The Heaton File

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:15-19)

Given The Keys

The ministry of Jesus was in its third year and the popularity of the carpenter from Nazareth was waning. John the Baptist had been beheaded. The pressure from the Jewish leaders had increased. Jesus knew His time on earth was quickly drawing to a close. Arriving in the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked the disciples what people were saying about Him. Some thought Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead or one of the prophets like Elijah or Jeremiah. Jesus then asked who they thought He was. Peter speaks up without hesitation, declaring that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. The Lord affirms the confession by Peter as a divine revelation and upon the authority of Jesus being the Christ, He would build His church. Jesus tells Peter that he would be given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. The will of the Father granted this authority to be given the keys.

Keys are used for unlocking doors. Until the time of Jesus, the mystery of the ages was hidden from the mind of men. Jesus came to make a way to the Father as He told His disciples Thursday evening when He was betrayed that He was going away to prepare the abiding place for the faithful. Entrance into eternal life was not open to all men. The invitation was given to the world, but only those who obeyed the will of the Father would be granted entrance. Peter would be instrumental in opening the doors of the kingdom of heaven for men to find salvation. That door was secured by the will of the Father and would not be opened until God permitted it.

After the death of Jesus and His resurrection, the Lord gave the commission to the eleven to preach the gospel to the whole world, beginning at Jerusalem. Fifty days after the death of Jesus, the apostles were in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began preaching the gospel of a risen Christ. Peter stands among the apostles and declares the sacrifice of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s purpose from the beginning. When the devout Jews were struck by the message of Peter, they pleaded with the apostle to tell them what to do. Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins. The tumblers of the divine lock held by the authority of God opened up the way of salvation and three thousand people walked in. Peter was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven and he opened the floodgates of eternal life through the will of the Father.

A few years after the events of Pentecost, Peter is again the center of evangelism when God directs the apostle to go to the house of a Roman centurion in Caesarea named Cornelius. When Peter arrives at the home of Cornelius, the family and some friends are gathered together to listen to the words of Peter. As the apostle speaks, the Holy Spirit comes upon the Gentiles as it did on the day of Pentecost upon the twelve apostles. Peter recognizes the opening of the message of eternal life to the Gentiles and asks what forbids those gathered from being baptized. He commands them to be baptized in the name of Christ and the tumblers of the divine lock open the door of salvation to the Gentiles.

Jesus promised to give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. At Pentecost, Peter opened the door for the Jews to be the first recipients of the gospel. When Peter went to Caesarea, he opened the door for the Gentiles to be included in the gospel and now the world knew the will of the Father. Peter was only an instrument used by God to open the doors of eternal life to all men. God used men throughout the history of the Bible to open doors. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, to name a few. John the Baptist had a pivotal role in the kingdom. Peter had his part, and he was given the keys to the kingdom. He did not make the keys or have authority over the keys. The keys were given to him by Jesus Christ and now the door is unlocked for all who will enter in. Salvation is on the other side of the door. It is not locked. The blood of Jesus stains the door. Enter in.

So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” But Abraham said, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.” (Luke 16:22-26)

What His Eyes Saw

The story of Lazarus and the rich man often focuses upon the state of the rich man who lived a life of luxury on earth but found horror and sorrow in death. Lazarus was a poor beggar living a life of squalor and filth with no animals pitying him but dogs in the presence of a fellow Jew with no compassion as demanded by the Law of Moses. The story also illustrates the truth the wicked cannot escape punishment. Through the story of Lazarus arises wonderful tones of eternal bliss and peace that for the human mind is difficult – if not impossible to fathom.

When Lazarus died, Jesus described his transition into the bosom of Abraham as carried by angels. Whether this is literal or figurative, the expression is incredible. Life for Lazarus was nothing but hardship and pain. Death was an experience of the peaceful transition of angels bearing the eternal spirit to the realm of the righteous dead. There is no grandeur image of God’s grace to think of how angels will carry the embodied eternal spirits of the saints to a place of rest. What is clear in the story is the cognitive awareness of everything around them. On the rich man’s part, he experienced searing pain that was unbearable. He did not ask for a glass of water but a drop to cool his tongue. He was tormented in flames. He knew and understood what was happening to him. His desire to send Lazarus back to his brothers suggests an awareness of life before. The contrast must also be seen for Lazarus, who was not experiencing pain and had no guilt or shame. In the bosom of Abraham, eternal beauty, peace, love, and the light of God shone all around. Lazarus was comforted now.

Hades is the realm of the dead. It is temporary and will be destroyed on the final day when, along with Hell, cast into the lake of fire, the second death. The bosom of Abraham is a place where the righteous dwell and see wondrous things. Death brings great sadness to the hearts of family and friends but on the part of the saint who dies in the Lord, death is a welcome rebirth into an indescribable world. What do they see? How do they feel? What do they remember? The details are sketchy, but the reality is clear. There is no more pain. Sorrow has left the soul. If the bosom of Abraham is where all the righteous dwell before the judgment, the company of people from Adam to Moses to Elijah and Peter and Paul share in the new arrivals daily from the earth below. What the eyes of the righteous must see when angels carry them to the bosom of Abraham.

Death is not the end of life for the child of God. It is the new birth into the eternal kingdom of God. All the aches and pains of life are gone. There is no sickness and there is no death. Is it possible to imagine a world without the burdens of life? When the righteous die, they see the glory of God. They feel His love and share in His grace. All of the saints gather together and they know one another. The full knowledge of God is endowed upon them to understand the plan of God. And then there is the image of Jesus Christ. They see Him face to face. He does not look anything like anyone thinks He does. The Holy Spirit is seen for the first time. All of the angels of God are visible. The image of God is all they see. Found in the bosom of Abraham, the righteous – like Lazarus – awaken to a world of untold beauty. There is grief for those who remain, but there is nothing to grieve for those who gain eternal life. My, what they must see right now.

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning—yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. (A song of ascents. Psalm 130)

Forgiveness

As the children of Israel went to Jerusalem each year, they sang various psalms as they ascended the hill to Zion. These psalms were hymns of praise extolling the grace of God, His abiding love for His people, the joy of going to the house of the Lord, and the relationship of a Father’s love for His children. Foremost among the themes is forgiveness. How can one come before the Lord God and not express praise for the joy of forgiveness? Worship helps to cleanse the soul of the dross of sin. Praising God in union with others strengthens the heart to fight against the wiles of the devil.

Sin overshadows the heart with the depth of darkness. There is no joy, no happiness, and hope when sin subdues the spirit. The joy of forgiveness is that from the depths of sin, God will hear the voice of the penitent. As the dispirited soul cries from the depths, God hears the shaken voice, listens to the frightful call of the fearful, and acknowledges the mournful supplications of the contrite. The reality of sin is that if God counted all the sins a man commits, there is no justification for the Lord to forgive. Who can stand before the great God and claim innocence? None! And yet God forgives the penitent heart that seeks the favor of the Lord. Fear drives one to seek the forgiveness of God. The fear of punishment and the fear of shame brought on by sin.

A prayer is offered to God asking for forgiveness. The quiet echoes the mercy of God as the answer of forgiveness is long for. Souls wait. Hope rises. The night of sorrow seems eternal longing for the sunlight of morning to dawn upon the darkened soul. Hope remains in the Lord. There is mercy with God and He is willing to give His mercy to those who repent and seek forgiveness. Abundant redemption is granted to all who come to the Father asking mercy. God will redeem the penitent from all his iniquities – not a few of them or certain ones – the Lord will remove sin as far as the east is from the west.

Forgiveness comes from a loving Father who knows the frame of man and that he is made of dust. No man has ever received the just reward for his sin, but God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to give the grace of forgiveness to a world that does not deserve it. The grace of God is without measure because the failings of men are unending. God forgives. He seeks those who come to Him asking to be made as hired servants, worthy of nothing. Wait for the Lord. Hope in the Lord. Watch for the forgiveness of God. It will come. There will be difficult days, but the mercy of God will come. God will forgive and the heart will be whole again. Thank you God for forgiveness. Mercy. Grace. Love. Compassion. Undeserved yet ready to be given.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

The Greatest Day

There is coming a day that will be the most important day in the history of the world. It is not the first day of creation or the day of the flood that destroyed all life except eight souls. The history of Israel filled with miracles, wonders, and signs is not the focus of the day that will take place. Two thousand years ago, the birth of Jesus heralded the unfolding of the mystery of God that would be completed more than three decades later when Jesus died on a cross. Through the resurrection of the Son of God, the Father’s love filled the earth, but that was not the most important day in the history of the world. There is coming a day that will be culmination, fulfillment, and completion of the divine plan of God when Jesus Christ descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God.

A day yet to come will be the greatest day in the history of man because it will be the fulfillment of God’s grace. Jesus is coming back the second time because He came the first time. The birth of Jesus was an incredible day of glory when God sent His Son into the world to live as a man of flesh. When Jesus rose from the dead, the mystery of the Father filled the earth with the gospel message of salvation. The world changed when Jesus came. Time is measured by the life of Jesus. The hope of the world is found in the only way, truth and life given to humanity. God’s word is the only avenue of truth that men can know. Still, a day is yet to come that will eclipse all of these events. Jesus is coming back.

The great day of the Lord will be when the Father sends Jesus Christ to the realm of men with a great noise. There will be no silent entrance for Christ as if an unknown rapture occurs. The shout of God will pierce the earth as no sound has ever been heard. It is not known what the voice of an archangel sounds like, but the nature of its description easily convinces men it will be something everyone will hear in deafening tones. The same can be said about the trumpet of God. A trumpet is a loud and piercing instrument. There is no trumpet made by men that will match the sound of God’s trumpet. Everyone from all four corners of the earth will hear the trumpet of God – vociferously.

Those who have died from the beginning of time that are faithful to the Lord will rise from their graves: Abel, Adam, Eve, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, Habakkuk, Dorcas, Timothy, and the innumerable hosts of God’s elect. Then all the faithful Christians living who have obeyed the word of the Lord will not see death but be caught up together with the dead to meet the Lord in the air. This will be the greatest day because that is where the saved will always be – in the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God’s plan is complete. Jesus confirmed the will of the Father by His death. God glorified the Son in the resurrection. Finally, the world comes to an end, and all the saved gather before the Father, and eternal glory begins. What a day that will be. That will be the greatest day. Lord, come quickly. Are you ready?

Aesop said, “It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.” When we are not facing the lion face to face, it is easy to say what we would do. Our bravery is sometimes measured by how far away we are from the threat. The farther we are, the braver we become. Our talk may become louder and full of heroic deeds – until we really face the danger.

Courage is defined as “That quality of mind which enables one to meet danger and difficulties with firmness; valor; a human quality which keeps one going in the face of opposition or danger.” I like the word “valor” – it has a crystal ring to it. Valor is the medal given for those who have shown their courage under heavy opposition and difficulty. We honor such heroes because they were willing to face the danger for us – face to face.

Paul wrote to Timothy and said, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Paul had just mentioned his own “doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions … what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me” (vv10,11). The Lord was able to deliver Paul from all those persecutions. Courage brought Paul to the feet of the Lord to seek his blessing and help in these times. Paul was willing to face these trials face to face knowing that he could do “all things in Christ.”

It takes courage to live the life of a Christian. Courage is the mettle that suggests an innate capacity for meeting those persecutions with the resolve to win the victory. C. S. Lewis said, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality.” The strength of tea is found only when it is in hot water. Our faith is found when we have to endure the troubles of life. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:1-6).

We need tribulations to make us strong. Courage is what brings us through. Courage is the force that brings us face to face with the lion – feeling the breath of his anger – smelling the foul odor of his existence – feeling the force of his power all around us – and yet say to him, “Satan, I reject you!” “Resist the devil, and he will FLEE from you” (James 4:7). Our troubles will bring about patience. Facing the trials of life with courage will help establish hope. The source of our courage is found in the Spirit. We are able to continue in the face of hardship because Jesus did not die for us because we had courage, but rather we were without strength and needed courage. Only He can give us the victory!

The Japanese have a proverb that says, “Unless you enter the tiger’s den, you cannot take the cubs.” Courage is the spirit that takes us to the very den of Satan and defeats him. Daniel had the courage to face the den of lions (Daniel 6), Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had the courage to face the fiery furnace (Daniel 3), courage fills the pages of Hebrews 11 and the faithful of God. “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

Andrew Jackson said, “One man with courage makes a majority.” Stand firm in your faith before God and Satan will fall. It will take much courage to bear the battle cry of the forces of wickedness but stand we must with courage in our hearts. The victory is ours.

So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18-20)

It Matters Who You Listen To

Peter and John had gone to the temple at the hour of prayer when they met a man lame from his mother’s womb. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they healed the man and the people were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Using the miracle to teach the people, Peter and John taught the people about Jesus and the resurrection. Not everyone rejoiced at the good fortune of the lame man. The priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon Peter and John and arrested them, placing them in custody.

On the next day, Peter and John were brought before the Jewish council to explain their actions and what they were teaching. Peter boldly defended the healing of the lame man explaining that the miracle was performed through the power of God. It was only a few months earlier these same Jewish leaders condemned to death Jesus of Nazareth but God had raised Him from the dead. Salvation came through Jesus Christ and none other. The miracle of healing the lame man was a testimony to the message of a risen Christ whom the Jewish leaders rejected. There would be no other avenue of salvation apart from the gospel of Christ. The Jewish leaders recognized the boldness of Peter and were unsure what to do. They threatened Peter and John not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Peter and John answered the council with courageous conviction when they asked them if they thought God wanted them to obey the council rather than Him. There was no question in the minds of Peter and John. They would listen to God. There was no reason to listen to the council.

The Jewish council knew a notable miracle had been done and there was no way to disprove it. Like the days of Jesus, no one could deny the miracles when Jesus healed every known disease, cast out demons, raised the dead, and performed wonders and signs. They tried to attack His teaching but failed every time. The infant church began to experience persecution when the Jewish leaders warned Peter and John to stop teaching the risen Christ. Soon after, the twelve apostles were arrested, beaten and warned to stop teaching Christ. Saul of Tarsus brought terrible persecution against the church seeking to destroy it. For nearly two hundred years, the first-century church existed under the heavy hand of Roman persecution. Throughout the years of persecution, the faithful saints refused to listen to the words of men and listened only to the word of God.

Peter and John laid the foundation for truth when they declared they would only listen to the word of God. There was no doubt in their minds who they would follow, who they would listen to, and what they would preach. Men sought to oppress them, but they spoke louder. Many saints died for the faith, but their voices grew louder. Nothing the world could do would silence the word of God because His people were listening to Him – not the world. Two thousand years later, the church remains firmly grounded across the globe because the faithful listen to Him. There is only one book that tells the will of God and that book is the Bible. Jesus is the only way to eternal life, the only truth that will guide men to the Father, and the only life that will return sinful man to his place before God. Salvation is found in those who listen to the word of God. Open your ears to His word. Listen for the voice of grace telling you the story of Jesus Christ. The word of God is truth. Listen to it.

Growing The Word

Two million dollars is a lot of money. Three or four million dollars is not a small sum. Few people attain the opportunity to enjoy millions of dollars in life. Businesses can be crushed if they lose millions of dollars. Precious artifacts worth millions of dollars can seldom be replaced. The capital city of the Roman province of Asia was Ephesus, famed for the birthplace of two painters, Apelles and Parrhasius, and the philosopher Heraclitus. Ephesus was also widely known for its culture of magicians who conjured the arts of magic and amulets of parchment with inscriptions that, when read (as was believed), would help to avert evil.

The apostle Paul spent almost three years in the city of Ephesus. He reasoned and persuaded the things of the kingdom of God in the synagogue and many converts were brought to Christ. God worked unusual miracles by the hand of Paul. Among the converts were a great number of magicians. Like Simon the Sorcerer in the city of Samaria, they realized the power of God was true and their magical arts were nothing more than a ruse. Converting to the gospel of Christ, the faith of these new Christians manifested itself in an incredible manner. They brought their books of the magical arts together and burned them in the sight of everyone. When the total amount of the books was weighed, the sum was fifty thousand pieces of silver, equaling millions of dollars worth of books.

It is difficult to give an exact number to the value of the books in modern currency but putting the amount in the context of two to four million dollars would not be far off the mark. This was more than a lifetime’s wages. The gospel of Christ so changed the lives of the Ephesian magicians; they willingly, voluntarily, and with no regard to monetary worth – burned books worth millions of dollars. And the question is asked, “Why?” Their lives had changed. Money was not the most important goal in life. There can be little doubt the unconverted magicians must have been incensed at the destruction of the magical books. The world looked upon the act of the new Christians as a cultish act of incredible stupidity. But not to the Lord God. He saw their faith. The example of their courage resounded throughout the halls of the Divine.

The action by the magicians had an impact on the city of Ephesus. There would be detractors who would argue against such action. What made the greatest impact was that because of the courageous faith of the new Christians, the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed over the hearts of the people. The word of God grows in many ways. When Saul persecuted the church, saints went everywhere preaching the word. Later, as the apostle Paul, the gospel was spread throughout the whole world as he went from city to city and region to region preaching, teaching, and establishing churches. The word of the Lord grew.

In the city of Ephesus, the word of God grew because of the actions of a group of new Christians who boldly showed their faith in the presence of all by burning rare and expensive magical books worth millions. It would have been a good showing to burn a few hundred dollars worth of books but this act was beyond the pale. As a result of an active faith on the part of the former magicians, the word of God touched the lives of many people. Luke does not tell how many came to know Jesus Christ because of the book burning but one can only imagine. If one soul was saved, it was worth billions of dollars. The world was shocked by the burning but many people saw the power of the gospel and wanted to share in that grace. They realized the hope of eternal life far outweighed the worth of millions of dollars.

The word of the Lord can grow in every community when the lives of saints reflect a sacrificial spirit of devotion to God. Many churches struggle to bring people to Christ and in part, it is because of the lives of its members. They are unwilling to sacrifice their lives to serve the Lord and the world takes notice. For many saints, their lives are seldom unlike the habits of their lost neighbors. Growing churches are filled with Christians who are ready to “burn the books,” not in the literal sense but in the willingness to dispose of all those things that hinder growth in the body of Christ – no matter the cost. Burning the books burned the bridge back to the world. The former magicians declared their allegiance to the Lord God. Can we do any less?

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel. (Colossians 1:3-5)

The Hope Of Heaven

If life were nothing more than a futile exercise of so many years and then death; with no promise or hope of anything beyond – what would be the point of living? The world can be a harsh climate of pain and suffering. There are good days and there are times of despair. Youth is the spirit of a never-ending life, with old age a realization of the brevity of life. There are injustices filling the canvas of the toils of this earth where some are blessed and others never find joy. The young can die (and do) and the old must die. For many, life is a brief experience of living with all the gusto that one can get out of life and dying with little to care for. There can be a pointless existence in how people approach their lives and find little comfort or joy.

Renewing a hope of heaven will change a person’s life in ways he could never find in the futility of human wisdom. Sadly, many Christians live mediocre lives, seldom thinking about heaven. Eternal life is the answer to life. There is nothing to live for if a man only exists on earth, dies and that is all. What would be the purpose of life? Why have any joy? Where would the value of life be found? Heaven changes everything. It gives hope that there is something to hope for, long for, and live for in the face of a harsh world. A hopeless life rejects the idea of a loving and compassionate Father who sent His only begotten Son to open an avenue of hope in eternal life. Who has the greater life – the man who rejects God or the man who embraces the hope of God.

Heaven is not just a place to be; it is a place to long for. Whenever eternal life is achieved, everything in life will be forgotten. Death is not a final moment but a beginning point when the true value of life is realized. God created man as an eternal being housed in a mortal frame. Man does not possess a soul – he is a soul. The earthly frame of flesh is but a temporary tabernacle that begins to decay the moment it is born. Living one hundred years is by all testimony from those who achieve the centenarian mark nothing but a vapor. Methuselah lived to be 969 years and he died – so what? Life is not about the number of years lived but the realization there is life after death and the joy of Heaven is what makes living hopeful.

Many things can discourage the soul if life on earth is all there is. Renewing a spirit of hope in the promise of eternal life changes the outlook of life to be something bright and joyful. Heaven is a prepared place for those preparing to be in a world of eternal promise. Suffering is lessened, failures are overcome, and the trials of life only strengthen the resolve to receive that heavenly promise. Thinking about heaven comes from prayer. Faith is built up when learning about eternal life. Love is found in the bond of saints united in the eternal cause. The hope which is laid up in heaven fills the soul with the presence of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Reading the word of the truth of the gospel of peace describes a place called Heaven. It is real. God has prepared it. Jesus died to make it possible. Heaven awaits those who look beyond this world for something that is indescribable. Lord Jesus, come quickly.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 20-21)

Edification And Prayer

God has granted to His children the blessing of coming before Him and seeking blessings and petitions according to all He has promised. It is a most incredible offering of a loving Father to allow sinful creatures to stand in His presence, seeking forgiveness, mercy, and love. Prayer is the avenue of grace where the Creator invites His creation to talk with Him and commune with Him. Prayer is one of the highest blessings a child of God has with the Father. It is exclusive. All men can seek God but not all men can receive the blessings of God through prayer. Praying in the Holy Spirit is reserved for those who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism. Only children of God can ask for the blessings of the Father. The love of God is the blessing of sins washed away and a covenant established between men and God.

Faith comes from hearing the word of God. Prayer is an expression of that faith. The power of prayer is the edification it brings to the spirit when brethren pray for one another and with one another. Prayer is where the Holy Spirit strengthens the soul. Faith without prayer is a dead faith. Prayer without faith is a lost cause. Building one another up in the faith is where prayer connects the spirits to one another and to the Father. In the struggles of life, edification and prayer partner to strengthen one another in the bond of peace. Growth comes from the desire of the saints to help each other grow in Christ, praying together to share the challenges of life, and remaining steadfast in the love of Christ. Prayer is a natural part of war and going to war against the wiles of the devil requires much prayer and edification.

Praying in the Holy Spirit is not a miraculous manifestation. Every Christian received the gift of the Holy Spirit when they were baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins. The Holy Spirit bears witness the individual is a child of God. Prayer is the expression of faith found in the love of God granted by the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Renewing the spirit of a devoted prayer life changes the up-look and the outlook of the child of God. Building oneself up in faith begins with prayer, talking to the Father, sharing with the Son, and filling oneself with the Holy Spirit. The natural response is to share this joy with others, leading to the building up of the church, who also learn the power of edification and prayer. Saints united in prayer is a force Satan cannot defeat. Every time a knee is brought down in prayer, the citadels of Satan fall.

The world can be dark and frightening, with many things to bring fear and consternation. Satan continually seeks to infuse his spirit of apathy, despair and distrust into the heart of God’s children. Fighting back against the wiles of the devil comes from the edification of united hearts in prayer who have renewed their spirits in the Holy Spirit. Standing against Satan with the Holy Spirit, the Father, and the Son will always end in glorious victory. A holy faith begins with prayer. The love of God exalts in prayer. Looking for the mercy of Jesus Christ is found in prayer. Eternal life? Answered in prayer. Renew a desire for prayer. Pray without ceasing.

And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the Lord your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage. (Deuteronomy 4:19)

Seeing The Heritage Of God Above

The children of Israel were plagued with the influences of their Egyptian bondage all their lives. Within weeks of being delivered by the hand of God from Pharaoh, the Israelites are bowing before a golden calf. Idolatry destroyed the nation of Israel and Judah and God punished them. Israel was given a law to tell them how the world began and who made the world. They rejected the word of God. The Lord warned them against following the practices of the nations around them who worshipped the gods of the sun, moon, and stars. This was an abomination to the Lord God who made heaven and earth. All of the hosts of heaven were not put there for men to worship as gods but as a testimony to the power and majesty of the One who made them.

Moses warned the people of Israel that when they felt driven to worship the hosts of heaven, to remember the Lord gave the sun, moon, and stars as a heritage to them. Everyone on earth is privileged to see the starry hosts of the heavens. No matter where a person is on the planet, the skies are filled with the handiwork of the Lord God. The sun streaks across the sky in the day and the night fills with the speckling shimmers of stars innumerable. Modern technology cannot count the billions of galaxies filled with billions upon billions of stars. There is no number of stars known in the heavens, yet God has a name for each one. The sun, moon, and planets in the heavenly neighborhood of earth are all the exact distance from one another so that life can exist on one planet filled with human beings.

The heritage of God is above. A tragedy has come in the modern world where people spend more time inside than out. With all the advancements of comfort and convenience, few know of the stars above. Life becomes so busy; few have time to stop and smell the roses or look to the heavens and see the heritage of the Lord God. The world is a testimony to the hand of God. It goes unseen. Wrapped up in the carnal world of self-indulgence, the heritage of the Lord is ignored. Children seldom see the stars. It is a vast world shouting the handiwork of the Creator who has given all men His thumbprint so they can know Him and worship Him as Lord. God wants His creation to look up and find Him. He is not far from anyone, but they have to look for Him. The heavens declare His glory, but if a man never looks above, he will never see the heritage of what God has given him. Take time to see God in the world. The beauty of His creation, the majesty of His universe, and the eternal nature of His highest creation: man. Then, come to know why God gave the heavens and earth as a heritage: Jesus Christ.