What if you offer to share a truth and are ignored? What if no doors open for you to share a truth? Why would God give truth if he doesn't open doors to share it? Those were questions I received from someone who, like me, spent many years as a “Martha,” vexed with...
Along with the revelation of God’s Eternal Purpose concerning Christ, there is a corresponding testimony that is declared. Scripture refers to this as The Testimony of Jesus.
That Jesus intends for His disciples to fast is made clear by the words, “When you fast…” Fasting is as much a part of a disciple’s life as prayer; hence the Lord couples, “When you pray” with “when you fast” in His teaching to the disciples.
Jesus takes it for granted that His disciples will pray. This is why four times in a row He says, “WHEN you pray” and not “IF you pray.” But from these brief excerpts of Scripture we learn that there are at least two classes of prayer. One is unacceptable to God, and the other is well-pleasing to Him.
Even someone who is after God’s own heart, someone who seeks Him early and often, someone who desires Him more than anything else – yes, THAT kind of person, ESPECIALLY that kind of person! – will be called upon to endure some of the most excruciating physical, emotional, and spiritual rigors imaginable.
The Book of Revelation is not only telling us what is happening in the future but it also tells us what happens in the past – because I have learned that the best way to interpret the future is to interpret the past.