Pray Without Ceasing

And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; Luke 11:5

We all heard the phrase “Pray without Ceasing” and that’s exactly what Jesus is trying to teach us here in this parable. Imagine you go to your neighbors or friends house and start banging on their door at midnight, what reaction do you think they will have? It better be an urgent request.

But you knock on that door because you know, you can trust them and eventually they will help and answer you.

And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. Luke 11:7

Sometimes it feels like God is far away or that he’s not answering. The question is do we stay at the door and keep knocking? Or do you quickly go away because you don’t believe God will answer? When we develop a strong relationship with our Father, we know he will not fail us

I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. Luke 11:8

The key is to “Pray without Ceasing” , keep asking God , keep knocking on the door, and he will answer us. I think Jesus uses a great parable here to teach us how we need to keep praying and also don’t be afraid to call on our Father at any hour in Jesus Name AMen

The Unseen is Eternal

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

What if there is more to this life than meets the eye? What if there are kingdoms around you right now , which you can’t see?  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12) We need to realize that we are in a spiritual warfare for your soul, Jesus wants to save it and Satan wants to destroy it.

So we need to fix our eyes on the unseen, which is Jesus Christ, because he is our Lord and Savior, blessed are those who don’t see but still believe (John 20:29) When we fix our eyes on Christ, we are victorious in this spiritual warfare of the unseen world. (Revelation 3:21)

You are not in this battle alone, for God has sent his angels to watch over you (Psalm 91:11) God has sent his Holy Spirit to live inside you (John 14:16) Greater is he (Holy Spirit) living inside of us than he (Satan) that is living in the world (1 John 4:4)

So how do we prepare for this battle of the unseen world? For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does (2 Corinthians 10:3) We use our weapons of warfare to fight the evil of this world (2 Corinthians 10:4)  But take heart for Jesus has already overcome the world (John 16:33), therefor we can overcome also in Jesus Name Amen

AGAPE

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

How do you show love? How do you know if someone loves you? God demonstrated his love for us when Jesus died for us on the cross. Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13) Not only did Jesus display his ultimate love for you but he also considers you his friend

Many consider love to be a feeling or emotion but Love is an action. Love is patient, Love is kind, Love isn’t proud (1 Corinthians 13) these are all actions to display our true love. Just as God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to save us from our sin (John 3:16)

This kind of love is called “Agape” which is not to be confused with Brotherly Love. Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, obedience, and self-sacrifice, this is the kind of love God has demonstrated to us because God is Love (1 John 4:8)

Because God loved us and showed us grace and mercy, we can love each other (1 John 4:11) While we were Gods enemies, he still showed us mercy and love through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:10) Therefor if God granted us Love and mercy, shouldn’t you do the same?

Do you demonstrate love to others? Remember Love is more than just words its an action, just as Faith without works is dead (James 2:14), Love without action is empty in Jesus Name Amen

Unforgivable Sin?

Therefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men. Matthew 12:31

Jesus died for our sins so we can be forgiven, but there is one sin he will not forgive and that’s “Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit”.  So what is blasphemy? And who is The Holy Spirit?

Blasphemy- is an act or speaking offensively against God including profanity.

As Jesus said before he made this statement, “Anyone who is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30) So anyone who is committing blasphemy is ultimately waging war against God

We must understand that we are in a Spiritual Warfare for our souls (Ephesians 6:1) you are either on Gods side or Satans side, there is no in between

So who is The Holy Spirit?  Jesus taught us a lot about the Holy Spirit in (John 14-15) He is the power of God, The Comforter, The Spirit of Truth that will dwell in us forever.

We should remember the story from (Acts 5) about Ananias and Sapphira, they intentionally lied and tried to deceive the Holy Spirit and were instantly put to death. Peter told them they had lied to God, this shows you a glimpse how the Father, Son , and Holy Spirit are One

So when you speak against God or use his name in vain, this will not be forgiven. When you target and persecute Christians this will not be forgiven. Before you wage war against Jesus, make sure you know the consequences, because if God if for us who can stand against us Amen

Lost Sheep

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Luke 15:4

Jesus is looking for you, You are his lost sheep, he is the Great Shepherd. He was willing to lower himself below the angels, to save you of your sins. Are you feeling lost today? Come back home to your Heavenly Father, who has been looking for you

And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.  Luke 15:5-6

And when Jesus finds you , there will be great rejoicing. For there is no greater victory than a sinner being saved! Satan roams like a Lion looking to devour you, but rejoice, your Great Shepherd has heard your cries, and has saved you from death

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

And all of Heaven rejoices over your salvation of sin. Come home to your Father, hear the calling of the Great Shepherd , repent your sins and become transformed today in Jesus Name Amen