God’s Throne Room

Week 47

Where does the God of the universe dwell? We know that he wants to dwell with mankind. He had Moses build a tabernacle for his presence to be close to the Israelites when they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. He instructed King Solomon, the son of King David to build him a temple. Isaiah saw him in a vision, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted and the train of his robe filled the temple,” Isaiah 6:1. 

In Isaiah 66:1 we hear God say, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?”

If we fast forward to the book of Hebrews we get a better idea of God’s throne room. The author explains about Jesus’ priesthood. He shares with us the way Jesus entered the actual Holy of Holies, not an earthly imitation, but the very throne of God in heaven. He took his sinless blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat of God to make atonement for the sins of the world. It is this very throne that we now have access to through the blood of Jesus.

Each time we go to God in prayer, we have to apply the blood of Jesus. It is the covering that makes us righteous in God’s eyes. We have done nothing and can do nothing to protect ourselves as we approach God. In our own power and by ourselves we would be consumed completely before we got in the door. We are sinful people, but God is a God of mercy and grace. 

Jesus is a savior who died for our sins, he knew that was the only way for us to enter God’s presence and he took care of it for us. The Hebrew people had the priest who could approach God only on the day of atonement. He was the only one who could act as a go-between between the people and God and the sacrifice he offered had to be offered again and again, year after year. It was a never ending process. Until Jesus showed up on earth.

When Jesus took his own blood into the throne room of God, that took care of the sin problem once and for all. As far as God was concerned, anyone who comes to him in Jesus’ name, is as pure as Christ himself. Why can’t we get that through our thick skulls? Why do we think that we still have to offer sacrifices? The price has been paid, we are righteous in God’s sight if we have applied the blood of Jesus to our lives and sprinkled it on the door posts of our hearts.

Another thing happened when Jesus entered that throne room. He took his seat next to God, his father. And the word of God tells us this. “...Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:24b-25. 

What is he doing for us right this very minute? He lives to intercede for us. He is sitting beside his father, speaking on our behalf.

So how do we get into the throne room? What do we have to do to get an audience with the king of the universe? We have to pray. Jesus is sitting beside God waiting for his loyal subjects to bring him petitions. He is wanting to answer our prayers, but we have to bring them to him first. 

Many times when I have burdens that seem unbearable, I envision meeting Jesus at the door of the throne room. He takes me by the hand and walks with me across the enormous room where God is seated on his large towering throne. It is intimidating, but when you picture Jesus holding your hand, it makes it so much easier. 

Let me give you a visual example. I am a visual learner and this is the way I can best explain my prayer life. One week God put a burden on my heart for abused children in the counties where I live and work. I know that there are many children who are suffering from physical abuse and neglect and from sexual abuse. The need for protection is great and there are not enough foster homes to place these children and remove them from danger. What can we do as Christians?

Well, I went before the throne of God, with Jesus standing beside me, and I asked God to supernaturally protect these little ones. I told him that I knew many of these children had no one to pray for them and I wanted to be the one to stand in the gap for them. I told him that I wanted to be their grandma. I asked for him to cover them with the blood of Jesus and to sanctify them. 

As I was praying, I realized that little children were all around me. They were looking up at me, expecting me to protect them. Now there is no way that I can do that physically, but the God of the universe is able to do amazing things in the supernatural world and I have asked him to keep them safe.

Sound weird? Well maybe it does, but I believe that God is a God who is able to save, protect, heal and that he is our vindicator. The vision doesn’t stop there. Those little ones remained in my heart, when I awoke the next morning, I envisioned them under the covers with me. I was protecting them all night as I slept and as they slept. Do I have any proof? No, but I had such a peace about the situation that I don’t need proof.

The vision still continues, when I got to work that day, there they were under my desk. I was still seeking God’s protection for them and was continuing to stand in the gap. All those little ones stayed with me for quite awhile.

Who has God put in your heart to pray for? Take the burden to Jesus. There is a an old hymn that speaks about this concept. Listen to the words:

1) I must tell Jesus all of my trials; I cannot bear these burdens alone; In my distress He kindly will help me; He ever loves and cares for his own. 

Chorus:

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear these burdens alone; I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

2) I must tell Jesus all of my troubles; He is a kind, compassionate friend; If I but ask Him, He will deliver, Make of my troubles quickly and end.

3) Tempted and tried I need a great Savior, one who can help my burdens to bear; I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus; He all my cares and sorrows will share.

4) O how the world to evil allures me! O how my heart is tempted to sin! I must tell Jesus, and he will help me over the world the victory to win.

(I Must Tell Jesus - by E. A.Hoffman - Hope Publishing Co.)

There is a scripture in 1 Samuel that seems to explain why we approach the throne of God. When the people of God asked Samuel to pray and ask God for a king to rule over them they were told that God was going to give them what they asked for even though it was not according to his will for them. He wanted to be their king.

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.” 1 Samuel 12:20-25

Samuel had to pray for them, we have a responsibility to pray for others. Let’s not fail to do so.

Darkness is Light to God

Week 46

In Genesis we read that God spoke to the darkness and created light. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day and the darkness he called night.”

Creating light was a pretty simple operation for God. It is today also. His light, his glory radiates from him and illuminates everything that is dark.

Man continues to try and hide his wickedness in the darkness. For some reason, we think that if we commit sin behind closed doors or at night when it is dark, no one will know. The Psalmist said, “If I say, ‘surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

God is able to help the saints by illuminating the way before us. He often shines his light on our pathways to keep us from falling or tripping. His spirit wants us to follow the path He has chosen for us and many times we stray from the path.

Keeping in touch with God through his word helps enable us to follow the path he has chosen for us. Psalm 119:105 reads “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” God is the provider of the light. He wants us to ask him for guidance when we make decisions, he wants to hold the lantern for us when we are confused about which way to turn. If he can create light, he can certainly illuminate our pathway.

Jesus Christ came into the world as one of us to show us the love and the light of God. He was able to dispel the darkness by paying the price for sin with his life. The gospel of John explains it best. “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” He explains that John the Baptist was coming to be a witness of the light coming into the world. “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” 

In chapter three he says, “Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

How amazing to think that living by the truth means living in the light. 

Living in truth keeps us separate from those who live in darkness. In 2 Corinthians we read, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?”

As believers it is also our job to expose the deeds of darkness. In Ephesians 5:8-11 we hear Paul tell us, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” In verse 13 he says, “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible.”

Wow, what an awesome responsibility we have as followers of Christ. An example of this is one that many Christians share. Christians on the job are often shunned by co-workers when they walk into a situation where gossip is taking place or if someone is telling an off color joke. It is the light of Christ shining through us revealing the deeds of darkness that makes people uncomfortable. We are exposing the darkness, making it visible to God.

Scripture tells us, that as children of God, we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

He has called us into his light. We are no longer living in darkness. We no longer enjoy the things we used to enjoy. Our sinful lives have been exposed to the darkness and we run to the light and a right relationship with God. 

When I first came into this relationship with God, there were many times that I longed for my old way of life. It was familiar to me, it was comfortable and I missed the old life. But as my relationship with God has grown, the old ways have become foreign to me. I can’t watch the same television shows I used to watch. I can’t listen to the same music and enjoy it. Some friendships have ended and some places where I used to spend time are no longer acceptable to me. 

This didn’t happen overnight for me, I’ve heard that it does for some people. But over a period of time the truth of Jesus and what he did for me has become the most important thing in my life.

As we share our love of Christ with those around us we are dispelling the darkness. Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 6:14-16

Sometimes this means that we have to go into the dark places to light them up. This is not something that God would expect a new convert to Christianity to do. If you have had a problem with drugs and alcohol and are a new believer, God would not expect you to immediately begin to minister to those who you used to associate with. He would probably help create distance from your old way of life until you were strong enough spiritually to share your faith. 

Many new believers have a problem distancing themselves from old friends and habitats. They want to share their new found faith with their friends who are continuing in the lifestyle they are trying to leave behind. This can cause the new believer to backslide. Their light is not strong enough to dispel the darkness around them. If you find yourself wanting to minister but have any doubts, listen to your heart and wait. If God wants you to share your faith, he will let you know when to do it and how to do it.

Living in the light of God will make us lovers of our brothers. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you; God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his son, purified us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7 “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.” 1 John 2:9-11

Father,

We are your children, called out of darkness into your marvelous light and we are so grateful that you have guided us to this point in our lives. Some of us are new to this way of life and need to be separated from the old way of life. Others of us are ready to take our light into the dark places, exposing the deeds for what they are. 

We come to you as children who need a light to shine the way before us and we ask you to illuminate our pathway. We really want to serve you and we know that you are the one who has the truth. You are the only way to find the light. Thank you for being a God of light, thank you for being a God of glory. May we glorify you with our lives and may they shine in the darkness around us. Because of Christ. Amen.

Connect The Dots

Week 45

I was very blessed to have an enjoyable drive to work. Most of it was back country road, no interstate highway or four lane road. Not much traffic unless I was running late and encountered school buses. As I was driving to work one morning, I looked to my left and saw two deer grazing in an open field. They heard the car and watched as I drove by. A half mile further, I looked up in time to see a flock of geese flying in formation overhead. The sun was just coming up and the sky was a brilliant shade of red and orange. 

I had to just keep thanking God and praising him for the wonders he had placed in my pathway. As I was thanking him, it occurred to me that he orchestrated this beauty just for me. I never saw another car as I drove down the country road and that increased my awe in my creator. 

Why would he plan such an event for me? He must really love me and want to bless me. That really got me to wondering how I fit into the scheme of things in the world.

I am a praying person, maybe more than some, but probably not as much as others. I am led by God’s Holy Spirit and when the Spirit asks me to pray for someone, I do. 

Each morning I have my devotional time before starting my day. I need that time to get prepared for the day. It seems to help me be ready for any and every situation I may face.

I have been praying around the world with the help of a world prayer map. It directs my prayers to different countries on specific days. This is a tool that I use to pray for those who have never heard the gospel message. It amazes me that someone on the other side of the world may be blessed because I prayed for them.

Back to my story, I’m not sure what I was praying as I drove down the road that morning. I know that I was marveling at God’s work in the heavenlies. The sunrise was breathtaking. God spoke to my heart that morning and assured me that I was part of something much bigger than my own little corner of the earth.

In Psalm 139:7 - 8, David says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”

As Christians, we are never separated from God and his love. His word tells us so. (See Romans 8:35-39.) That being said, we know that we are to pray. We are instructed to pray for other Christians, for our enemies, for those who persecute us. We are told to pray without ceasing and we are told by Jesus to pray: “Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13.

Did you hear what Jesus asked us to pray for? He said “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Wow, we are asking God to do his will on earth as it is in heaven. That is pretty awesome. I can’t really imagine what God does in heaven, but it is something fantastic. We know that Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven. We know that the true temple of God is in heaven. We know that there is a throne in heaven.

When we ask for God’s will to be done, we are impacting our planet in a mighty way. When I pray for the gospel message to be preached in other countries, when I ask for God’s purpose and plan to be fulfilled in the leaders of other nations, when I ask that Christians would have the mind of Christ, my prayers are being heard in heaven and affecting the heavenlies.

Remember when God created the heavens and the earth? What did he do to create things? He spoke them into existence. Although I am not God, when I speak the things that his Holy Spirit instructs me to speak, I too am causing things to happen in the spirit realm.

What an awesome responsibility and how powerful are our words. I don’t really know the impact I have on other countries when I pray. I usually ask according to Jesus words in Matthew 9:36-38, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, (that is you and I) “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” We are asking according to God’s will when we ask him to send workers into the harvest field.

How does my life affect what happens in the universe? I can’t really say, but I do know that God hears my prayers. When someone is sent into the harvest field to become a missionary and preach the good news of salvation, I am there with them in Spirit. The impact they have on others may be a result of my prayers and the prayers of other saints around the world.

When someone hears and accepts the gift of salvation, the angels in heaven rejoice. “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7 Now that is far reaching. A little prayer from me and others like me can open the doors of heaven, send workers into the harvest field, the message of salvation through Christ can be preached and people can have eternal life.

Eternal life, now that is universal. It is so far reaching that we may never know just how far that one little prayer went. 

Multiply our prayers by thousands or hundreds of thousands and you may be able to understand how you can affect what happens in the universe.

Now I have never really read anything in the Bible to prove what will happen when we live for eternity, but I have heard it said that what we are experiencing here on earth is like pre-school compared to what we will experience in eternity. And yet, we cannot experience eternal life unless we give our hearts to Jesus here on earth.

Our prayers for the lost people of the world are so important. If they are lost they don’t know to look for Jesus. We have to share the message with them. Not everyone who hears the message will accept it, not everyone who hears the message will understand it, but Jesus died for everyone on earth. That means that everyone on earth should at least have the opportunity to hear what he did for them. God wants to give everyone the chance to accept his gift of eternal life.

Do your prayers make a difference in the universe? Yes they do. Even if you don’t see visible proof, you have to pray and keep on praying. God knows your heart and he knows that you are sincere in wanting to reach the lost. 

Father,

We know that no matter where we are, you are there, your Holy Spirit is with us, as Christians, wherever we are. We thank you for the way you reveal yourself to us and we want you to reveal yourself to those who don’t know you. 

We know that you are the Lord of the harvest and that you can send workers into the harvest field to share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

We know that you have a purpose and a plan for leaders of nations around the world, you are the one who has put them positions of leadership. We pray that your plans for the leaders of the world would be fulfilled and that they would become the men and women you created them to be. 

We want to advance the gospel around the world and we pray that those who hear the gospel would accept your gift of eternal life. We know that heaven is poised and waiting to rejoice as people accept your gift and we rejoice with the angels. 

Thank you for hearing our prayers offered in Jesus name. Amen

A Bridge of Mercy

Week 44

Webster defines mercy as compassion shown to an offender; a blessing resulting from divine favor or compassion; a fortunate circumstance; a compassion shown to victims of misfortune. To the Christian that means that God shows compassion to sinners, he blesses us not because we deserve it, but because he is a compassionate God. He doesn’t treat us as our sinful natures deserve to be treated. We are shown mercy only because of what Jesus Christ did for us. He ultimately paid the price that we owed as offenders, sinners.

How can we know that God is a merciful God? His word tells us about his merciful character. Deuteronomy 4:30-31 reads, “When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.” Again in Nehemiah we read “But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.” Nehemiah. 9:31

How does our belief in God’s mercy take us from being fearful to being peaceful? Until we realize God’s mercy, we are lost in our sinfulness. We have a fear inside that we cannot do enough to become righteous in God’s eyes. That fear of failure, fear of being lost forever is within us. 

In the old testament we see the Hebrews seeking God’s favor through sacrifices and righteous living. In Hosea 6:6 we read this, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings.” “He has shown you, O man, what is good,” said the prophet Micah. “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Before we can walk across that bridge of mercy, we need to acknowledge our sinfulness and repent. It is when we accept what Christ died to give us that we can begin to overcome our fears.

If you have never accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you are ready to take that step right now, pray this prayer. 

Father God, I know that you came to earth in the form of the man, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world. I thank you for dying for my sins and I ask you into my heart right now to change me. I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and now sits at your right hand. I want to be like Jesus and live my life to please you. I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit which has begun to do a new thing inside me. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Once we accept the gift that God has given us, salvation through Jesus Christ, then he begins to lead us from our fears toward his peace. It is a process and it seems that we may be walking back and forth across the bridge of mercy almost daily at times.

In Hebrews 2:17 we find out exactly why Jesus had to become like us, “For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” 

Jesus died for our sins as a man suffering all the physical pain that we would have suffered had we been made to atone for our own sins. He became merciful - he became the bridge of mercy taking all of us who would believe in him from fear of death into peace (wholeness). We read this again in 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

When we call to God for mercy, he hears us and administers mercy to us as much as we need for our time of need. David was in need of help, he was fearful and needed peace. Read Psalm 86, over and over again David asked God for mercy. He reminded God of his character traits, he is a gracious God, a forgiving God, a God who does marvelous deeds, a God to be feared, a loving God, a God of compassion and faithfulness. 

We can do the same thing when we are in need. We can recall all of the wonderful qualities of God. When we have fears that are seeming to overwhelm us, we can cry out to God to help us. We are, after all, his children. We are brothers and sisters of Jesus and that makes us adopted children of the most high God. We have the same rights as God’s children to ask for mercy and help when we have a need.

Not only do we have rights as adopted sons and daughters of the most high God, but we also have responsibilities as joint heirs with Jesus. Jesus tells us to be merciful as God is merciful. (Luke 6: 36) Now who do you suppose we are to be merciful to? Other Christians, sure, but that is a given. How about our families, co-workers, neighbors and all those we meet each day who don’t know about the love of Christ. 

In Matthew 5:7 Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Can we also be part of that bridge of mercy that takes people from fear to peace? Yes, we can. We can lead people to Christ, we can be Christ to those who are fearful, we can bring peace to situations because of Christ living in us. 

In Ephesians 2:6 we read that God has raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. In verse 10 we read that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

How have you acted like a bridge of mercy today? What good works have you done lately that reflect who you are in Christ? Who have you shown mercy to? 

I ask myself these questions and honestly have to say that I don’t think I have been merciful to anyone the past few days. I truly believe that I have had opportunities and not always followed through on them. 

In my previous job I had chances to be merciful, but I don’t know that anyone really knew that it was Christ in me that was showing them mercy. Some people probably didn’t even know that mercy was shown them. But maybe they didn’t have to know about it, maybe it was enough for God to see me showing mercy.

In Jude verses 20-23 we read more about mercy. “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

Father God, We want to praise you and thank you for your mercy which saves us from our sin. Thank you for the gift of Christ Jesus and his blood which was shed for us. Thank you for taking us from fear into your peace. Show us how to administer mercy in the same way you have showered us with mercy. We want to be your hands and feet serving you all the days of our lives. Give us opportunities to be merciful and to share the good news with those around us. These things we ask in Jesus mighty name. Amen