Our faithlessness affects our fruitfulness. This is clear at every point in the Scripture. My study of the Old Testament has led me to many conclusions. Here is one that jumps out at me–God wants us to do as He leads and in the way that he directs.
Our disobedience keeps us from experiencing the power of God in prayer. God wants to bless His children, but our lack of concern for the things of God walls us off from God’s blessings.
Isaiah 59:1-2 makes this clear: “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
Isaiah’s message is evident: God is the all powerful God whose reach is over all the earth. He hears and he cares. Yet, our nonchalant attitude toward obedience cuts us off from the abundant blessings of God.
How this must pain our loving Heavenly Father! “If there is one point more than any other at which we are defeated in prayer, it is at the point of personal purity. God hates sin. It is an abomination to Him; it cost Him His Son” (Tom Elliff, A Passion for Prayer, 25).
The psalmist asked the question of the ages. He wanted to know who can stand in the presence of God: “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands, and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false” (Psalm 24:3-4).
God is offended by what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called cheap grace, the idea that we see sin as petty and insignificant and justification as something for sin but not for the sinner. God demands repentance.
Only then will we experience power in prayer.
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2 Responses
Yes, “Dietrich Bonhoeffer called the idea that we see sin as petty and insignificant and justification as something for sin but not for the sinner. God demands repentance.”
There is nothing cheap about God’s Grace. April 9, 1944 Dietrich Bonhoeffer showed the price of Grace and ratified the saying of my father, “The first hundred years is the hardest!” Dietrich Bonhoeffer missed more than fifty of those first hundred to aid us in our journey to eternity. Like Jesus, like my father, his vision (focus) went beyond mortality. The Cross. Nothing cheap about it… The sins of our forefathers are with us. Only the Power of the Cross used by us can achieve His Purpose. Every generation has an opportunity to turn the tide of the “fall” we see all around us. The points of light (intended for Brilliance) seem to concentrate more on themselves than the One Who granted them the Grace for their Light, their part on the Body, their purpose: not in part but whole. How do we know the Mind of God?
Thank you Dr. Bailey for pointing us to His Word: the Bread of Life, the Living Water, the Medicine for the soul, to the necessity of works meet for repentance without which there is only the game of illusion. The illusion of a harmony apart from God. Acknowledge the warning of Jesus Christ who said many will call me… Matthew 7: 21-23
The action of Love: Romans 12:21. The Cross is the start, the new start. It demonstrates to us works meet for repentance. Lead.
Just getting Mom settled in as we returned from the warm water pool at the Wellness Center of East Jefferson. HOPE you guys are getting as much from Dr. Bailey’s instruction and reminders as I am. Duty can be done in Love. In fact if it is not I’m not sure God wants it at all. See Isaiah. Good Night, it is… of God.