Bible Life Questions

Pray For What?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions, Jesus Apprentice, Journey in Christ, Life in Christ
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Mt. 6:7 ESV.

heart

“The best prayers are short and to the point.” Those are the words from one of my early mentors. Somewhere between then and a few years later, that advice was forgotten. I came to the point where I would pray, and pray, and pray, and pray heaping empty phrases on top of one another. Then one day a revelation.

God knows what we need before I even made the request. So why do we think with many more words we can manipulate God to grant us our wishes?

Don’t even go there.

Instead, pray like Jesus did. Pray for the Father’s heart.

God can do more and better than you and I anyway. When we realize that Jesus is our intercessor (Heb. 7:25) and perfects our prayers to our Heavenly Father, why heap more and more empty words on top of the other. Instead, ask your Heavenly Father in your own simple words. Jesus will improve them. And the Holy Spirit will likewise share in the process to make them more effective.

Remember, it is not about you or me. It is about the Triune God. Pray seeking His heart in all matters. In the process you will come to know God more abundantly, and you will experience his Will; which is even better than what you asked in the first place.

So what to pray for? How about His Heart on the matter.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

How Do We Overcome?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions ,
Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 JN 5:5 NIV

 

overcome 2Tired of getting beat up by life? Frustrated over your inability to quit those harmful addictions that seem to control you? Feel empty and anxious over the circumstances of your world? Maybe it’s time to do some hard core business with Jesus?

Sooner or later most of us will come to the realization of who Jesus is. Most often, it is when we have been beaten, busted, and broken from the daily grind of trying to make life work. It is then when we realize we don’t have our act all together and need help. When we acknowledge our powerlessness is typically when most of us quit running away and investigate the evidence on Jesus.

When we study Scripture. When we analyze the lives of others who we know are active believers. When we look into the lives of those who have gone through similar trails. We gain a perspective that maybe we don’t have all the answers and this “Jesus thing” may have some merit.

We look at the evidence about his resurrection. We have a choice. Either except he is alive or this is the biggest scam of all scams. Then we make a decision. We acknowledge the reality of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

As we surrender control of our life over to him, he fulfills his promise. He begins to live in us. Not only him, but the entire Godhead: Father-Jesus-Holy Spirit. We begin to develop a relationship with the living God. The same God who created the universe. The same God who is moving history through time. The same God who had a plan before creation and is now making it happen and it includes you.

As we allow the Holy Spirit access into our lives, we slowly begin to notice changes. Our desires become different. Instead of lusting to satisfy the self, we want to please Him. Instead of holding unto the pride of self, we humbly lift Him above all. Instead of pursuing pleasure and happiness, we join Him in serving others for Christ’s namesake.

Throughout this process, we become less important and Christ becomes more. The end result is our cravings for sin demise. Our propensity to satisfy the self becomes less of a driving force. We find ourselves living a life that has no room for the harmful habits that destroys dreams, hopes, and goals.

Only then can we easily fall to our knees, lift up our hands to heaven, and truly recognize his amazing grace. For then we realize our life has changed not because of our sole efforts, but because we accepted the fact of who Jesus is.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

 

 

Is It a Relationship or Duty?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions
They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” Jn 8:19 NIV

relationship duty 1

Sometimes I wonder if we truly understand that Christianity is more about a relationship than just trying to live a good life. In Christ’s time as today, we have people who practice all the religious rituals, speak the religious talk, and perform religious work. Yet they do not know God.

Like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, they knew their Scripture, but didn’t know it’s Author. They knew things about God, but didn’t know God. Jesus had to correct them.

When we look at Jesus, we see he is the perfect reflection of God. He knew the personal relationship He had with the Father and wasn’t bashful to express it.

There are many today who behave from a position of responsibility rather than from an abiding relationship. When you know you know, and you know God knows, and God knows you know, you know. Your response is from God’s love rather than from duty. You serve and submit yourself to His authority because of his love to you. You don’t serve others because it is the right thing to do. You don’t even serve others because it’s the human thing to do. Instead you serve others because God loves them like he loves you and wants His love to love others like you are loved. Service begins with God and ends with God.

relationship duty 2

Everything about life is a relational matter. We accept personal responsibility because we are loved and accountable to Him who loves us. Yet we serve because our relationship is built on trust and love. Because we have a relationship with the Creator of life, and the Creator of life either has or desires a deeper relationship with your neighbor, we greatly rejoice to share his relationship with others. Everything begins and ends with our relationship with Jesus. Our responsibility is simply built from that relationship.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!