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Take A Jairus Stance - Praise & Pray (for others) July 5, 2024

From today's title, you can see we are returning to the story of Jairus and his interaction with Jesus.


In the message Your Miracle Is On The Way we learned that Jairus kept his composure in the face of news that would have made even the strongest among us buckle. Despite all indications to the contrary, he believed Jesus that his daughter was not dead. He held on to the Savior's instruction when He said "[d]on't be afraid, just believe" (Luke 8:50).


We also must do the same. We must hold on to God's word in the face of the bad report about our lives and situations. In the face of fear, we must proclaim Genesis 26:24 which states "[d]o not be afraid for I am with you. I will bless you."


We must steep our hearts and minds in the Lord's promise from Joel 2:26-27 where he repeatedly said "never again will my people be shamed." He made that covenant twice in those verses, so He really means it and when we claim it and remind Him of His promise, He is faithful to watch His word to ensure it is fulfilled per Jeremiah 1:12.


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Now, in order to take a Jairus stance and hold onto God's word in the face of contrary evidence, we need to know what God's word is for us. This means we must seek out what He wants us to do or know about our situation. Jairus would never have received his spiritual keys, which were to resist fear and have faith, if he hadn't invited Jesus to help him. He also wouldn't have received that word if he'd allowed distraction or disappointment to keep him from patiently waiting for Jesus to get to his home. Remember that although the Savior started walking with him to heal his daughter, a crowd gathered and they slowed the journey. Also, the woman with the issue of blood chose that moment to get her healing and we know that slowed things down even more because Jesus used that situation to teach and bless others.


Jairus didn't become disheartened or impatient with Jesus. He didn't give up on Him and instead go find an alternative during the waiting period. The Bible also does not record that Jairus started fighting or insulting the people who were keeping Christ from getting to his child. Anger didn't consume him.


Somehow, Jairus patiently waited for Christ and even when people came to tell him his daughter was dead and so Christ's help was no longer needed, he simply set his eyes and mind on the Savior.


Consider Jairus and the emotions he must have experienced. Now consider that despite those feelings, he put fear to the side and walked in faith. Faith that resulted in his child sitting up, fully healed by Jesus. This is the destiny of all God's children who can take a Jairus stance in the face of contrary evidence. If the Lord tells you to stand like Jairus, fight every impulse that tells you not to. Take that leap of faith with God. Remember He is able to answer your prayers. After all, He is the God who said in Isaiah 65:24 - Even before they finish praying to me, I will answer their prayers (NLT).


God bless you.



PS: Take a moment to read Your Miracle Is On The Way. I believe that message will help you as you process today's post.

 
 
 

Our Godly Inheritance: Esau - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) July 2, 2024

We continue to learn about our inheritance as God's children. Righteous living secures our godly inheritance so that the devil does not easily steal what was received. Also, God's word will keep us from being deceived into losing any part of it as was the case in the Gibeonite Deception. In addition, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to help us so we don't squander our inheritance the way the Prodigal Son did.


Today we examine another individual and their approach to dealing with an inheritance. Specifically, we consider Esau, the oldest son of Isaac. According to his family's custom, Esau was to receive half of his father's estate as his birthright and the blessing that is given to the first son. However, one day, he returned home famished from hunting. His younger brother, Jacob, was cooking a lentil stew and he asked for some only for Jacob to demand a barter. He wanted Esau's inheritance in exchange for some food.


“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” (Genesis 25:32). And so Esau gave his inheritance away by swearing an oath that Jacob could have it.


Later, when their father became old and was about to die, Jacob pretended to be Esau and collected the blessing due to the first son. When Esau learned of this, he pleaded with his father for a blessing. Alas, Isaac told him he couldn't change the outcome. The blessing had gone to Jacob and there was little to be done about it at that point.


The Bible doesn't have great things to say about Esau. Indeed, he is described in Hebrews 12:16 - See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Notice why Esau was called "godless"? Because he forfeited his birthright. He didn't deem it significant. This unfortunate reality contributed to God saying that He hated Esau (Romans 9:13). All because he disregarded his inheritance for a plate of food.

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Doesn't this seem extreme? Why would God hate Esau all because he chose to give away his birthright for a meal? Well, if we remember some of God's instructions, then His position on Esau's behavior makes more sense and serves as a cautionary guide.


First, let's remember that an inheritance is a gift from one person to another. The giver chooses to leave an heir what they toiled for during their lifetime. It typically reflects a person's sweat, time, and hard work. The inheritance blesses someone who typically did nothing to deserve it, thus reflecting the giver's love for the recipient. To therefore reject such a gift or treat it callously is to repay evil with good which violates God's word in Proverbs 17:13, which states, [e]vil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good. In Esau's case, it also violates God's instruction to honor his father per Exodus 20:12 because he effectively didn't value the sacrifices that went into creating an inheritance for him.


And how does any of this apply to you? Consider that your inheritance from the Lord consists primarily of spiritual gifts. One such benefit is eternal life in heaven because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Rejecting that sacrifice would be repaying good with evil. It would also mean dishonoring the Lord, your Heavenly Father, who gave up His Son to save you.


Sadly, we can reject or disregard our godly inheritance and the blessings it contains through our actions, thoughts, and words. And that can put us at risk of repeating Esau's mistake. Keep in mind that his choice to reject his birthright had long-lasting consequences. After discovering what Jacob did, he hated his brother and this translated into a grudge spanning centuries. His descendants, known as the Edomites, maintained an "ancient hostility" toward Jacob's descendants - the Israelites. They were happy when Israel suffered and even conspired with their enemies. God's word regarding them was that they would be destroyed and their land would become "a wasteland ... left ... to the desert jackals" (Malachi 1:3). What a statement on unforgiveness.


An inheritance acts as a foundation upon which the next generation can build and this is why the Bible teaches that a good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children (Proverbs 13:22). Though not a man, God does the same - granting blessings and gifts to His children because He loves them. He gives them a godly inheritance that doesn't require death to be received. This is the act of a loving Father that should be cherished and not bartered away for something that won't have a lasting effect. The Lord wants His children to use their godly inheritance to better their lives as well as the lives of others. May the Lord help each of us to see His gifts and blessings as the loving-kindness a Father has for His own. May we value what He has given, honor Him for it, and use it to His glory, IJMN Amen. By His grace, none of us will go through what happened to Esau and his descendants.


Kindly join us right here at Noon EST today to fellowship. We shall start with 25 minutes of praise followed by 25 minutes of interceding for others by God's grace. See you then!



To read the Godly Inheritance Series, please see:


 
 
 

Our Godly Inheritance: The Prodigal Son - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) June 28, 2024

We continue to learn about our godly inheritance as believers. We have learned that righteous living preserves our inheritance. We have also learned that we need God's direction to avoid losing part or all of our inheritance through satan's lies.


Today, we look at another character in the Bible who dealt with an inheritance. Unfortunately, he squandered what he received through ungodly living. The Prodigal Son was the youngest son of a wealthy man. Although his father was still living, he demanded to receive his inheritance. The father obliged him and gave what was requested.


Not long after, the youngest son packed up his belongings and his part of his father's estate. He "set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living" (Luke 15:13). We can only imagine what exactly he did with his inheritance as the Bible does not provide much description. Our modern sensibilities would suggest that the young man spent his newly acquired wealth on alcohol, women, drugs, and fast cars.


Alas, a famine came upon the land he was in and he worked at a pig farm. He was so hungry that he had to eat pig slop to survive. Imagine having so much money whereby you could live 'large' only to end up so broke you have to eat food that's meant for pigs?


The Bible teaches in Proverbs 20:21 - An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end. This is exactly why God will sometimes hold back certain aspects of our inheritance from us. He does it so we don't end up like the Prodigal Son who lost it all with wild living.

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The Lord wants each of his children to be mature enough to use the blessings He gives in a responsible way. He wants His people to take each gift that is a part of their godly inheritance and leverage it so that it grows into something they can continue to reap. The Prodigal Son didn't do that. Instead, he squandered what he had with the sort of lifestyle that implies his father's wealth was used on things that please satan but not God.


And that is another reason why God will sometimes keep His blessings from His children - so that they don't put them into the hands of satan. God wants the blessings He gives to His children to glorify Him and not the devil. God does not and will not allow His gifts to be used for satan's purpose. So, if you have a desire that doesn't align with His word and plan - a detestable prayer - do not expect God to move for you on that issue. And if you see people using their 'blessings' for unrighteous things, be rest assured that this is not God's will, and don't desire to do the same.


May we not squander our godly inheritance on wild living or in any other way. May we not demand our blessings ahead of God's appointed time. May we wait on the Lord to unveil the many parts of our godly inheritance as He deems us mature enough to use them for His glory alone, IJMN, Amen. Let us praise the Lord that the story of the Prodigal Son ended well. Recognizing he'd erred, he went home and pleaded to serve his father because he knew that the servants in his father's house didn't have to eat pig food to survive. His father graciously welcomed him back and restored him to his rightful position as a son of the house and not a mere servant.


If you are a prodigal then today is the day to return to your heavenly father, repentant and willing to accept whatever He has for you. The Lord is good and gracious. By His grace and loving-kindness, you will be received with open arms as the Prodigal Son was, IJMN, Amen.


See you at Noon EST for fellowship.



To read the Godly Inheritance Series, please see:


 
 
 
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