and Time

  

• “Pay me now, or pay me later” 
• Confess now … or be confessed later
• Try now … or die later
• Love now … or be destroyed
• Die now … or die later
• Be humble now, or be humiliated later

There’s a terrible day coming, it’s the Day of the Lord.  Many will approach that day with confidence, and most will live right up to the day in ignorance.  Our Lord said this day would be like the Day of Noah: 

“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they didn't understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Matthew 24:37-39

Some think everything will be okay, but will be shocked to be the one who looks into the face of eternity and hears the 7 horrible words, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”  (Matt 7.23)

There are those who are pure in their own eyes yet are not cleansed of their filthiness.Proverbs 30:12

We live between now and that inevitable day – once it’s here, the day will provoke the strongest men to break down in terrifying fear and dread.  They will realize in that moment that they are facing God, that He knows everything they've ever done, and He is about to decide their eternal destiny. 

There will be no masks on judgment day … no dark clothes or vertical stripes will cover up the fat people.  There will be no place of darkness or shadow, for God’s light will be so bright that it will reveal everything. 

The weird things you've done will be revealed.  The most shameful thing you've done – it will be announced on the broadcast, so that everyone will know. 

Perspective & Urgency

Most of the world will read a message like this and be turned off, because they are only capable of seeing this as a message of judgment against themselves.  But a true disciple of Jesus will see it differently. We know that as long as we walk in the light and work to correct our sins, we’re forgiven.  We are the people who have hope!  Praise Him! 

The concern for a disciple of Jesus isn’t for ourselves, it’s for those around us.  Who will reach them with the message of hope, and when? 

Jesus said:

“We must work the works of him who sent me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.”
John 9:4

As long as we are alive, we are the lights in the world, and we must work while we can.  The message of hope is better than any other, yet it is a message of repentance.  We need to get our friends, family and acquaintances to act now while there’s still time.  Not just for their sake, but for the sake of those they will influence. 

Remember the story of the Rich Man & Lazarus from Luke 16?  It was too late for that man to warn his family, and now all was lost.  Repeatedly Jesus said to “be ready,” and Paul wrote these words: 

Now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper, & arise from the dead, & Christ will shine on you.”
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 
Ephesians 5:7-16

“Make the most of your time, because the days are evil,” Paul wrote then, and it’s still true today.  Make the most of your time, because it is short, and your friends who aren't living like true, committed disciples are in grave danger.  And among those who may be saved, they aren’t living with this sense of urgency for their friends, family & neighbors. 

What about you?  Do you have a sense of urgency about our Lord’s Day?  Will you rescue your neighbor, or will you be too consumed with the concerns of this world? 

Let your light shine while you can, for the day is coming when it will be too late.  

Ancient Light – Modern Transparency

One of Germany’s most modern buildings is also one of her oldest: the Reichstag.  This building was originally built in the late 1800s when Germany was ruled by an Emperor, or Kaiser.  In fact, when the words “To the German People” were inscribed on it, Kaiser Wilhelm II objected, because it seemed too much like a democracy.  The picture here shows the modern building which is the meeting place of the German parliament.  It is famous for its glass dome which provides a clear view of what’s happening in the chambers below – symbolizing complete transparency of their government. 

Transparency is a term that we use today to refer to things we can see through, but also to show things are exposed to the light of day … so that all can see what’s going on, and there are no secrets.  In the bible, the term for this idea of transparency is “light.”  The idea is that for those who are true followers of God, we walk in the light of day … the transparent people.  We are the people who can be seen for what we are – even our flaws (In fact, perhaps especially our flaws). 

See what Jesus said about those who choose the light over the dark (and vice-versa):

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
But – he who practices the truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”             
John 3:19-21

Most people don’t want to walk in the light because then people will see our flaws!  We do NOT usually want others to see our sins or ugly things, do we?  On the other hand, consider these words of Jesus:

He began saying to His disciples first:“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!"
Luke 12:1-5

Walking in the Dark is Contagious

Do you know why Jesus said to “beware”?  “Leaven” is the way the ancients understood things that are contagious.  Leaven is the stuff that makes bread rise.  It’s actually microscopic organisms that reproduce and spread.  Our Lord commanded us to “watch out” for this, because it’s contagious.  Once people start covering up their sins … then no one wants to reveal theirs.  This same disease has grown over 2,000 years since Jesus’ day, and now it’s in ALL churches.  Some are so blatant in acceptance of this hypocrisy they build small wood boxes where one can “confess” privately to their church’s magic man (priest).  This is how “cover-ups” begin, and one reason why Roman Catholicism has such a bad history of violence, deception, murder and immorality. 

Fear God, Not Man

Another thing you’ll notice in that reading is that Jesus basically points to the obvious: it’s all coming out in the open, eventually, because God already knows.  Confession & walking in the light are about human relationships – the True Judge already knows more of our sins than we know ourselves.  So the question is … will you continue to hide your sins in the shadows because you fear other people, or will you instead fear God and walk in the light? 

Sharing the Light

Understand this well … because it’s not just about you.  When you offer someone the Good News, they are being offered freedom and enlightenment, but the price for those things is that one MUST repent!  It means he or she must leave the concealing darkness and start walking in the light, and that is painful.  So when you rescue a person from the kingdom of darkness, do so with gentleness and not judgment.  They must expose themselves, but we don’t have to make it hard to do so.  Remember to have some compassion, for the One who forgave us was also compassionate. 

Forget what others think, and be concerned only for what God thinks.  Trust Him, obey Him, and walk before Him fully exposed.  It will not only bring about forgiveness, it will also set an example for others that it’s OK  and finally … it makes it much harder to sin when you've already agreed to expose yourself! 

This is the message we've heard from him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and don’t practice the truth;
but –
if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word isn’t in us.
    1 John 1:5-10  

The one who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and doesn't know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
   1 John 2:9-11

Are you walking in the light?  

Are you the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16)?

If not … find a fellow disciple and friend … and confess your sins now, today, as soon as possible.  There is no need to carry this around with you, and your confession will help both of you. 

Confess continually … this is walking in the light, and it’s freeing and wonderful (after the initial pain). 

No Stumbles – Security of Light

Riding down the luge

One of my favorite bike rides includes a downhill section known as “the luge.”  Here’s a picture of it (top photo) in the daytime.  As you can see, it’s a very narrow trail with a steep drop on the right.  What you cannot see is how steep downhill this is, and the places where the trail drops a foot or more off the edge of rocks. 

The Luge at night

The next picture was taken on the luge at night … what one sees with the little bike light is almost nothing.  And the bottom picture is what I would look like if I rode the Luge at night. 

Me at night (probably)

Imagine riding a steep and difficult trail with a deep ravine on one side … if you fall, you may be very seriously injured.  Sure, it’s fun and fast to go flying down the luge at top speed, but if you don’t have the skills for it … you may find your fun replaced by pain and regret. 

showering in the dark

The showers in my dorm in college were communal showers …. everyone on our floor showered in the same place.  One night I entered and heard someone showering in the pitch dark.  Very creepy!  I needed to shower, so (afraid of what I was about to see) I turned on the lights.  Turns out the guy showering the dark was blind – he didn’t even know it was dark in there! 

Our world is also a very dark place, but worldly people are blind.  They’re having fun racing down the luge of life without realizing how much danger they’re in.  Sadly, many so-called Christians also live in the dark:

The one who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness until now.  The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.  But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
1 John 2:9-11

Isn't that an interesting picture?  If you hate your brother, you can’t even see where you’re going, but you don’t KNOW you can’t see, because you’re blinded, and therefore ignorant. You're like the blind guy in the shower ... you don't even know you're in darkness.  When we don't love, we are blind and self-deceived. 

there is a remedy

Peter wrote something about this blindness and our possible fall.  You should read this section below and pay special attention to Peter’s promises and the facts.  And then … if you want to “have eyes to see,” open your bible to 1 Peter and read what “these qualities” are that will help us not to stumble.  Be careful, though … you must “PRACTICE these things,” in order to keep from falling.  Reading about them isn't enough … you must DO them: 

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,
they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For
he who lacks these - is blind/short-sighted,
having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for
as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. 
2 Peter 1:8-11 

So what do you say?  Want the “fun” of the luge in darkness?  It’s pretty great, really.  You get to do whatever you want … you can chase money & power, be popular, enjoy the benefits of sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll (or if you prefer: wine, women and song), and you can really have quite a great ride through life in the dark.  But be forewarned: this is a trail you cannot finish without falling, and when you do, the outcome is eternal death. 

For those of us who prefer to walk in the light … the question is, will you stay in that pathway, and will you share the light, or will you attempt to light only your own path?  Will you neglect others and let them plummet to their death, or will you take a moment to be the light to them? 

Remember Jesus’ promise (from John 11.9-10) and do something about it!  

Light in Philippi

The Philippian church of Christ was discouraged when Paul wrote his letter to them.  They were being taught different things by different teachers, and each of these had differing motives for teaching.  They were troubled because Paul was in prison, and it seemed as if God has abandoned Paul.  As discouragement darkened their eyes of faith, they began to grow tired, grumpy, and temptation to disobey became powerful.  Read part of Paul’s prescription to them here:  

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed (not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence) work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
So that:
You’ll prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I’ll have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
Philippians 2:12-16

Now ask yourself how this may apply to your own life.  Do you appear as a light in the world because you never grumble or complain?  Are you “above reproach” in your behavior?  Are you working out your salvation with fear? 

If not, don’t be surprised if you are struggling with your attitude, your behavior, or having disputes with fellow disciples. 

Remember that being a light in the world means you will be different.  The world is dark, and those who blend in and go unnoticed are also dark, not light.  In this context it means you’re blameless & innocent, you refuse to grumble or dispute, and it means that you are holding fast the word of life. 

If you feel despondent and need a shot of joy to fuel your journey, maybe you need to make this passage real in your life.