I have been blogging about promises made to Israel as a direct result of the seventy weeks (of years) according to the determined purpose of God. They have been labeled as goals or accomplishments; however, we must also see them as the promises of God—things that will definitely happen as it has been decreed by God as Israel’s future.
In this third Israeli promise, the work of Christ’s atonement is in view. Thus, the promise points to the second part of Hebrews 9:26: “He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Italics are for emphasis). His blood shed on Calvary will make atonement for Israel’s long standing iniquity. This work of atonement will affect the entire process of their salvation—their repentance, conversion and regeneration, as seen in the first two phases (click HERE and HERE)—making it all of God’s work and nothing of their…
On this day, after the forty-sixth Presidential inauguration, when the country, according to the media, finally is at peace and at rest and unified, there are some of us (me) who are not at rest and struggling. Though the world says peace and safety at last, I know differently. Though the newspapers and the TV media are smiling and showing a sigh of relief, I am tense and on guard. All is really not going well, and won’t go well. The left is planning war against us Christians. They are scheming against us. And the devil is taking advantage of our unrest. He is and will come against us to destroy us so that we will not rise again. What can be done?
I have been blogging on the Lord’s Prayer, and so, I think this is a good time to put it all together and really try to better my own prayer habits from that Lord’s-Prayer-outline. I, and we all need more and better prayer at this time. If you have been following my blog posts on this prayer, we have pointed out that there is an invocation, “Our Father in Heaven”; then six petitions. The first three have to do with prayer for the glory of God; and then the next three have to do with our own needs.
The struggle for me is how to use this prayer outline in my own prayers. If I pray according to my own feelings and inclinations, I probably won’t use the outline at all; I will just tell God how I feel. If I do that, His prayer outline becomes useless. But if I force myself to use the outline, then my prayers usually become mechanical and sometimes without much heart. So, what do I do? I have to tell you that I haven’t completely figured it out yet. But I have some ideas that I am now thinking about, that I think will allow my prayer to get better. So here are my ideas.
My goal will be to use the Lord’s Prayer outline as a guide and yet to find a way to pray with my heart in it—so that His prayer outline will also be my outline, and also that I will be praying with my own heart.
The first thing that I think will be very helpful is to write out my prayers using the Lord’s prayer as a guide, and to try to write as much as I can. I will have the goal of writing a seven-page prayer with each page under the heading of one of the Lord’s Prayer points. So, on page one I will write on “Our Father.” Then on page two I will write on “Hallowed be Thy name,” and so on. And to make it less mechanical, I will really work on getting smooth transitions from page to page. Maybe on some days, when I have more time, I will try to write two pages per outline point, making it a fourteen-page prayer. I will continue this prayer writing exercise for many days, maybe for a few months.
Next, when I feel that I have mastered the writing, I will try to pray just in my thoughts without writing it out. And each time I do it, I will try to pray with my heart and all the while asking Him to help me pray.
As I think on these ideas, I am so aware that prayer is a struggle and hard work. It is hard to pray correctly and hard to train my mind to be attentive to Him. This is so much of what prayer is—being attentive to Him. It will also be challenging to get everything to fit where it belongs; that is, where in the prayer outline do I confess sins, and where do I pray for friends, and so many other things. These are things that need to be worked out in the prayer writing; and then hopefully, when I graduate from the writing, I will have it figured out—so that in the end I will know how to pray to the Father appropriately and with praise.
In all that I have written here I am mainly talking about your private prayers. Public prayer may be similar, but not as long. I think public prayers should always be short, as not to appear prideful, and also to allow others to pray.
The following article is an excerpt from this book.
Prayer has been defined or described in many ways.
Here are nine different descriptions of prayer, by various authors:
1. Prayer is asking and receiving. According to E.M. Bounds, “Prayer is the outstretched arms of the child for the Father’s help. Prayer is the child’s cry calling to the Father’s ear…Prayer is the seeking of God’s greatest good, which will not come if we do not pray.”
2. Prayer is approaching God’s throne. According to Spurgeon, “True prayer is an approach of the soul by the Spirit of God to the throne of God.” I would say it this way: it is the approach of the Holy Spirit in our soul that drives us to the throne.
3. Prayer is our service due Him. According to E. M. Bounds, “Prayer is not a duty which must be performed, to ease obligation…
I heard the most interesting and revealing interview of Michele Bachmann the other day regarding what happened on January 6th at the Capitol. I’m not 100% convinced of everything she claims, but it seems to make sense to me, and I think it needs further investigation. I organized my notes in 10 points.
Michele Bachmannon the Scene
Michele Bachmann, a former Minnesota Congress woman and a 2012 presidential candidate, was on the scene at the Trump Rally and also in the Capitol. She came to pray and to speak to a few high-ranking government leaders (like Mike Pompeo). While she was in the capitol the riots started, and she said she was so surprised to hear some people say that it was Trump supporters that were the rioters. According to what she had observed, Trump supporters were “the nicest people.” Many of them came mainly to pray. What she experienced among Trump supporters was an atmosphere of happiness; “like a happy family reunion.” She said, there were no unhappy or mad people; no shouting or swearing.
Rioters were a Professional Group
Bachmann said, the agitators that stormed into the Capitol were not Trump Supporters. They were professional people; the same people who showed up at Minneapolis and Portland to riot.
Identity Theft by Imposters
The premise of the left and the media (and now most people) is that Trump followers, especially Christians, did the rioting. But it was imposters, according to Bachmann, that put on Trump clothing that did the rioting. She said (and I agree) that it is a case of “identity theft.” They stole President Trump’s identity and his follower’s identity. They made them to look like terrorists. But none of that is true. The media, even Fox News, gave a false narrative. Bachmann said, “What they were saying was not what I observed.”
Some Good People Were Swept Up in The Excitement
Bachmann said that besides the destructive and violent agitators, there were also a few good people who came to the Trump rally that got swept into what was happening. They actually went into the Capitol but did not do violence. This was the testimony of one man who said that he went into the capitol but tried to be respectful.
Weeping Trump Supporters
Bachmann witnessed that there were some Trump supporters that were weeping. They were there mainly for the purpose of prayer and fasting for America, and they suddenly were realizing that they were being used. Their identity was being stolen just as their votes were stolen.
A Planned Coup
Leading up to the tragic events, there was nothing but prayer and peacefulness. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, a group of agitators stormed toward the Capitol and broke in. In Bachman’s opinion, it was a planned coup. And there seems to be evidence to prove it: 1) The agitators in some places were let into the Capitol, by Capitol police, and were not stopped. They did nothing to stop them. 2) They even opened the gates to let them in (very odd). 3) They knew how to get to Pelosi’s office. Bachman testified that it is very hard to find places in the Capitol if you have never been there before. It seems obvious that they had it all mapped out. 4) It seems apparent that the agitators had been planning this and that they had help from some people (on the left) who knew their way around.
Purpose of the Coup
It is apparent to me that the left is desperate to try to discourage conservatives to be involved with Trump and in politics. Some supporters are being told by others, “Will you now renounce Trump.” Also, I think the left has been given a poor image because of the riots in Minneapolis and Portland and other cities. And so, this attempt at identity theft is what they dreamt up to even the score—to make conservative Christians look bad. How sad is that?
The Hypocrisy of the Left
The left described the terrible riots in Minneapolis and Portland as “peaceful protests.” But now that conservatives are blamed for what happed at the Capitol, everything is reversed. Nothing was peaceful. And all Trump supporters are now being blamed by the media for the riots—all 75 million of us.
What is Ahead for the Country? None of it is Good.
We will probably never have a legitimate election again
We are fast headed for a global government: the great reset, etc.
A Word of Encouragement for Christians
Cling to the word of God and be filled with His Spirit. Speak the truth and walk in the truth. We need to find outlets that tell us the truth. Look up and eagerly wait for His coming!
24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place. NASB
In this second point of promise, “to make an end of sin,” the focus is on the fact that Israel’s sins will be taken away and their hearts will be made clean. “To make” suggests that someone makes it happen. That someone is Christ. In Hebrews 9:26 we read, “…He has been manifested to put away sin…”
Thus this prophecy points to what Paul said in Romans 11:26-27,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion,He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” 27 “And this is My covenant with them,When I take away their sins.”
The following article is an excerpt from this book.
Prayer is not only petition, it is also something more basic—it is soul to soul communication with God. And this really must come first, before we ask God for anything. For this is the heart of prayer. Before we can expect Him to listen to our requests we must have made contact with His soul by our soul.
I got this idea from Jim Downing in his book Meditation, where he suggests that various passages in the Psalms (e.g. Ps. 62:5, 130:6, 25:1) “indicate that coming into contact with God involves the soul.” And he stated that “Theologians in general agree as to the soul’s principle powers…the mind, the affections and the will.”
So I am suggesting that “coming into contact with God” with our souls is really what prayer is. True prayer, therefore, will involves the mind, the affections (the…
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:11-13
In previous blog posts I first wrote on the invocation, “Our Father.” And then I wrote on the first three petitions, which have to do with God and His glory: with His character and holiness, with His kingdom, and with His will.
Now we come to the last three petitions that have to do with our needs and desires. Though this prayer outline is quite brief, it is all inclusive: the needs of the body, the soul, and the spirit are all included. Nothing is left out. The needs of the body are termed as “our daily bread.” The needs of the soul are termed as “forgiveness.” And the needs of our spirit are termed as our deliverance from evil.
Our daily bread
This request is for our material needs: everything that is necessary for our living. And notice that this is the first petition having to do with what we need, suggesting that God cares that we be healthy in our life.
And just because He knows all our needs even before we ask, doesn’t mean that we should not ask Him. We should ask Him every morning because He desires us to speak with Him every day. And He also wants us to realize our dependence on Him; that we cannot live for one day without Him.
Forgive us
In the first section, “And forgive us our debts,” we must recognize that “us” is in reference to anyone who is in the family of God; all others are excluded. So, this prayer is only for His children. Next, know that He will give us forgiveness immediately if we ask (look at 1 John 1:9).
In the next part, “as we forgive our debtors,” notice that it says “as” we forgive our debtors, not “because” we forgive them. Hence, our forgiveness is not based on our work of forgiving others. Rather, we should see it altogether. In the family of God, He gives us the desire and the strength to forgive others; and He also forgives us. It is in the new nature of believers to forgive as God forgives.
We could see it this way: the proof that we are forgiven of God is that we forgive others. And if we have not forgiven others than this is an indication that God has not forgiven us—that we are not His children.
Deliverance from evil
The first part, “And lead us not into temptation,” is asking God not to allow us into any situation where we are liable to be tempted by Satan or the flesh. It is the same as in 1 Corinthians 10:13, where we can ask God to give us a way of escape from temptation. The second part, “deliver us from evil,” is asking God to show us that way of escape and then give us the power to get out of there—or He may just remove the power of evil from us, just as He tamed the lion in front of Daniel (you know the story).
Now here are three reasons why we should pray this third petition:
1. So that our fellowship with him may not be broken.
2. So that we will have a right relationship with Him.
Seventy weekshave been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place. NASB
Transgression spoken of here is certainly what Daniel had prayed about in verse eleven: “Yes all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice…” Therefore, Israel’s transgression was a blatant disobedience to God, which is rebellion against God and a rejection of His laws and teachings.
But the definite article attached to the word in verse 24—the transgression—suggests that there is a more specific transgression that Israel as a nation is guilty of. We don’t see the definite article in verse eleven, I suppose because Daniel is not aware of any specific sin…
Since January 6th, since all of the blame for the Capitol break-in was put on Trump followers, we can anticipate a crackdown on all trump followers—many of which are Christians.
If you have listened to the media, especially the left-wing media, you will hear that they are blaming all Trump followers (who are conservatives) for not only the break-in at the Capitol, but for many other things. Yes, we will be blamed for many things, and arrested.
We have already experienced the take-down of Parler, which is a conservative social media company. Hence, conservatives have been stripped of their freedom of speech just because they are conservative, and because they are getting in the way of the left-wing global agenda.
Believe me, it will get worse and worse. The Bible promises it (read 2 Timothy 3:13).
What should we do when we are wrongly arrested and persecuted? How should we act? The Bible tells us exactly what to do, and it insures us of a blessed hope even in persecution.
What to do?
1. We should rejoice and be glad.
Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:12).
2. We should love and pray for our persecutors.
But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you 45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matt. 5:44-45).
3. We should not worry about what to say in our defense.
But when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak. 20 “For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you (Matt. 10:19-20).
4. We should reach out and bless our persecutors.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not (Rom. 12:14).
What will be our reward?
1. Blessing.
Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. 12 “Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matt. 5:11-12).
But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you (1 Peter 4:13-14).
2. We will be rewarded in Heaven.
Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matta. 5:12).
The following article is an excerpt from Prayer A to Z.
When we think about confidence, even when we say the word “confidence,” it makes us feel good doesn’t it? It gives us a lift, gives us energy, strength and courage. And I suppose that is because the word is so much associated with positive energy. And whether we believe it or not, that energy comes from God. It is a special gift that He has given to all people—the energy, the drive to believe and have hope in themselves and in the gifts that they possess. Yes, we are all created in His image; and since God Himself has self-confidence—believing and having hope in Himself—all people down deep within themselves have this same self-confidence too. It is inherent in the way He has created us.
But listen to this: God gives a special confidence (a more powerful and more…
In this third Israeli promise, the work of Christ’s atonement is in view. Thus, the promise points to the second part of Hebrews 9:26: “He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Italics are for emphasis). His blood shed on Calvary will make atonement for Israel’s long standing iniquity. This work of atonement will affect the entire process of their salvation—their repentance, conversion and regeneration, as seen in the first two phases (click HERE and HERE)—making it all of God’s work and nothing of their…
Stephen Nielsen 