"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us."
Ephesians 3:20

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Cor. 3:17 PRAY AND OBEY In a defensive mode you fight off the enemy but pretty much stay the same. Prayer is the offensive weapon in Eph. 6. And it is the offensive that will bring change. Prayer will bring change in our lives and in the lives of others. Warfare isn't done lackadaisical. Prayer that brings change is better done with intensity. (James 5:17; Gen. 32:26-28) Fasting to gain God's approval may lack theological ground, but fasting to add intensity to prayer seems to be effective. (Dan. 10:lf; Isa. 58:6f; Matt. 12:29;17:21; James 4:6; Ps. 35:13) Working in a Cuban half-way-house, it is discouraging to see the lack of change among these men. But God offers the hope for change. He offers to replace a heart of stone for a heart of flesh. (Ezk. 36:26) He offers to take our old life and give us a new life being new creatures in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17) The change comes as we are in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17) Obedience in love of Jesus. Waiting in worship of Jesus gives the Spirit's direction Faith in action for Jesus. The promises of God are of no effect unless we are in Christ. (2 Cor. 1:20) Being in Christ through the power of the Spirit promises a whole new set of realities and expectations. (Col. 1:27) The key then is how do we allow the Holy Spirit to bring us into Christ. (2 Cor. 3:5,6,17) Obedience in love of Jesus. Waiting in worship of Jesus gives the Spirit's direction Faith in action for Jesus. These steps define for me the process of the Spiritual life. Dr. Cho's simple formula: pray and obey. Obedience in love of Jesus is obeying what we have received from God in prayer by faith. (John 14:15 , 21, 23 ; 15:10; 1 John 5:3) We then wait on the Lord for the next command by waiting in worship of Jesus (2 Kings 3:15; Eph. 5:17,18,19), or by being quiet before Him. (Isa. 40:31; Hab. 2:1) We may receive His leading as we read or study the Bible. (Rom. 10:17) When we have received our new direction (orders from our Lord), we act in faith in the name of Jesus. (2 Cor. 4;13; James 2:18-26) This is why the lack of repentance (no obedience) short circuits spiritual life. (Acts 5:32) no repentance no obedience. no obedience no direction from the Holy Spirit. no Holy Spirit direction no faith. no faith no action. no action no obedience. No repentance is usually related to no humility. Pride is the opposite of humility so if you don't have humility you would usually have pride. And God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6f) No repentance could also be related to laziness. We may not want to obey just because we are too lazy to do the extra work that the Lord is asking of us. If you stay humble and repentant you will stay in the Spirit and will flow in the Spirit. "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him," (Col. 2:6) We receive Jesus by the prayer of faith so let us seek to walk by prayer and faith now. - - -Scott McCrae KNOWING GOD THROUGH PRAYER I know not by what methods rare, But this I know, God answers prayer. I know that He has given His Word, Which tells me prayer is always heard, And will be answered soon or late, And so I pray and calmly wait. I know not if the blessing sought Will come in just the way I thought. But leave my prayers with Him alone, Whose will is wiser than my own, Assured that He will grant my quest, Or send some answer, far more blest, -author unknown Water from the Rock Bible Study Home | Back to Top

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