Post by Brother Ben on Jul 21, 2006 8:00:50 GMT -5
What a sad state it is in the believers life when they no longer sense the presence of our Lord. When the Heavens seem like brass, and all the right things don't seem to line up. Here is some encouragment from a familiar passage of scripture.
Luk 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
Luk 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
Luk 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
When we operate outside of God's will for our life, we often look to secular or unspiritual ways of remedying our lack of God.
Luk 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
We need to have an eye openning experience. When we see ourselves at God sees us (when we come to ourselves,) and see our truly bankrupt state, it is then that we can see that the only good way is back to God
Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
We should then devise a plan, (I will arise and go to my father,) and humble ourselves. Humility is the way up.
Jam 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Jam 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Luk 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luk 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Do it! He arose and went to the Father. Don't let anything get in your way. Start small, start big, but start. Get help. Ask a brother or sister in the Lord. Ask your pastor. But, do something good and right about your state.
Jam 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.
Luk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet:
Luk 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry:
Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Glory in the goodness and mercy of the Lord. Be thankful that our Father is the God of the second, third, and more chances.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.
Psa 51:13 [Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Share with others who have gotten out of the way.
Luk 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
Luk 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
Luk 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
When we operate outside of God's will for our life, we often look to secular or unspiritual ways of remedying our lack of God.
Luk 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
We need to have an eye openning experience. When we see ourselves at God sees us (when we come to ourselves,) and see our truly bankrupt state, it is then that we can see that the only good way is back to God
Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
We should then devise a plan, (I will arise and go to my father,) and humble ourselves. Humility is the way up.
Jam 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Jam 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Luk 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luk 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Do it! He arose and went to the Father. Don't let anything get in your way. Start small, start big, but start. Get help. Ask a brother or sister in the Lord. Ask your pastor. But, do something good and right about your state.
Jam 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.
Luk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet:
Luk 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry:
Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Glory in the goodness and mercy of the Lord. Be thankful that our Father is the God of the second, third, and more chances.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.
Psa 51:13 [Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Share with others who have gotten out of the way.