Prayer

Acts 12 records two completely different paths of James and Peter. Both were arrested by King Herod, an evil king, but one was executed and the other miraculously freed by the hand of angel. Why did God spare not both? He could, but He didn't. It is the will of the Father God of Christ Jesus, so we don't know the reason. The Scripture did not say why.

But one thing we can see in the text that there is no record of prayer in the case of James but found in that of Peter.

"Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church." (Acts 12:1-5 NKJV)

When the prayer was answered, surprisingly enough, they couldn't believe it until Peter kept knocking the door and insisted it was him. The prayer of the saints was in parallel with the promise of God and definitely answered without any notice of obstacles like the guards and chains and locks. Peter thought that he was in a vision.

Prayer is the expression of dependence on God and the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul exhorts the saints to pray continually without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We cannot live life without praying all the time forever.

Lord Jesus prayed all the time, relying on the Father in heaven all throughout the His messianic ministry.

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19 NKJV)

How much more should we?

Far Above

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” (Ephesians 1:15-21 NKJV)

This is Paul’s prayer for the saints in Ephesus and all corners of the world throughout the centuries. This is his prayer for the saints after he taught the sound doctrines in Jesus Christ the Lord. We see here that Paul’s heart is burning with earnest plea and petition and prayer which are crammed into a single sentence. The theme of his prayer is faith, hope, and power.

Paul not only teaches the magnificent truths of God and the Father of Lord Jesus Christ but also prays for those who listen that the eyes of the hearts may be enlightened by the wisdom and revelation of the Spirit who indwells in us.

By the teachings and revelations of the Spirit, he earnestly prays that we may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.

Power indicates the resurrection power. It worked out in the dreary empty tombs. It didn’t take any note of obstacles like the securely sealed stone cover of the tomb. It is far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

That mighty power is ours whenever we claim it by faith. God is pleased to let power loose to whosoever takes through the faith in Christ Jesus. Faith in action based on the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ releases the power of God mightily and beautifully. It heals, corrects, and instructs people incomparably than expected or thought.   

Remember what drew Jesus’ attention. Is it not the faith in action? God never fails to pay attention to any action in the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, ever and under any circumstances.

“So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.’” (Mark 11:22-24 NKJV)

Mystery of Christ

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.” (Romans 16:25-27 NKJV)

Is there anything too big or hard for God? Our God is able to establish us according the gospel of Christ Jesus given to Apostles and Prophets and all who believes in Him. A long awaited Christ since Adam’s fall has come to fulfill the prophecies of the mystery kept secret for generations and ages. That mystery of God has now made known, that is, Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Christ was born in the likeness of man, circumcised, baptized, and tempted in the wilderness to fulfill the scriptures. Christ preached the good news of the kingdom of heaven, healed the sick, drove out demons, and was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead according to the scriptures. Christ died for our transgressions and sins in order to give anyone who believes in Him eternal life. Christ the Son of Man was slaughtered by the hands of His own people according to the promise of God. God was pleased to let His begotten Son die in blood on the Calvary’s cross. Jesus the Son of God obeyed the Father to the point of death, enduring all the shame, despair, guilt, curse, condemnation, separation, abandonment in our place.

He bore our inequities and transgressions and paid the full price to purchase and liberate those who believe and made His spoils and merchants. Foremost of all, He was buried and rose again from the dead according the promise of God.

The mystery of Christ is that when He died we died with Him, when He buried we buried, and when He rose we rose. The mystery of Christ stands forever, pouring out eternal life to anyone who comes and drinks by faith.

The deliverance of God out of the darkness and bondage has been made by Christ Jesus, so God does not see those who are in Him as enemies but beloved sons of light.  

Whenever we in Christ Jesus missteps and sins again, we come and confess our sins humbly and honestly and right there the eternal defender touches our hearts to be healed and cured over and over again. The avalanche of grace covers those who come and ask wherever and whenever.

The cross of Jesus Christ is the only way to be established and rooted in Him firmly and eternally, God willing.

A Little Children

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. (Matthew 18:1-5 NKJV)

What does Jesus merit of children? Of course not of childishness! There should be something other than mischievousness, carelessness, or selfishness. Learning mind and genuineness (opposite of pretense).

Children are rather blunt and straight, direct, honest, and at times ill-timed. They don't hesitate to ask any question promptly if they have whenever and wherever. But as they are getting aged they try to find a way to do by themselves, not even mention of what the problem is.

Pretense is hypocrisy. In honesty there is no room for pretense. Jesus severely rebuked the establishment of the nation because of their hypocrisy.

In Christ Jesus no hidings are tolerable. Jesus called His disciples friends because He did not hide anything at all (John 15:15). God said Abraham, "And the Lord said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing...'" (Genesis 18:17 NKJV)

Children are like sponge in learning and absorbing things and deeds heard and seen as a saying goes, "Monkeys see, monkeys do." The highly educated people of that day eas the Pharisees and scribes who rejected and refused the new teachings of Jesus Christ.
 That's why Jesus say, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3 NKJV)

Esteem Others above Yourself

How can we esteem others better than ourselves? Is it even possible to do that? Of course, it is possible in overflowing manner, but only for regenerated ones, not automatically though except when we choose to exercise. Otherwise, it would not have given as a command of the Lord. 

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Philippians 2:3 NKJV)

The answer is Jesus Christ. Although He was equal with God, He renounced Himself and became in the likeness of man. He renounced His right completely by emptying Himself. And He obeyed the Father even to the point of death. Peter wrote regarding Jesus that when He was reviled He reviled not, when He suffered he did not threaten, but committed Himself to the Father who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:23). Jesus demonstrated the example how to live as sons of light in the world. Then God highly exalted the Son and gave Him the name above every name in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:9-11).

"We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, 'The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.' For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15:1-4 NKJV)

Every new born Christian is like a baby with regard to the doctrines, teachings, truths of Jesus Christ. They are called children or the weak in the faith. But they will grow to the mature called fathers or the strong in the faith. It takes time in the transformation process according to what God has planned and designed for each individual. Ruth Bell Graham’s gravestone inscribed the phrase reflecting the changing process, “End of Construction – Thank you for your patience.”

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2 NKJV)

The more little children grow in truths and doctrines, the more they become selfless, compassionate, patient, peaceable, loving, kind, enduring, reliable, and after all mature. The mature do not please themselves but Lord Jesus. For the sake of Christ, the strong in the faith please neighbors understandingly and tolerantly. Maturity is in God’s mind for His children attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. What a wonderful promise and hope!

“…until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13 NIV)

Why mature? It’s because the mature think soberly, not thinking themselves more highly than they ought to think. The strong in the faith always remember who they were before being accepted by the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s sober judgment and truth. It’s also because the mature know that God judges each one according to a measure of faith.

"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3 NKJV)

Everyone who comes to God must come by faith because without faith it is impossible to please God.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)

“I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 NKJV)

Time and Eternity

What is the difference between time and eternity? Apostle John was summoned to the heaven and saw the throne of God in heaven (Revelation 4:1-11). He was immediately caught into eternity. Eternity does not start when Christians cease this life on earth. Rather, it is right here invisibly. It could be promptly visible if God pulls up the curtain of time. On the mountain of transfiguration, Jesus Christ instantly entered into eternity before the eyes of three disciples, Peter, John, and James. There were Moses and Elijah talking to Jesus (Matthew 17:1-3).

After the resurrection, the Risen Lord Jesus appeared to His disciples for forty days, once to over five hundred brothers at once (1 Corinthians 15:6). He entered into eternity and broke into time whenever ministry was necessary, but only to the believers. Imagine how much the Jews had intently searched the Risen Jesus. When the disciples gathered together, securely and firmly having locked the door in fear, Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst. It was not that He came into the room from somewhere but rather that He was there all along among them and just visibly manifested Himself (Matthew 28:20).

Eternity is not the continuation of time and space. In eternity, there is no past or future, but only now. When man’s life is ceased, he will enter into eternity in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). But each according to his deeds will be changed either eternal glory or eternal death. The believers will instantaneously see Christ coming with the multitude of angels and the trumpet call of God (Matthew 24:31, 1 Thessalonians 4:16). The lawless rebels will enter eternity for eternal separation and isolation from God (2 Peter 2:17, Jude 1:13).

Apostle John says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12 NIV) Jesus Christ is eternal life (John 3:15-16, John 3:36). Anyone who believes in Him has that life, eternal life now and forever. For anyone who has received Jesus as Lord also received the Spirit, Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27, Romans 8:10).

So, we are in eternity and time now. We are in Jesus Christ, with Him, for Him, by Him. A hymn pertinently reflects that the believers have eternal life now and forevermore.

“Eternal life, begun below,

Now fills my heart and soul.

I’ll sing His praise forevermore

Who has redeemed my soul.

’Tis true, O yes, ’tis true,

God’s wonderful promise is true;

For I’ve trusted, and tested, and tried it,

And I know God’s promise is true.”

His Eternal Belongings

Who told man to lie? Who told him to steal? Who told him to covet? Who told him to lust? Who told him to murder? Who told him to hate? Who told him to anger? Who told him to revenge? Of course not parents. Neither friends nor teachers did. The devil did it. He is the father of lie and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44).

Mankind is the victim of the master of lie, who speaks haughtily and proudly from his own resources. God withstands the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Pride is the hallmark of the devil.

God still loves the fallen race because He created man in His image and in His likeness. He is rather compassionate and merciful on the fallen human beings who have been deceived by the malevolent and cunning evil force.

So, the immortal God died for the sin in our place in the manner of bloody death. God is stronger than the devil incomparably who is not in the same league with God. He bound the Satan and rescued the victims who believe in the power of God by means of His Son’s blood.

If God rescued, then no power and authority can possibly dare to challenge Him. The Spirit has sealed with the power of resurrection and secured His spoils in the Book of Life. The devil can still try all kinds of wicked things against the rescued merchants, but cannot even touch a bit.

“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:5 NKJV)

Although at times sons of God may and can succumb to the temptations of evil, it cannot change the mind of God who once for all has claimed the spoils as His eternal possessions and belongings.

If at all some are genuine sons of God, these things they will do at least.

“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NKJV)

God's Riches at Christ's Expense (GRACE)

What is grace? It is given though not deserved. That's grace. So, the grace of God is given to the believers through the faith in Christ Jesus, not through the works. By grace we are enriched by the unsearchable riches of God. Someone said that grace stands for God's riches at Christ's expense. 

When the church of Jerusalem in the first century was told that the gospel went out to the Greeks, they sent out Barnabas as far as to Antioch. When he went there he found the evidence of the grace of God in them (Acts 11:22-23).

How did he know that the grace of God was in and on them? Obviously not because they did serve him with great hospitality, but because there were undeniable evidence observably manifested out of their attitudes like cheerfulness, love, excitement, vitality, peace, joy, kindness which would have never been found without the grace of Christ Jesus.

These things can be given from heaven, not from the earth. Of course, stresses and pressures come from all sides upon us as equally as all receives. Again by His grace we can stand and go through trials and tribulations. By God's grace we are not only sons of God but have Christ, the very source of dynamics, to live a life worthy of calling.

God demands everyone of us to keep the Law and at the same time He provides means to obey, Christ in you. That's grace. So, we are not just trying our best, but can obey God perfectly and blamelessly because we are under grace not under law.

"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14 NKJV)

Job

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8 NKJV)

Why did God let Job suffer even that extreme degree? The answer is to teach him that there is evil deeply embedded in humanity incomparably more than he understood. He struggled a while why all those terrible things had happened to him and his families. He seemed to have been indefinitely tortured and tormented by his friends and totally abandoned by God whom he served wholeheartedly and blamelessly.

In long-suffering, God showed Job who He was and what was inside humans, the vicious and malevolent monstrous evil. That evil inherited from Adam was inside Job, quietly sitting and being ready to devour him at any second. That was the real trouble of Job, so are we. The enemy is inside us.

When Job repented acknowledging the Lordship of God upon everything, the grace of the Lord opened his eyes of the heart that he thanked God even for the loss.

"Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:6 NKJV)

The real trouble is not the flesh and blood, our families, neighbors, coworkers, bosses, even politicians, but the principalities and authorities of this age who hold the power of darkness.      

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)

Trust in the Lord God in everything, who knows what He is doing now and forever.

Salvation Through His Grace Only

How are we saved? Why are we saved? Did we come to God first and ask for salvation? Or did we ever do something good for God that He favored and saved us? Or God saved us because we were born in Christian families? Or even because we go churches and study the scriptures? None of those.

Salvation is solely lied upon God's Sovereignty. Jesus says so, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44 NKJV) "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." (John 15:16 NKJV)

We did not even love God first but He did. "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (I John 4:10 NKJV) When we were still the enemies of God, He let His begotten son lay down His life for us that whosoever believes in Him shall have eternal life. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NKJV)

Salvation comes to all kinds of people according to election to fulfill the purpose of God. "(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls)" (Romans 9:11 NKJV) Salvation is solely and wholly out of His grace and mercy that no can boast of anything at all. As our Lord Jesus always thanked the Father, so do we. That's why Paul exhorts us to give thanks to God always in any circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Salvation is once for all because we are sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) and because nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). All we need to do is to remind of the new identity and repent as the sons of God now and forevermore (Romans 8:16). We of course struggle at times and suffer for Christ's sake, which proves that we are His beloved children (Hebrews 12:5-8).

His Life in Us

"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." (Romans 8:9 NKJV)

How do we explain when someone asks us of what the faith in Christ is? Practically, of course. The faith in Christ is to live according what we know and believe. It means that we live not in fantasy, illusion, or delusion, but reality and truth. There is no light in the world where a lot of shams and fakes are lurking all around the people. They are dreaming of something unreal and non-existing like a worry free life. The real and true life is of God who has freely given to the believers of Christ the Son. This is eternal life, the life that all humans are desperately in want. Nobody wants to live a wasted and deceived life. Rather everyone wants to have a fulfilled life. In His long-suffering God has given that marvelous life to all kinds of people who humbly and diligently seek and ask by faith. There is no other name out in the world which can give life than the name of Jesus Christ. Everyone who believes and obeys Him will not ashamed at His appearing. We live by faith because we have His life in us.

Walk in the Spirit

How do we know that we are led by the Spirit not by the flesh? Paul tells us to observe ourselves to see by which we are. "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy..." (Philippians 2:1 NKJV) Are we drawn to the word of living God in season and out of season? Are we encouraged and uplifted and enlightened and strengthened when we open and read the scriptures? Are we being corrected and instructed in mind and heart by the truth of God? Are we now more loving than the first we believed? Are we now more rejoicing than the first we came to Christ? Are we more enduring? Are we more cheerful? Do we now more understand the word of God than before? Are we able to teach someone and answer the questions based on the truth in this age of deception? Are we rejecting the evil thoughts of the world by faith? Are we fearing of God more than anything else? Are we obeying Him? Do we love one another? These are the tests.

Died to Sin

What was happened when we received the Lord Jesus? We died to sin and made alive to God. That’s happened. The slavery union with the devil was broken down and the new union with Christ has been made once for all. We have been delivered and liberated through the faith in Jesus Christ. We are by faith united with Christ through the mystery of Christ that we died together with Him, buried together with Him, and rose again from the dead together with Him (Romans 6:1-14).

What does it mean practically that we died to sin? It means that we don't have to choose evil any longer because the new provision has been made for us not to succumb to sin. Although it is true that we sin at times, it cannot opt out the deliverance of the Spirit. We have been born of God who is stronger than any power and authority in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

That’s our new and real identity in Jesus Christ. We struggle at times very intensely even. We also fail miserably sometimes. We cry out just as Apostle Paul cries out, “What a wretched man I am!” We know that we are still carrying out our decaying body, the seat of sin, by which we may be deceived and powerlessly overpowered with the malevolent power of the devil (Romans 7:13-24).

It causes a terribly bad feeling on us that we begin to hate ourselves. However, almost immediately the help is available for us. “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 7:25-8:1 NKJV) The presence of Christ within us is the secret of new life.

The law cannot condemn us any longer because we are not under law but under grace. “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14 NKJV) We have changed and transformed into the whole new beings in Christ Jesus the Lord. The bondage has been broken up by the power of the resurrection of Christ. All we need to do and are commanded to do is to remind of the fact what we are and who we are in Christ Jesus and repent. We are the beloved children of God.

The word of God stands forever, ever confirming and strengthening and enlightening us that we are always loved by the Lord Almighty, the Creator of all things.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)