Part of it was fate, part of it was the way a man reacted to the fire of the forge, the wind from the bellows. He had come out all right, but others had been less fortunate. Some men had broken in two like a piece of overheated metal.”
–Jory Sherman (Dawn of Revenge)
“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.”
“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.”
–1 John 3:22 (NASB)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NASB)
Everyone has a worldview. They may not realize it, and they may not practice it consistently, but everyone has a worldview. The worldview that John is constantly speaking of, as well as the other writers of the New Testament, is Christian. In 1 John 3:19-24, we see a concise view of the Christian worldview. We are of the Truth!
We are told to worship in “spirit and in truth.” Truth, then is our worldview. Truth means reality. We are to worship in reality–in other words by the Word of God in our life. We live in a real world, therefore we worship through our lives. Paul says that our reasonable worship is to be a “living sacrifice.” We are to look at the world with eyes of the Scripture.
John, in these verses, also speaks of prayer. Prayer simply is communion and fellowship with God. A few things that prayer is not:
1) automatic — we must do it.
2) “saying a prayer” — i.e., “now I lay me down to sleep…”
3) a repetition of certain phrases
4) it is not emitting certain desires
5) it is not giving expression to beautiful thoughts
6) it is not auto-suggestion of some means of psychology
7) it is not five minutes a day for your health’s sake
It is “before Him.” We have conversation with Him, by praying without ceasing. Have you ever talked to yourself? Then talk to God the same way. Converse with Him. Remember the words of Acts 17:28, “for in Him we live and move and exist” (NASB). It is important for us to understand that we are before God. He is with us; He is the God who is there. We walk with Him just as His disciples did in days of yore. He is the one who leads, and directs, and guides.
We are free from condemnation, however, there should be self-examination. Paul states that before we partake of the Lord’s Supper we should examine ourselves. Before sleeping at night we should examine ourselves. We don’t beat ourselves up, we don’t live in guilt, because that is taken care of at the cross. In our time of conversation with the Lord, we should remember to listen. While we are talking we are in control, we need to get to the point where He is in control. Someone has put it this way, don’t hide things from God for His x-ray eye is upon us. Don’t, do not, ever, ever, ever forget that we are children of God. He longs for us to speak with Him, to tell Him about our day, to plan with Him our tomorrows.
“If I live the life, keeping the commandments and loving my brethren, that is proof that I am being controlled by the Holy Spirit, and in that state the Holy Spirit is dictating my prayer to me, and that prayer will be answered. But if I am not living the life, then my petitions are probably arising from the flesh, from my own carnal nature, and I must not be surprised and disappointed if my requests are not answered and granted to me.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Be honest. Be humble. Be willing to be guided. Don’t try to fool God by telling Him something that might sooth His ego, or tickle His ears. His is not man, He cannot be manipulated. He is our Father, we are His children.
—————————————
How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NASB)
Everyone has a worldview. They may not realize it, and they may not practice it consistently, but everyone has a worldview. The worldview that John is constantly speaking of, as well as the other writers of the New Testament, is Christian. In 1 John 3:19-24, we see a concise view of the Christian worldview. We are of the Truth!
We are told to worship in “spirit and in truth.” Truth, then is our worldview. Truth means reality. We are to worship in reality–in other words by the Word of God in our life. We live in a real world, therefore we worship through our lives. Paul says that our reasonable worship is to be a “living sacrifice.” We are to look at the world with eyes of the Scripture.
John, in these verses, also speaks of prayer. Prayer simply is communion and fellowship with God. A few things that prayer is not:
1) automatic — we must do it.
2) “saying a prayer” — i.e., “now I lay me down to sleep…”
3) a repetition of certain phrases
4) it is not emitting certain desires
5) it is not giving expression to beautiful thoughts
6) it is not auto-suggestion of some means of psychology
7) it is not five minutes a day for your health’s sake
It is “before Him.” We have conversation with Him, by praying without ceasing. Have you ever talked to yourself? Then talk to God the same way. Converse with Him. Remember the words of Acts 17:28, “for in Him we live and move and exist” (NASB). It is important for us to understand that we are before God. He is with us; He is the God who is there. We walk with Him just as His disciples did in days of yore. He is the one who leads, and directs, and guides.
We are free from condemnation, however, there should be self-examination. Paul states that before we partake of the Lord’s Supper we should examine ourselves. Before sleeping at night we should examine ourselves. We don’t beat ourselves up, we don’t live in guilt, because that is taken care of at the cross. In our time of conversation with the Lord, we should remember to listen. While we are talking we are in control, we need to get to the point where He is in control. Someone has put it this way, don’t hide things from God for His x-ray eye is upon us. Don’t, do not, ever, ever, ever forget that we are children of God. He longs for us to speak with Him, to tell Him about our day, to plan with Him our tomorrows.
“If I live the life, keeping the commandments and loving my brethren, that is proof that I am being controlled by the Holy Spirit, and in that state the Holy Spirit is dictating my prayer to me, and that prayer will be answered. But if I am not living the life, then my petitions are probably arising from the flesh, from my own carnal nature, and I must not be surprised and disappointed if my requests are not answered and granted to me.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Be honest. Be humble. Be willing to be guided. Don’t try to fool God by telling Him something that might sooth His ego, or tickle His ears. His is not man, He cannot be manipulated. He is our Father, we are His children.