The Sin and the Cause of Prayerlessness by Andrew Murray
From the book The Prayer Life by Andrew Murray
Chapter 1
If conscience is to do its work, and the contrite heart is to feel its misery, it is necessary that each individual should mention his sin by name. The confession must be severely personal. In a meeting of ministers there is probably no single sin which each one of us ought to acknowledge with deeper shame – ‘Guilty, verily guilty’ – than the sin of prayerlessness.
What is it, then, that makes prayerlessness such a great sin? At first it is looked upon merely as a weakness. There is so much talk about lack of time and all sorts of distractions that the deep guilt of the situation is not recognised. Let it be our honest desire that, for the future, the sin of prayerlessness may be to us truly sinful. Consider
1. What a reproach it is to God
There is the holy and most glorious God who invites us to come to him, to hold converse with him, to ask from him such things as we need, and to experience what a blessing there is in fellowship with him. He has created him we might find our highest glory and salvation.
What use do we make of this heavenly privilege? How many there are who take only five minutes for prayer! They say that they have no time and that the heart desire for prayer is lacking; they do not know how to spend half an hour with God! It is not that they absolutely do not pray; they pray every day – but they have no joy in prayer, as a token of communion with God which shows that God is everything to them.
If a friend comes to visit them, they have time, they make time, even at the cost of sacrifice, for the sake of enjoying converse with him. Yes, they have time for everything that really interests them, but no time to practise fellowship with God and delight themselves in him! They find time for a creature who can be of service to them; but day after day, month after month passes, and there is no time to spend one hour with God.
Do not our hearts begin to acknowledge what a dishonour, what a despite of God this is, that I dare to say I cannot find time for fellowship with him? If this sin begins to appear plain to us, shall we not with deep shame cry out: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone, 0 God; be merciful to me, and forgive this awful sin of prayerlessness.’ Consider further
2. It is the cause of a deficient spiritual life
It is a proof that, for the most part, our life is still under the power of ‘the flesh’. Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness.
Much is said and many complaints are made about the feebleness of the Church to fulfill her calling, to exercise an influence over her members, to deliver them from the power of the world, and to bring them to a life of holy consecration to God. Much is also spoken about her indifference to the millions of heathen whom Christ entrusted to her that she might make known to them his love and salvation. What is the reason that many thousands of Christian workers in the world have not a greater influence? Nothing save this – the prayerlessness of their service. In the midst of all their zeal in the study and in the work of the Church, of all their faithfulness in preaching and conversation with the people, they lack that ceaseless prayer which has attached to it the sure promise of the Spirit and the power from on high. It is nothing but the sin of prayerlessness which is the cause of the lack of a powerful spiritual life! Consider further
3. The dreadful loss which the Church suffers as a result of the prayerlessness of the minister
It is the business of a minister to train believers up to a life of prayer; but how can a leader do this if he himself understands little the art of conversing with God and of receiving from the Holy Spirit, every day, out of heaven, abundant grace for himself and for his work? A minister cannot lead a congregation higher than he is himself. He cannot with enthusiasm point out a way, or explain a work, in which he is not himself walking or living.
How many thousands of Christians there are who know next to nothing of the blessedness of prayer fellowship with God! How many there are who know something of it and long for a further increase of this knowledge, but in the preaching of the Word they are not persistently urged to keep on till they obtain the blessing! The reason is simply and only that the minister understands so little about the secret of powerful prayer and does not give prayer the place in his service which, in the nature of the case and in the will of God, is indispensably necessary. Oh, what a difference we should notice in our congregations if ministers could be brought to see in its right light the sin of prayerlessness and were delivered from it! Once more consider:
4. The impossibility of preaching the gospel to all men-as we are commanded by Christ to do -so long as this sin is not overcome and cast out.
Many feel that the great need of missions is the obtaining of men and women who will give themselves to the Lord to strive in prayer for the salvation of souls. It has also been said that God is eager and able to deliver and bless the world he has redeemed, if his people were but willing, if they were but ready, to cry to him day and night But how can congregations be brought to that unless there comes first an entire change in ministers and that they begin to see that the indispensable thing is not preaching, not pastoral visitation, not church work, but fellowship with God in prayer till they are clothed with power from on high?
Oh, that all thought and work and expectation concerning the kingdom might drive us to the acknowledgement of the sin of prayerlessness! God help us to root it out! God deliver us from it through the blood and power of Christ Jesus! God teach every minister of the Word to see what a glorious place he may occupy if he first of all is delivered from this root of evils; so that with courage and joy, in faith and perseverance, he can go on with his God!
The sin of prayerlessness! The Lord lay the burden of it so heavy on our hearts that we may not rest till it is taken far from us through the name and power of Jesus He will make this possible for us.
A witness from America
In 1898, there were two members of the Presbytery in New York who attended the Northfield Conference for the deepening of the spiritual life. They returned to their work with the fire of a new enthusiasm. They endeavoured to bring about a revival in the entire Pres bytery. In a meeting which they held, the chairman was guided to ask the brethren a question concerning their prayer life: ‘Brethren,’ said he, ‘let us today make confession before God and each other. It will do us good. Will everyone who spends half an hour every day with God in connection with his work hold up a hand?’ One hand was held up. He made a further request: ‘All who thus spend fifteen minutes hold up a hand.’ Not half of the hands were held up. Then he said: ‘Prayer, the working power of the Church of Christ, and half of the workers make hardly any use of it! All who spend five minutes hold up hands.’ All hands went up. But one man came later with the confession that he was not quite sure if he spent five minutes in prayer every day. ‘It is,’ said he, ‘a terrible revelation of how little time I spend with God.’
The cause of prayerlessness.
In an elder’s prayer meeting, a brother put the question: ‘What, then, is the cause of so much prayerlessness? Is it not unbelief?’
The answer was: ‘Certainly; but then comes the question what is the cause of that unbelief?’ When the disciples asked the Lord Jesus: ‘Why could not we cast the devil out?’ His answer was: ‘Because of your unbelief.’ He went further and said: ‘Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting’ (Matt. 17.19-21). If the life is not one of self-denial – of fasting – that is, letting the world go; of prayer – that is, laying hold of heaven, faith cannot be exercised. A life lived according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit – it is in this that we find the origin of the prayerlessness of which we complain. As we came out of the meeting a brother said to me: ‘That is the whole difficulty; we wish to pray in the Spirit and at the same time walk after the flesh, and this is impossible.’
If one is sick and desires healing, it is of prime importance that the true cause of the sickness be discovered. This is always the first step toward recovery. If the particular cause is not recognised, and attention is directed to subordinate causes, or to supposed but not real causes, healing is out of the question. In like manner, it is of the utmost importance for us to obtain a correct insight into the cause of the sad condition of deadness and failure in prayer in the inner chamber, which should be such a blessed place for us. Let us seek to realise fully what is the root of this evil.
Scripture teaches us that there are but two conditions possible for the Christian. One is a walk according to the Spirit, the other a walk according to ‘the flesh’. These two powers are in irreconcilable conflict with each other. So it comes to pass, in the case of the majority of Christians, that, while we thank God that they are born again through the Spirit and have received the life of God – yet their ordinary daily life is not lived according to the Spirit but according to ‘the flesh’. Paul writes to the Galatians: ‘Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?’ (Gal. 3.3). Their service lay in fleshly outward performances. They did not understand that where ‘the flesh’ is permitted to influence their service of God, it soon results in open sin.
So he mentions not only grave sins as the work of ‘the flesh’, such as adultery, murder, drunkenness; but also the more ordinary sins of daily life – wrath, strife, variance; and he gives the exhortation: ‘Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh… If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit’ (Gal. 5.16, 25). The Spirit must be honoured not only as the author of a new life but also as the leader and director of our entire walk. Otherwise we are what the apostle calls ‘carnal’.
The majority of Christians have little understanding of this matter. They have no real knowledge of the deep sinfulness and godlessness of that carnal nature which belongs to them and to which unconsciously they yield. ‘God… condemned sin in the flesh’ (Rom. 8.3) – in the cross of Christ. ‘They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts’ (Gal. 5.24). ‘The flesh’ cannot be improved or sanctified. ‘The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be’ (Rom. 8.7). There is no means of dealing with ‘the flesh’ save as Christ dealt with it, bearing it to the cross. ‘Our old man is crucified with him’ (Rom. 6.6); so we by faith also crucify it, and regard and treat it daily as an accursed thing that finds its rightful place on the accursed cross.
It is saddening to consider how many Christians there are who seldom think or speak earnestly about the deep and immeasurable sinfulness of ‘the flesh’-‘In me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing'(Rom. 7.18). The man who truly believes this may well cry out: ‘I see another law in my members … bringing me into captivity to the law of sin… 0 wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?’ (Rom. 7.23, 24). Happy is he who can go further and say: ‘I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord… For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death’ (Rom. 7.25; 8.2).
Would that we might understand God’s counsels of grace for us! ‘The flesh’ on the cross – the Spirit in the heart and controlling the life.
This spiritual life is too little understood or sought after; yet it is literally what God has promised and will accomplish in those who unconditionally surrender themselves to him for this purpose.
Here then we have the deep root of evil as the cause of a prayerless life. ‘The flesh’ can say prayers well enough, calling itself religious for so doing and thus satisfying conscience. But ‘the flesh’ has no desire or strength for the prayer that strives after an intimate knowledge of God; that rejoices in fellowship with him; and that continues to lay hold of his strength. So, finally, it comes to this, ‘the flesh’ must be denied and crucified.
The Christian who is still carnal has neither disposition nor strength to follow after God. He rests satisfied with the prayer of habit or custom; but the glory, the blessedness of secret prayer is a hidden thing to him, till some day his eyes are opened, and he begins to see that ‘the flesh’, in its disposition to turn away from God, is the archenemy which makes powerful prayer impossible for him.
I had once, at a conference, spoken on the subject of prayer and made use of strong expressions about the enmity of ‘the flesh’ as a cause of prayerlessness. After the address, the minister’s wife said that she thought 1 had spoken too strongly. She also had to mourn over too little desire for prayer, but she knew her heart was sincerely set on seeking God. 1 showed her what the word of God said about ‘the flesh’, and that everything which prevents the reception of the Spirit is nothing else than a secret work of ‘the flesh’. Adam was created to have fellowship with God and enjoyed it before his fall. After the fall, however, there came immediately, a deep- seated aversion to God, and he fled from him. This incurable aversion is the characteristic of the unregenerate nature and the chief cause of our unwillingness to surrender ourselves to fellowship with God in prayer. The following day she told me that God had opened her eyes; she confessed that the enmity and unwillingness of ‘the flesh’ was the hidden hindrance in her defective prayer life.
0 my brethren, do not seek to find in circumstances the explanation of this prayerlessness over which we mourn; seek it where God’s word declares it to be, in the hidden aversion of the heart to a holy God.
When a Christian does not yield entirely to the leading of the Spirit – and this is certainly the will of God and the work of his grace – he lives, without knowing it, under the power of ‘the flesh’. This life of ‘the flesh’ manifests itself in many different ways. It appears in the hastiness of spirit, or the anger which so unexpectedly arises in you, in the lack of love for which you have so often blamed yourself; in the pleasure found in eating and drinking, about which at times your conscience has chidden you; in that seeking for your own will and honour, that confidence in your own wisdom and power, that pleasure in the world, of which you are sometimes ashamed before God. All this is life ‘after the flesh’. ‘Ye are yet carnal’ (1 Con 3.3) that text, perhaps, disturbs you at times; you have not full peace and joy in God.
I pray you take time and give an answer to the question: Have 1 not found here the cause of my prayerlessness, of my powerlessness to effect any change in the matter? I live in the Spirit, 1 have been born again, but 1 do not walk after the Spirit -‘the flesh’ lords it over me. The carnal life cannot possibly pray in the spirit and power. God forgive me. The carnal life is evidently the cause of my sad and shameful prayerlessness.
The storm centre on the battlefield
Mention was made in conference of the expression ‘strategic position’ used so often in reference to the great strife between the kingdom of heaven and the powers of darkness.
When a general chooses the place from which he intends to strike the enemy, he pays most attention to those points which he thinks most important in the fight. Thus there was on the battlefield of Waterloo a farmhouse which Wellington immediately saw was the key to the situation. He did not spare his troops in his endeavours to hold that point: the victory depended on it. So it actually happened. It is the same in the conflict between the believer and the powers of darkness. The inner chamber is the place where the decisive victory is obtained.
The enemy uses all his power to lead the Christian and above all the minister, to neglect prayer. He knows that however admirable the sermon may be, however attractive the service, however faithful the pastoral visitation, none of these things can damage him or his kingdom if prayer is neglected. When the Church shuts herself up to the power of the inner chamber, and the soldiers of the Lord have received on their knees ‘power from on high’, then the powers of darkness will be shaken and souls will be delivered. In the Church, on the mission field, with the minister and his congregation, everything depends on the faithful exercise of the power of prayer.
In the week of conference I found the following in The Christian:
Two persons quarrel over a certain point. We call them Christian and Apollyon. Apollyon notices that Christian has a certain weapon which would give him a sure victory. They meet in deadly strife, and Apollyon resolves to take away the weapon from his opponent and destroy it. For the moment the main cause of the strife has become subordinate; the great point now is who shall get possession of the weapon on which everything depends? It is of vital importance to get hold of that.
So it is in the conflict between Satan and the believer. God’s child can conquer everything by prayer. Is it any wonder that Satan does his utmost to snatch that weapon from the Christian, or to hinder him in the use of it?
How now does Satan hinder prayer? By temptation to postpone or curtail it, by bringing in wandering thoughts and all sorts of distractions; through unbelief and hopelessness. Happy is the prayer hero who, through it all, takes care to hold fast and use his weapon. Like our Lord in Gethsemane, the more violently the enemy attacked the more earnestly he prayed and ceased not till he had obtained the victory. After all the other parts of the armour had been named, Paul adds: ‘with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit’ (Eph. 6.18). Without prayer, the helmet of salvation, and the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit which is God’s word, have no power. All depends on prayer. God teach us to believe and hold this fast!
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Abiding
WHAT is the Context of Fighting the Good Fight of Faith? [podcast]
Dancing on the Defeated Devil’s Grave! Get some! Now!
What was Paul speaking of when he declared that Christ’s disciples must “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses”? (1 Timothy 6:12)
First off, it’s a “good fight” because we are going to win – yet only if we do things God’s way with no compromise. What do we fight against? What must we put under foot, conquer and reign victorious over?
What did the Holy Spirit in Paul mean by fighting the good fight of faith? Think context.
You have to “fight” to keep these damning sins out of your life – and the way you “fight” is to be rich in giving – otherwise you will have a sand foundation that will not stand in the judgment. You will go to Hell irrevocably. This is the clear teaching of Scripture, throughout. Read this closely:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:6-12
Wisdom is fellowshipping with those who are on fire for Jesus, who refuse to be lukewarm, who are fighting the good fight of faith, who are finishing their course, who are keeping the faith (2 Timothy 4:7) …. who make you wonder if you are saved. Conviction.
The cross is an absolute essential in the life of every saint of Christ. There will be no overcoming without putting the cross at the center of our daily lives. Paul said:
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27
Eternal security is the fairytale of counterfeits.
Jesus told us that the cross is “daily” (Luke 9:23-24). It must be daily or you will fall away. No one can truly serve God on any other terms but the ones He has set forth. The cross must be at the center of your life. You must plant, drive that stake in the ground. Your heart and life will never be flooded with His love, peace, power, and joy until you do.
Those who don’t endure to the end after being saved are going to hell (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Hebrews 10:26-39).
Do you truly love God above self and all else? That’s the big question. If you love God supremely, you will give Him the preference in the life He gave you and for which you will give full account to Him.
Do you truly desire the power of God to function in your life? The cross is His way beloved.
YOU, yes you are in a war. The cross is the instrument of your death so that Christ, who is “the resurrection and the life” might reign in and through your life (John 11:25). Don’t even think you’re going to conquer devils, principalities, when you haven’t even conquered your own heart, soul, lusts, and life.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
Scarcely will we hear a man preach on the cross – the crucified life – which proves he himself is not taking up his cross. And the cross is a non-negotiable essential in the divine economy. Never wait for any other man to take up the cross or preach it. You do it. God holds you 100% responsible to do so – and you will appear before the Almighty to give full account for doing so, or not.
The war is won within – as you push your love upward to God and outward to men. This must be the labor of love deliberately won by fighting, battling through everything that seeks to assume first place in your life, time, your thoughts, your heart, your affections, etc. God only raises up crucified – dead and buried disciples. THAT’s when the victory is won and such a crucified disposition must be diligently procured daily by the cross – knowing that God is only going to raise up the surrendered soul.
Memorize:
“Let us labour (fight) therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Hebrews 4:11
Treasure that will be Eternally Tremendous or Trouncing
Where your money is proves where your heart is …. Take a look at your bank statement and see where the money is going and also your investments and property. There is where you will see where your heart truly is. Your bank statement will reveal to you who you really are – as in contrast with who you may claim to be. The self-deception will be exposed.
Getting “honest” in your “heart” and life are a required essential to bear fruit unto everlasting life with Christ, the Father, and the saints (Luke 8:15).
Jesus says: “WHERE you treasure (money) is, THERE will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Are you pouring into Christ’s kingdom? If not, what does that actually reveal about your life at this moment? – It reveals that you love this world, you love your life in this world.
Isn’t it time to lose your life in this world?
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
Is Christ your Protector or is your money? Remember, you will soon be separated from your money – and stand naked before the Almighty (Job 1:21; 1 Timothy 6:6-11). What shall you say to Him in that day? Will He declare over you “Well done” or “Depart from me”? Read Matthew 25:40-46.
“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:33
If you are rich toward yourself instead of “rich toward God” – you chose to forsake Christ, even though you were running a lot of religious interference. God sees through it all. Read what Christ taught in Luke 12:15-21 and 16:19-31.
Are the authentic ministries you know of, who feed you and others, well stocked with supply, fuel to function? Do you realize they have monthly bills and have a family to provide for as they have answered God’s call to do the infinitely most important and only eternal work in the earth?
Jesus spoke of those who are and those who aren’t “rich toward God.” Those “rich toward God” have God first and nothing else. Nothing gets spent before Christ’s workers and work are supplied. They make sure Christ’s work and workers are fully fueled. They are the bless-ed Obadiahs and Epaphroditus’ of our day.
Who was Epaphroditus? Well, he was like Obadiah in the days of Elijah and the other true prophets of God. He kept laborers of the Gospel supplied so they could function in the calling of the LORD on their lives.
“Lay up for yourself treasure in Heaven, not things on the earth. Because it will all burn up one day, all will be lost. Can’t take anything of this earth’s wealth with you. Only all you’ve given to God will last. Give as a cheerful giver. Jesus cheerfully gave His life for you. He died for you to save you. Our giving will not out give God. Supporting the work of the Lord is laying up treasures in Heaven. God Bless.” Darlene
Epaphroditus is the New Testament Equivalent to Obadiah
Timothy and Epaphroditus
“And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)” 1 Kings 18:3-4
Read Philippians 2:19-30 to discover how this man, this brother in Christ named Epaphroditus, supplied Paul and the ministry of Christ.
WHO was Obadiah in the Days of Ahab and Jezebel?
“And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)” 1 Kings 18:3-4
“Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD” (1 Kings 18:4). Through his ministers that held high positions within the kingdom of God, the devil “cut off” the supply of finances to those prophets who remained in the truth, refusing to compromise with the system and majority. God-fearing Obadiah secretly supplied these servants of Christ with food and water to sustain their lives. Is there any new thing under the sun? No. In our day, when those few who refuse to compromise are being cut off from financial supply by those who have a stranglehold on the control of 99% of the finances flowing in the church world, we, the remnant, have been called out to be like Obadiah and supply those who remain true to the LORD in serving His people. See 1 Kings 18.
The Most Dangerous and Prevalent Sins?
“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor COVETOUS man, who is an IDOLATER, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” Ephesians 5:5-6
One man of God noted that “More people will be in Hell for covetousness and greed than all other sins combined.” The honest student of Holy Scripture cannot but agree to this. There is a direct connection between your money and the Messiah, your supply and the Savior.
Those not laying up treasure in Heaven (digging their way into Hell) prove such by not being “rich toward God” but are rather rich toward the god of self, who cannot save them from eternal damnation.
“Yes! Amen. Jesus shine your light into my heart and reveal your truth to me. I can hide and not want to know what is in me. Turn up the heat so I will surrender to you what is not of you.” Karen Cochran
Jesus Instructs You to Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24
At the end of his earthly life, the apostle Paul could declare with clear conscience:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Sin must be warded off, must be kept at bay, must be put under foot by the cross, the crucified life. There are not shortcuts. Knowing you are expected to cling to and know and walk with Jesus is one thing – and walking it out is another. Here’s a memory verse:
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
Those who answer the call of God to do His work forego, waive, give up their own earnings in this passing world in order to obey God by feeding and equipping His precious sheep for whom He died and rose again (John 15:16; 21:15-17; Acts 6:4; 15:26; 20:24; 1 Corinthians 9:1-14, etc.). It’s a blessing for us to be able to contribute, to get behind this most important and only eternal work of our LORD transpiring in His earth as His children live in fervent expectation of His glorious and soon return.
“Earth is planning for war.
Heaven is preparing for a wedding.” unknown
This is not our home beloved saints of Christ. NO ONE is going to do His glorious Gospel work except HIS own children – and that’s us!
“WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
Jesus Christ is KING.
YOUR PRAYER OF REPENTANCE: Holy Father, I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ and ask You to forgive my sin of self-idolatry, of spiritual adultery. I have lived in sin, in pride, in self-love and am now turning wholly to Thee my God – asking You to wash me clean, to clear my sin by Your precious blood LORD Jesus. Here and now I denounce all covetousness for the trinkets of this world and choose, from this moment forth, to be rich toward You dear LORD – in getting behind and fueling Your Gospel work in the earth. In the name of Jesus Christ – let’s roll Jesus! Amen.
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Abiding
LORD, Prepare Me! [podcast]
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:21
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6
“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9
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Abiding
THE DEVIL IS A LIAR [podcast]
Eternal Security is not taught in God’s Word – Other than by Satan and his false prophets.
After being saved, one cannot live in sin and remain in relationship with Christ.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2
Reading Romans 6 each morning this week prayerfully will greatly benefit the disciple of Christ.
God said (Genesis 2:17):
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE.”
Satan said (Genesis 3:4):
“And the serpent said unto the woman, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE.”
Eternal Security Proof Text Plundered
1 John 2:19-29
Warning Concerning Antichrists
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Children of God
28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
John makes it clear that the antichrists in their midst which departed, did so because they were departing from the faith (1 timothy 4:1-2). Verse 19 does NOT say they were never of us but rather “they were not of us.”
Teddy Caldwell writes:
“OSAS insists that those are professing believers, but 1 John 2:18 says such people are antichrists. 1 John 2:22 says an antichrist is one who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Anyone who does that isn’t a believer and isn’t even trying to look like one.”
Concerning 1 John 2:19, Donald Stamps, in the Life in the Spirit Study Bible, writes:
“‘THEY WENT OUT FROM US.’ When the antichrists departed from their fellowship with true believers, they were not in a saving relationship with Christ. This allows for two possibilities: (1) They were never true believers to begin with, or (2) they had once been in a saving relationship with Christ but afterward abandoned their faith in Christ.”
Right here in verse 24 of this passage we see the doctrine of personal responsibility to “remain” in faithful obedience to the LORD or lose one’s place with God (1 Corinthians 15:2; Galatians 6:9; Colossians 1:23). This is a teaching found throughout Holy Writ – the divine requirement to stay saved or lose all in eternity, “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7).
“Let that therefore abide (remain) in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. IF (denotes condition) that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” 1 John 2:24-25
Verse 24 alone tells us that we cannot think that verse 19 means that someone who is at some point in right standing with God can never depart from Him and lose out. Also, verse 25 tells us that “eternal life” (not just rewards) is at stake and the promise contingent upon the believer abiding or remaining in that “which ye have heard from the beginning” which is the Gospel. “Eternal life” is assured as long as one is remaining rooted in Jesus Christ. This is the overwhelmingly consistent message of God’s Word.
In verse 26 John says “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” Verse 19 is written about the deceivers who sought to “seduce” these disciples John was addressing, and not of true believers.
With all of Scripture in consideration, we can conclude that 1 John 2:19 is a specific example and not a rule of doctrine.
If you truly wish to search out this matter, let me encourage you to closely examine, break down and study this entire text (1 John 2:18-29). In order to ascertain truth, one must compare the verse in question with all other related Scriptures, beginning with the context in which the verse is set (Isaiah 28:9-10; 1 Corinthians 2:13).
Adam Clarke note on 1 John 2:19
“1 John 2:19
They went out from us – These heretics had belonged to our Christian assemblies, they professed Christianity, and do so still; but we apostles did not commission them to preach to you, for they have disgraced the Divine doctrine with the most pernicious opinions; they have given up or explained away its most essential principles; they have mingled the rest with heathenish rites and Jewish glosses. While, therefore, we acknowledge that they once belonged to us, we assert that they are not of us. They are not Christians; we abhor their conduct and their creed. We never sent them to teach.
They were not of us – For a considerable time before they left our assemblies they gave proofs that they had departed from the faith; for if they had been of us – if they had been apostles, and continued in the firm belief of the Christian doctrines, they would not have departed from us to form a sect of themselves.
That they were not all of us – They were not expelled from the Christian Church; they were not sent out by us; but they separated from it and us. None of them had been inspired as we apostles were, though they pretended to a very high teaching; but their separating from us manifested that they were not taught, as we were, by the Spirit of God. These false teachers probably drew many sincere souls away with them.”
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