RELATIONSHIP AND ASSURANCES GO HAND-IN-HAND

 “…for He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”—Hebrews 13:5

 

People all over the world struggle with loneliness; however human beings were not designed to walk through this world alone.  God said that it was not good for man to be alone so He created him a helper, “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him’” (Genesis 2:18).  Loneliness can cripple a person emotionally and spiritually.  We are made for relationship, which God gladly supplies.  

 

Have you ever noticed that throughout Jesus’ life that He would say things like, “I must be about my Father’s business,” and “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working?” (Luke 2:49, John 5:17).   He was the first person that ever called God His Father, and through this we see how His life demonstrated that intimate connection with the Heavenly Father.  The Heavenly Father desires our companionship just like He did in the Garden before the fall.  In the Garden, He called out to Adam and Eve seeking them, “Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).  God has not changed; He is still seeking those who are separated from Him and feel alone, “For the son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).  Only Christ can fill the void of loneliness in your life.  No man, no woman, no child, no object, or animal was ever created to take the place in our hearts that is reserved for God Himself.  He has said, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).

 

Although our source of intimate connection is to the Father, He has provided for our need to have emotional support and companionship through people.  The church is designed to meet our need for person-to-person intimacy.  A spiritual body works much like a human body—parts are both independent and interdependent, each needing others in order to function well.  We require support from our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Paul admonished people to accept one another, “Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God,” bear each other’s burdens, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill he law of Christ,” and avoid judging, “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Romans 14:13). 

 

You may be experiencing the enemy’s pressure of loneliness and isolation; however, the Lord stressed His constant presence because He knows our need for assurance, especially when we feel deserted or isolated (Matthew 28:20; Joshua 1:5).  Even when we feel that we are alone and that no one cares, nothing can compare to drawing near to God “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” (James 4:8). 

 

God wants every believer to completely trust that He is near.  And in case we forget that the Lord is near, He gave the Bible this consistent theme: I love you and I am with you always.  People need one another—Look around you and allow the Holy Spirit to use you to bear another’s burden in some way.  When we help others, our problems do not look as big.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You for reminding me that You are with me always.  I ask You to open my eyes to see someone that I can help with the resources that You have given to me, in Jesus’ Name.   Amen.

BROKENNESS IN OUR LIFE PRODUCES THE TRUE POWER

 “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So Peter went out and wept bitterly.’”—Luke 22:62

 

Sometimes we are so sure that we are too strong to be broken that we do not understand the purpose that brokenness can serve in our lives.  Peter, one of Jesus’ first disciples, was such a man.  He was so sure of himself that even when Jesus told all of the disciples that they would stumble Peter said, “…even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.  Jesus said to him, ‘assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’ And so said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:33-35). 

 

Scripture records that Peter did deny Jesus three times and yet through the brokenness that occurred in his life God was able to use his genuine repentance in a most powerful way.  God used this man who had denied His Son to preach the first sermon after Pentecost.  Peter was the disciple that received the revelation that salvation was not just for the Jews, but it included the Gentile world too.  God continues to use individual’s that have experienced true brokenness in their lives.

 

The Power of Brokenness is never Weakness.  It is coming to the end of one’s self-life.  Jesus said that the broken man is truly a blessed man, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).  Through brokenness we comprehend that we are finite people in tremendous need of a Savior.  A person will surrender herself or himself to the Redeemer only when she or he grasps the reality that she or he deserves divine judgment for sin and that the only hope is Christ’s mercy.  The life of brokenness begins when the individual is quick to repent.  Sin is not swept under the carpet, nor are excuses given; such as, time heals all things.  No, the broken soul rushes into the presence of God and cries out to Him saying, Lord, I have sinned.

The Power of Brokenness produces true Humility.  Until our pride is broken we will not humble ourselves before God or men.  Brokenness and humility are the results of a deep consciousness of personal guilt before God over sin, seeing our overwhelming need of a Savior, and then clinging to Christ as a result.  People who are in a right relationship with their Creator will grow in brokenness and humility until their dying day. “He has showed you, O man, what is good.  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).  Humility and brokenness are inseparably interwoven so as to bring a person to surrender, repentance and victory.

The Power of Brokenness causes true revival.  Revival is birthed through humble and broken saints who yearn to see the glory of God.  In many nations of the world, Christians are suffering tremendous persecution.  God is using the persecution to ignite revival.  Because the Christians have lost virtually everything, they have no other hope than to desperately seek God’s face. 

 

Where there is pride, there is no confession of sin and no forgiveness.  When you are broken, you have no pride.  When you are broken you are willing to ‘give in,’ you do not find your identity in always being right.

 
Brokenness heals relationships, pride and unforgiveness destroys them.  The splintered American church will find healing and anointing when brokenness defines her character.

Matthew 14:19 shows us a wonderful example of brokenness, “Then he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass.  And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.”   Until God breaks your will, He will never use you. You will remain only a nice loaf of bread.  The power of brokenness let’s us lay down our lives for people who are not perfect, but need the love of God in their lives.

 

Prayer—Father I repent of pride in my life.  Holy Spirit will You please shine Your light onto any areas of my heart where I harbor pride?  And I ask You Father to forgive me.  Lord will You please help me to walk in true humility in my life?  Father show me the people who need to know Your love and I ask You to use me in demonstrating Your love to them, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

SEEK THE LORD AND SATISFY YOUR SOUL

“O God, you are my God: early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You…”—Psalm 63:1

 

A personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ has the potential to be more intimately satisfying than any earthly connection.  King David recorded his experience in Psalm 63.  Our Heavenly Father wants to have a loving bond with us just as He did with David.

 

Making a firm commitment to know Him is the first step, which takes priority above all matters.  David described his passion to know God as an intense thirst; the Apostle Paul likened his dedication in pursuing the Lord to a race.  “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witness, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

 

When we pledge ourselves to the lordship of Christ and seek after Him with our hearts and minds, we will find our souls becoming satisfied.  Once we resolve to follow diligently after the Lord, our next step is to spend time in His Word.

 

The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself and His plan for the world.  Making time to read and meditate on Scripture is essential for every believer.  That’s how we learn who God is, how He works, and what He desires for us and for the body of Christ.  When we strive to know and understand a biblical passage, the Holy Spirit will make the meaning clear to us.  An illumination comes, and the Holy Spirit makes the passage come to life.  God is pleased by followers who make it their goal to deepen their relationship with Him.

 

Dedicating time to know and experiencing God is a critical step toward a satisfying walk with Him.  Begin today by making a pledge to pursue Him more diligently and taking time in your schedule for regular study and prayer.  “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

 

Your heavenly Father is willing to meet with you.

 

 Prayer—Father I thank You for satisfying my every longing.  Today I purpose to thirst for You as I never have before.  I thank You that You have told me that when I seek I shall find, when I knock it shall be opened, and whatever I ask in Jesus’ Name shall be given to me.  I ask you to fill my cup with Your presence and revelation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.