Tempted, Yet Without Sin - PART 41

When praying to God, the believers lifted up their voice in unity. Prayers that recognized the goodness of God. Prayers like"Lord, you alone are the maker of the heavens and the earth. All things were made by you, and without you Lord, there would be nothing but emptiness." Imagine what emptiness would look like. Only a void where God's creation exists today. But instead, God provided a place, this place called earth.

In another scriptural example, David, a believing ancestor under the influence of God's holy spirit said, "Why are the Gentiles raging? What is this turmoil among the nations? People are busying themselves with empty things. Why are the thoughts of the people so foolish? Planning their little plots against me, the almighty God?"

These questions asked by God our creator. All the while, the kings of the earth are setting themselves in array against Him, conspiring with the rulers.  Indeed, the kings were mustering together to make some common cause against the same God who was willing to die for them. Wake up folks. Realise the truths that God has delivered. 

"Jesus is my only begotten son. My holy child who bears my name. My spirit conceived Him. He is my seed, and in Him I am pleased to dwell." In other words, God is saying, "I was in the man Jesus." God had become as a son, brought forth from a surrogate mother’s womb. While clothed with generational sinful flesh, God was indeed tempted and tried, just as all men are who are recipients of Adam’s fallen race.

Yet in all points, God was without sin. Rather, He humiliated Himself in an endeavour to express Himself to you as a son. And as a brother. Likewise, as a kinsman in the flesh. By doing this, God was ensuring that His own predetermined plan, the one predicted before the world was formed, would surpass any human understanding of the love and mercy God had for us. In fact, even while the human race, indeed you and I, were still opposing God's plan of salvation, He was intent on accomplishing deliverance on our behalf. The course was marked out by me, God related in the scriptures. Me, as your Saviour, and predetermined by my own counselled will, prior to the very existence of anything. 

Then why God asks are people still opposed to me? Has sin rendered them/you incapable of making just decisions? Or, are you just like Pilate? Think of the Lord look upon the situation that exists globally today. People everywhere are denying the Almighty God, choosing instead to worship what they know not.  Lovers of pleasure, marrying and divorcing, and shacking up. Advocating alternative lifestyles. Abortions. There is a great forsaking in the midst of the land. Evil is flourishing, and spiritually Lord, the world is so dark.

But Lord, we know you are the light of the world. We need you to come and shine your light on us today. Therefore Lord, we beseech you to stretch forth your hand of deliverance. Enable us who trust in you to spread the good news gospel. That with all boldness,  we may speak with honesty and sincerity the word of your salvation plan.

Most of all, that we would open wide our mouths and with perfect courage, we may at all times continue to speak your gospel message to those who have not had an opportunity to hear your gospel.  Lord, work within us, confirming your Word with the same signs and marvels that the Apostles displayed in the New Testament times. Perform miracles once again among the multitudes, thereby healing the sick. Deliver those who have been imprisoned by the deceitfulness of satan’s delusions of bright lights, from the one who was never very good at keeping promises anyway.  

Lord, deliver the people. Lord, we ask that you will always remember that we are your adopted children, our citizenship status before you. For there are many of us who still recognize that our deliverance was purchased by your demise as a son, and as He was, we are now. We know that because we are in Jesus, our prayers will be assuredly answered. Still Lord, shake the pillars of our hearts and fill us with your Holy Spirit presence. Send us out Lord to be going about your business, preaching the gospel so that you may save those people who, unfortunately, at this moment appear to be lost. We know Lord that you are the light of the world who shines on us.

May all who read this arise and trim your lamp. If you have no oil in your lamp, ask Jesus to breathe on you the oil of His holy spirit. Be baptised into the name of Jesus. Go forward into the harvest field. May our God of love, mercy and compassion hold your hand. And know this - that your labour is not in vain when it is labour for the Lord.

Stand in the offering plate, and when you do, give yourself. Jesus did not die for your money. Jesus died for you. The cattle upon a thousand hills belong to the Lord and yet, He still died for you. May God’s peace rule you.