Friday, September 6, 2013

Someone who is guilt-ridden and conscience-stricken because of sin, rather than seeking fellowship with God, will shy away from Him just as Adam and Eve did. After their sin, they ran, not to Him, but from Him—they hid from God

  1 John 1:3

(3) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
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Someone who is guilt-ridden and conscience-stricken because of sin, rather than seeking fellowship with God, will shy away from Him just as Adam and Eve did. After their sin, they ran, not to Him, but from Him—they hid from God (Genesis 3:8-10). Is there a more powerful act that we, as Christians, can do to demonstrate our desire to run to God rather than from Him—to demonstrate the strength of our desire to fellowship—than to pray always?
A lack of desire to fellowship with God and Christ is a distinctive trait of a Laodicean (Revelation 3:18-20). We live in an era when people are apathetic about having a true relationship with God. No professing Christian would admit that he would not care to eat a meal with and fellowship with Jesus Christ, yet He reports that in His own church, some will not rouse themselves to fellowship with Him, though they know that He knocks at the door. By their inaction, they choose not to fellowship with Him.
In fact, they are so far from Him that they do not even see their need! A terrible cycle of cause-and-effect is created: no awareness of need, no desire; no desire, no prayer; no prayer, no relationship; no relationship, no awareness of need. It runs in a vicious circle.
God offers us, not just endless life, but even more—eternal, close fellowship with Him. That is part of our reward as firstfruits (Revelation 3:12, 21). But how does God know if we want to fellowship with Him forever? How can He determine about us, as He said about Abraham in Genesis 22:12: "Now I know"? Simply, if we are earnestly seeking fellowship with Him right now, in this life, our actions prove—just as Abraham's actions were proof—that we sincerely desire to fellowship with Him forever.
What is the major way God gives us to show our desire for eternal fellowship with Him? Prayer! Through prayer, especially praying always, we are consciously deciding to place ourselves in God's presence—to have fellowship with Him and to acknowledge our vital need for Him.
As an example of this, David writes in Psalm 27:8: "When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, Lord, I will seek.'" The Amplified Bible expands the idea of "seek My face" as "inquire for and require My presence as your vital need." In everything we say or do, we are to acknowledge His presence in our lives and give thanks for it (Colossians 3:17). Our praying always should also include thanksgiving to God for the many blessings He provides to sustain us, prosper us, and perfect us.
Considering this idea of eternal fellowship, it should come as no surprise that by striving to pray always we are in training to do now what we will be doing for eternity—closely fellowshipping with God. It is one reason why we have been called and elected by God—that we might have fellowship with the Father and the Son (Revelation 3:12, 21; John 17:24).
— Pat Higgins

2 comments:

Gospel Of The Kingdom Of God said...

Great post!! Thanks for sharing this, I have been witnessing this so much as the Lord is being manifested in the earthen vessels of my wife and I. So many reject the grace and Spirit of God everyday when all the Lord wants is to fellowship with His creation! But instead of running to God for help and salvation, they RUN FROM HIM!! SO sad.

Even God's judgments are done out of His great love, to bring people to repentance. We are at the days when people will choose to worship the beast, and take his mark, forever separating themselves from the Most High God! In essence, choosing to send themselves to the Lake of Fire!

May His bride, His remnant people, His elect, choose to seek His face and pray always, that we may be prepared for our soon coming Bridegroom and be prepared for what's coming upon this nation (America) and the world.

Many blessings, Tyrone

Joan The Baptist said...

Brother,
This is exactly what Father is putting on my heart. I just finished reading Matthew 7 verses 21-23 make me shutter. Why will the Lord profess, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Ouch. That is one powerful verse. We see in relationships around us of those who are not saved. There is no commitment anymore. No one gets to know one another anymore. This is exactly what they are doing to our creator. They are reducing HIM to man. This subject is very sensitive with me. I find it not odd but God that after I read that chapter I saw your comment. Thank you Jesus. Matthew 7 is SO important. I want to add something to this comment. You mentioned the word vessel. I want you to think of the manger for one minute.Our hearts are just like that manger. We too hold Jesus when we are born again and KNOW Jesus intimately. Amen.
In Jesus name with love,
Cassie