Sunday, May 20, 2007
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
The Spiritual Reality We Don't See and Waiting For Our Answer to Prayer
Do you know there are individuals out there that can see the spiritual realms around them?
Sometimes I can sense evil but I can’t literally see the source of it. Sometimes I feel God but can’t literally see God. I bet you have felt it too a time or two in your life. Some however can actually see not just feel the presence of evil that lurks or possesses an environment or a person’s life. Some can also actually see God’s angels, the river of God flow through a place, and even Jesus in visions and dreams, - not just feel the presence of God that lives or surrounds an environment or a person’s life. Not saying that feeling the presence of God isn’t powerful enough because it is very powerful and maybe just AS powerful.
We as Christians often think of two levels. The level we live in right now and the level where Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us but we hardly think of the level in between. The level where unseen battles are played out between angels and fallen angels. (I think God’s angels like it that way for they only want to glorify God and not themselves. That is the way it should be for Christians too, that our works and actions would glorify God and not us.)
"When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of the sheep, he doesn't just sit down and eat. He must first prepare his master's meal and serve him his supper before eating his own. And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, 'We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.'" Luke 17:7-10
Some may think, why bring up this unseen reality where battles are fought between angels and fallen angels for it isn’t mentioned all the much in the church today. What is the purpose in bringing it up?
Well this is my reasoning. Do you pray and when you pray does it seem that your prayers don’t get answered? Does it seem at times that it takes a long time for your prayers to get answered? Do you start to wonder and search for reasons why God might not be answering your prayers? Do you ask God, "Have I done something to upset you?"
Sometimes our prayers don’t get answered for a lot of reasons. Reasons beyond our understanding. Reasons that only God holds. Reasons that have to do with perfect timing and the perfect will of God.
It’s often frustrating when your prayers don’t get answered immediately. It’s even more trying when the situation you are praying for is pounding on your heartstrings. We cry out, "Father God why aren’t you taking care of this?"
It’s like our prayers are in this prayer chrysalis and we are just waiting and waiting for this beautiful monarch answer to burst forth and so we can feel that everything is how it should be once again.
Some may think that being a child of God means instant answers to prayer. Heck our brother Jesus is on the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. We are allowed to come bounding into the throne room whenever we want because of Jesus spilt blood on Calvary. Our Father, creator of the universe, made us from the dust of this earth so nothing is impossible with Him. And both our Father and our brother Jesus have got plenty of angels to watch over us. Why the hold up?
When I get headed in this mindset I have to remind myself of what it says in the book of Daniel, Chapter 10.
"When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food or meat, had drunk no wine, and had used no fragrant oils. On April 23, as I was standing beside the great Tigris River, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes like lightening, and his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people.
I, Daniel, am the only one who saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing. But they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there alone to watch this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. When I heard him speak, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.
Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, "O Daniel, greatly loved of God, listen carefully to what I have to say to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling with fear.
Then he said, "Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for the twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come."
Paul writes in his letter to the church in Thessalonica, "We wanted very much to come, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus when he comes back again. For you are our pride and joy." 1 Thessalonians 2:18
We must continue to believe that God hears our prayers even though it seems nothing is happening. Armies of angels are fighting to ensure your prayers are answered in accordance to God’s will and to bring you to the full assurance of God’s love for you. Remember our prayers may be answered in ways that are unconventional in our ways of thinking.
Here’s an example. An evangelist and his family were traveling on the road from one church to another. They had no more money and just the gas in the gas tank. They prayed that God would see them through. They were on a highway when very angry man flagged them over to the side of the road. They pulled over to see what was wrong and the father got out. The angry man marched over to their car and pulled out his wallet and said, "I don’t know who you are or why I am doing this but I have to give you this!" The angry man gave the father one hundred dollars and before the father could thank him, the angry man marched back to his car and speeded away.
May you stay strong in the faith of The Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Jeff Johnson
Sometimes I can sense evil but I can’t literally see the source of it. Sometimes I feel God but can’t literally see God. I bet you have felt it too a time or two in your life. Some however can actually see not just feel the presence of evil that lurks or possesses an environment or a person’s life. Some can also actually see God’s angels, the river of God flow through a place, and even Jesus in visions and dreams, - not just feel the presence of God that lives or surrounds an environment or a person’s life. Not saying that feeling the presence of God isn’t powerful enough because it is very powerful and maybe just AS powerful.
We as Christians often think of two levels. The level we live in right now and the level where Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us but we hardly think of the level in between. The level where unseen battles are played out between angels and fallen angels. (I think God’s angels like it that way for they only want to glorify God and not themselves. That is the way it should be for Christians too, that our works and actions would glorify God and not us.)
"When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of the sheep, he doesn't just sit down and eat. He must first prepare his master's meal and serve him his supper before eating his own. And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, 'We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.'" Luke 17:7-10
Some may think, why bring up this unseen reality where battles are fought between angels and fallen angels for it isn’t mentioned all the much in the church today. What is the purpose in bringing it up?
Well this is my reasoning. Do you pray and when you pray does it seem that your prayers don’t get answered? Does it seem at times that it takes a long time for your prayers to get answered? Do you start to wonder and search for reasons why God might not be answering your prayers? Do you ask God, "Have I done something to upset you?"
Sometimes our prayers don’t get answered for a lot of reasons. Reasons beyond our understanding. Reasons that only God holds. Reasons that have to do with perfect timing and the perfect will of God.
It’s often frustrating when your prayers don’t get answered immediately. It’s even more trying when the situation you are praying for is pounding on your heartstrings. We cry out, "Father God why aren’t you taking care of this?"
It’s like our prayers are in this prayer chrysalis and we are just waiting and waiting for this beautiful monarch answer to burst forth and so we can feel that everything is how it should be once again.
Some may think that being a child of God means instant answers to prayer. Heck our brother Jesus is on the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. We are allowed to come bounding into the throne room whenever we want because of Jesus spilt blood on Calvary. Our Father, creator of the universe, made us from the dust of this earth so nothing is impossible with Him. And both our Father and our brother Jesus have got plenty of angels to watch over us. Why the hold up?
When I get headed in this mindset I have to remind myself of what it says in the book of Daniel, Chapter 10.
"When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food or meat, had drunk no wine, and had used no fragrant oils. On April 23, as I was standing beside the great Tigris River, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes like lightening, and his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people.
I, Daniel, am the only one who saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing. But they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there alone to watch this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. When I heard him speak, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.
Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, "O Daniel, greatly loved of God, listen carefully to what I have to say to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling with fear.
Then he said, "Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for the twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come."
Paul writes in his letter to the church in Thessalonica, "We wanted very much to come, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus when he comes back again. For you are our pride and joy." 1 Thessalonians 2:18
We must continue to believe that God hears our prayers even though it seems nothing is happening. Armies of angels are fighting to ensure your prayers are answered in accordance to God’s will and to bring you to the full assurance of God’s love for you. Remember our prayers may be answered in ways that are unconventional in our ways of thinking.
Here’s an example. An evangelist and his family were traveling on the road from one church to another. They had no more money and just the gas in the gas tank. They prayed that God would see them through. They were on a highway when very angry man flagged them over to the side of the road. They pulled over to see what was wrong and the father got out. The angry man marched over to their car and pulled out his wallet and said, "I don’t know who you are or why I am doing this but I have to give you this!" The angry man gave the father one hundred dollars and before the father could thank him, the angry man marched back to his car and speeded away.
May you stay strong in the faith of The Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Jeff Johnson
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