New Release: Trusting God When You Cannot See His Hand

The recent publication: Trusting God When You Cannot See His Hand: Bible Study with notes and guidance for the group.

Below is a forwarded message regarding the book, and the recommendation from the literary reviewers.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Sarah Jenkins <sarahjenkins@lettrapress.com>

Hi Elizabeth,

This is Sarah Jenkins from Lettra Press. I'm contacting you about your book Trusting God When You Cannot See His Hand: Bible Study with Notes and Guidance for the Group.

Your book was scouted and recommended to us by our literary reviewers. They find the book very interesting.

They have reviewed the book and they also gave a rating of 8.6 out of 10. This is not supposed to be shared but you might be happy to know this. This is what they said:

''This is what sets the author apart from all other writers. Author's unique way of stringing words together, formulating ideas, and relating scenes or images to the reader. In any piece of writing, the voice should be consistent and identifiable which the author has done a very good job."

I'm not sure if you realize it but you have very good material here and at the same time you were able to catch literary agents attention. .............

I'm very interested in your work so if you could, please call me at ...... I'm in the office from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST. Monday - Friday. You may also respond to this email.

All the best,

Sarah Jenkins

Senior Consultant

sarahjenkins@lettrapress.com

Praying without ceasing?!

Praying without ceasing means to have a spirit of dependence on the Lord in all that we do, praying repeatedly and often, and not to give up in prayer life and not losing heart; Luk 18:1. Daniel’s defiant discipline in prayer life should be an encouragement to all of us; “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” Dan 6:10. Daniel kept his appointment with the Lord in a very regular fashion and God was with him.

“Rejoicing evermore and praying without ceasing” 1 Thess 5:16-17; is the foundation of this writing. Praying in the, morning, evening and at noon time, and rejoicing in the Lord because the source of the fruit-bearing life abides in this. The Word of God talks about delighting in the law of the Lord Psa:1; and believers admonishing, encouraging, helping, being patient, not repaying evil for evil, seeking to do good to all, and giving thanks in all circumstances to God, is the fruit bearing life; 1 Thess 5:14-18.

Early morning prayer is important, and Jesus was an example to us, because he rose early even when it was dark and went to pray; Mk 1:35. Staring the day with Bible reading and prayer, will give us the good disposition of our minds to do all things well, depending on the Lord. It is good to plan our meeting with the Lord at least very few focused minutes of stillness and solitude with the memory of few verses nourishing us and encouraging us.

It is important to choose a place where we meet the Lord and plan a method of prayer. George Mueller, was a good example for all of us, and he meditated on God’s Word and turned them to prayer as he went about doing his business of the day. We do not pray as unbelievers ask for the things of the world because God knew already what we need, and He can supply. The most important thing is exalting Christ in our prayer, praying in the Holy Spirit, and asking God to protect our lives, our soul, our faith, body, mind, and spirit in the knowledge and love of Christ; Col 3:16; Eph 5:18.

Centering our prayer on Lord’s prayer and exalting God, is the highest fervors of true devotion, and is utter serious for the fight for joy in God. Fasting is an expression of hunger for God Matt 6:17-18; and the prayer said with the heart expresses the longing to be satisfied in God alone. It is important to awaken a hunger for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all the peoples, and very often with the community of believers our personal prayers are answered by the prayers of others, and God is calling us to corporate prayer as in 2 Cori 1:11. To be a Christian is part of the Body of Christ, and we are called to help each other fight for joy, Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand; 2 Cori 1:24.  

Reference:

Piper, John. When I don’t desire God: How to fight for joy (Wheaton: IL, Crossway Books,2004). 

Why did early Christians pray and how should we pray?

Staying in the valley of darkness is not what God wants for us, and He is willing to help us, and the Word of God commands us to rejoice in Him; Jas 4:9; 2 Cori 7:10. Prayer is offering up of our desires to God, and our hearts are revealed in prayer and our petitions are made known to God. Fighting for joy is worshipful, loving, serious, and dangerous because prayer for joy is not an emotional pampering. Prayer became the backbone of early Christians and they called on God for various reasons.

They called on God to exalt His name in the world; Matt 6:9; to extend God’s Kingdom; Matt 6:10; Rev 21:4; for the fullness of the Holy Spirit; Luk 11:13; Gal 5:22; to save the unbelievers; Rom 10:1; Matt 13:44; for healing Jas 5:13-15; Acts 8:7; for strategic wisdom Col 1:9; 3:16; for unity and harmony in the rank Jn 17:20-21; Phil 2:2; to know God better Col 1:10; Eph 1:17; to comprehend the love of Christ Eph 3:14, 18; for a deeper sense of assured hope Eph 1:16, 18; for strength and endurance Col 1:11; Eph 3:16; for their faith to be preserved Luk 22:32; not to fall into temptation Matt 6:13; 26:41; to complete their resolves and enable them to do good works 2 Thee 1:11; for the forgiveness of sins Matt 6:12; and for protection from evil one Matt 6:13.

Our call as Christians are to pray for the above concerns just like early Christians. Prayer and meditation are inseparable as God’s Word and His Spirit 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:21. Without prayer we try to fulfill the Word in our own strength, and we may become like Pharisees eventually and may give up in despair. The Spirit brings joy where the Word of God is exalted and enables us to see the beauty of Christ in God’s Word. Using God’s Word in prayer is a powerful weapon to war against the schemes of the devil, and God’s Word has power to bring down strongholds and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God; 2 Cori 10:3-5.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

We must pray to incline our heart, open the eyes of our heart so that we are satisfied in God alone. Prayer is also the indispensable remedy and healing to our hearts when we do not desire God, the way we should.

Reference: Piper, John. When I don’t desire God: How to fight for joy (Wheaton: IL, Crossway Books,2004).

Why do believers suffer?

Sufferings of humanity comes in different format and both believers and unbelievers suffer in this part of eternity ever since the Fall. This write up focuses on some of the Biblical explanations why believers suffer.

Believer's suffering for the benefit of others

Genesis 45: 4-7; is very clear, why Joseph suffered and it was suffering for his brothers and his family, and protect them from famine.  And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Isaiah 53, talks about our suffering servant: God’s Spirit foretold and testified through the prophets in the Old Testament about the sufferings Christ would go through for our sake, to redeem mankind. This is an extreme and unexplainable love of God for humanity to rescue mankind from the bondage of sin and death. This chapter talks about the sufferings Isa 53: 1-3; humiliation and the exaltation of Christ Isa: 53:4-9; and the blessings to mankind because of Christ’s death Isa 53: 10-12. The authentic and the most important report of salvation, with Divine power and Christ’s sufferings for our sake are not fully appreciated by our fallen humanity. Fallen humanity has life because of Christ’s death!

Paul writes that both Priscilla and Aquilla laid down their necks with Paul’s ministry; Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; Rom 16:3-4.

Sufferings for God’s glory:

Sufferings can be an avenue through which God reveals or glorifies Himself. Jn 9:13; explains that the healing of the blind man is for the glory of God; And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Rom 3:25-26; taks about Jesus Christ was justified for God’s Divine justice, and through this God’s glory is revealed; Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Rom 5:8; sufferings on the Cross, demonstrates God’s love for us, and through this God is glorified; But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Suffering can be the result of persecution:

Matt 5:10-12; shows the sufferings because of persecution for God’s Word; Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Heb 11:35-39; talks about sufferings because of persecution for God’s Word, and how they wandered about in sheep’s skin and goats’s sking, afflicted, tormented and were destitutes. Book of Hebrews says that they obtained good report through faith, and the fallen world is not worthy of them.  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

Peter was in Babylon, Assyria when he wrote this Epistle on Peter, and he brings the theology of suffering. 1 Peter was written shortly before the beginning of Nero’s persecution of Christians at Rome. This epistle was written mainly to bring a message of hope and encouragement during persecution for God’s Word, and especially for Christians suffering under Nero’s regime. The focus of this letter was to remind Christians of their privilege, conversion in Christ, and holy lives they ought to live.  1 Pet 3:14-17; talks about how as believers should take a stand for righteousness sake, and that will cause suffering and persecution for His Word’s sake, even within a body of Christ; But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Our response to suffering is learning to trust God in all situations:

LEARNING TO TRUST

Compatibilism

God is absolutely sovereign, but his sovereignty never functions in such a way that human responsibility is curtailed, minimized, or mitigated.

Human beings are morally responsible creatures – they significantly choose, rebel, obey, believe, defy, make decisions, and so forth, and they are rightly held accountable for such actions; but this characteristic never functions so as to make God absolutely contingent. (Carson, P. 179).

Sovereignty of God never functions in such a way, where the responsibility of humanity is curtailed. God is all knowing, all powerful, and all present and He cannot lie and sin and He is consistent with his Divine character; Psa:46; Jn 6: 37; Isa 10:5; Acts 18: 9-11; Phil 2:12-13; Lev 20:7-8. Our response to God is to acknowledge His presence inn all situations; Psa 46:1-2; have the peace of God; Psa: 46:2-3; accept the provision of God Psa 46:4; to understand the place of God Psa 46: 5-7; and have His protection Psa 46: 8-11. God should be exalted and we have the privilege of His protection as His children. 

Where is God When We Face the Unscalable?

Available at the link below:

http://www.thebookpatch.com/BookStore/where-is-god-when-we-face-the-unscalable/8cd4d574-c3f5-4542-a240-2fb75932aa46?isbn=9781946447517

God's Word- the Powerful Weapon and the joy for beleivers

The mighty weapon which the Bible is talking about for a believer is the powerful Word of God. The Gospel is seen, through the death and resurrection of Christ; Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:1 Cori: 15:1-4.

The Lord opens the eyes of the heart of believers through His Word; And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven  Matt: 16:17.  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul; Acts 16:14. When we are reluctant to read His Word, that is because of indwelling sin; Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me; Rom 7:17. We are called to put to death our old self; Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin; Rom 6:6; Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry; Col 3:5. The Word of God awakens and strengthens faith;  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God; Rom 10:17.

The reason for this is the Spirit of God, glorifies Christ; Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you; Jn 16:13-14. Through hearing the Word, God supplies the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit produces a subconscious influence in building us in faith; That, which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit; Jn 3:6-8; But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not; 6:36; It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me;(v.45),  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father” ;( v 65).

God’s Word in the Book of Ephesians commands us to be filled with His spirit, addressing one another in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual songs; And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Eph 5:18-19. The Word of God creates and sustains life; The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly; Jn 10:10. Man’s life is in God’s Word;  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God; Matt:4:4. The Word of God gives us hope, strength despite earthly trials; For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope; Rom 15:4. The Word of God leads us to freedom, because it is written that God’s truth will set us free from the bondage of sin and death; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free; Jn 8:32. This freedom is the reason, that  we fight for joy, freedom from sinful corruption of our lives. We shall see Jesus, if we are pure in heart away from the sinful corruption; Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God; Matt 5:8. Sin’s substitute promises are deceitful pleasures, and the main streak of self-control, and the liberating power of the Word is the power of promised joy.

The Cross of Christ, is the absolute way to kill joy killing sins. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live; Rom 8:13. John Owen (1616-1683), in his paper on Mortification of Sin in Believers, and his exposition on Rom 8:13, mentions “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you”. The Word of God is the key to answered prayer because we welcome him into our lives, in our hearts, mind and with our whole strength learning to abide in Him; These things I command you, that ye love one another Jn 15:7.  The Word of God is the source of wisdom, and God can provide wisdom for various life situations, for our day today life, because in Him is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; Col 2:3. The Word of God admonishes and gives crucial warnings, and there is great reward by keeping His Word; More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward Ps 19:10-11.

The Word of God enables us to defeat the devil and his schemes, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. “When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it Jn 8:44; Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil Heb 2:14. We are called to be faithful unto death;  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life Rev 2:10.

·         Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Eph:6:10-18.

God’s Word is a powerful weapon to fight for joy and it is crucial to fight for joy, and God’s Word is pleasant in itself; But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper; Ps 1:2-3.  The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver;119: 72. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day; Psa 119:97. Is it then valuable than anything else in this world? 

References:

Piper, John. When I don’t desire God: How to fight for joy (Wheaton: IL, Crossway Books,2004).

The Matthew Henry Study Bible, King James version: The best of Matthew Henry’s Notes in a Handy One Volume Reference Bible, (Iowa Falls, U.S.A, World Bible Publishers, Inc; 1994).

Joy in God as a justified sinner...

Cross is the central focus for all mankind to fight for joy, and Christ’s death on the Cross is the price that purchases every gift that leads to that deep and lasting joy. Christ’s death on the Cross for the remission sins for mankind must be preached and Gospel must be preached and heralded. Even when true preaching is not available, God can meet our needs through the meditation of His Word, through family worship, through small groups where the Word is discussed and applied, through radio, television, internet, tapes, or CDs. God has called us to enjoy the blessings that comes through godly preachers, and preaching is one precious gift of God. There is tremendous joy among believers when we part take of the Lord’s Supper through the bread and the cup; “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come” 1 Cori: 11:26. When we partake of the read and the cup we proclaim the death of Christ for our sins, for the forgiveness of sins, for the gift of righteousness, and the continued relationship with Christ and His father through the Spirit of adoption. Preaching God’s Word becomes a joy for a genuine believer, because it is ultimately for the glory of God. Lloyd- Jones, saw in Psalm 42, especially in verse 5, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” that the Psalmist and the preacher of the Word, King David is preaching to himself, and that applies to all who preaches (believers), we must preach the Word to ourselves.

We should not surrender to the victim mentality, but had to defy ourselves from Satan, other people, and from ‘self’. This is war, and Lloyd Jones says, the main art of spiritual living is addressing yourself, preaching to ourselves, questioning ourselves, upbraid, condemn, exhort, and say to ourselves ‘hope in God’. We must constantly remind ourselves about who God is, and what He has done for us through His Son, rather than being downcast, and being depressed. Finally, it is only the Cross of Christ that can kill the joy killers in our lives.

When Christ became the substitute of sins for us, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” 1 Cori: 15:3, He became the substitute performer of our righteousness; “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” Rom: 5:19; “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth” Rom:10:4; “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” 2 Cori 5:21. So the Doctrine of justification, has become our fight for our joy. It is faith alone, which sees the joy through justification; “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” Rom: 4:4-5. One should not confuse between justification and sanctification, because that can kill the joy God has placed within us. Progressive change in believers into the image of God is not justification, and that is called sanctification; “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” Rom:6:22. What is settled for our sins through the blood of Christ in twinkling of an eye is justification, and the moral progress goes forward in sanctification. Both are the gifts of God, and confusing them will undermine the Gospel, and turn justification by faith into justification by performance.

The effect of the Word of the Cross when one sees with the eyes of the heart, can touch anyone and we have both secular, historical, and Biblical records like John Bunyan, and prophet Micah. Micah’s guilt seems gutsy, because there was ‘reasonable’ accusations from self, Satan, and from the people around, and yet he was preaching about justification by faith. Prophet Micah lived outside of the governmental centers of power in his nation, and he has a strong concern for the lowly, less unfortunate in the society, the lame and the blind, and the outcasts, and the afflicted; “In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted” Mic: 4:6. Much of the book of Micah revolves around major two significant predictions: the judgment of Judah and Israel; Micah 1-3; and the other of the restoration of God’s people in the millennial Kingdom; Micah  4-5.  If Micah was living on this side of the Cross, he would have preached about God’s mercy, and the righteousness of Christ. In a nut shell, gutsy guilt is the opposite of cheap grace. Listening to the word of the Cross, preaching to ourselves becomes the main theme for sinners to fight for joy. The Cross, the joy, the sacrificial love all for the glory of God.   

References:

Piper, John. When I don’t desire God: How to fight for joy (Wheaton: IL, Crossway Books,2004).

The Matthew Henry Study Bible, King James version: The best of Matthew Henry’s Notes in a Handy One Volume Reference Bible, (Iowa Falls, U.S.A, World Bible Publishers, Inc; 1994).