Honor Jesus!

17 Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the Name of the Master, Jesus, thanking (praising) God the Father every step of the way.

Colossians 3:17 (The Message Bible).

Everything we do or say should be done to obey, honor, and please the Lord Jesus Christ. Even more, we should give thanks or praise to God the Father through Jesus Christ in everything we do. To the world, Christians represent Jesus! As a representative of Jesus Christ, Christians must live and act like Him and be fully devoted and dependent upon Jesus Christ as our Savior. So, let everyone make a goal of living a Christ-centered life that honors Jesus Christ and gives thanksgiving to God the Father. The Apostle Paul gives Christians instructions on how to live like Jesus Christ:

“… clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (Colossians 3:12-15).

Me, Me, Me and Selfishness

1 Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that war within you (your body). 2 You want (covet) things, but you do not have them. So you are ready to kill (murderer) and are jealous of other people, but you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You do not get what you want, because you do not ask God. 3 Or when you ask, you do not receive because the reason you ask is wrong (evil motives, selfish purposes, sensual pleasure). James 4:1-3 (NCV).

Sin can often be understood or described as selfishness, self-centeredness, and self-focused where we seek to please ourselves, even if it hurts somebody else (Galatians 5:24; 1 John 2:16). Materialism, partiality, and jealousy all come from selfishness. Even worse, even our prayers can become selfish! Sadly, selfish prayers often lead to unanswered prayers from God. The true source of unanswered prayers is our selfish desires for pleasure and consumption instead of an intimate and personal relationship with the living God and loving others (see also Matthew 22:34-40; Luke 8:14; Titus 3:3).

James explains that the most common problems in prayer: not asking, asking with selfish motives, or asking for the wrong reasons. Our prayers will become powerful and effective when we seek to please God and love others (1 John 3:21-24).

God never intended for us to place our own interests first. Selfishness becomes the source of temptation, the evidence of sin, and the barrier to holiness (Romans 1:28–31; Romans 7:14-15; Ephesians 4:17–24; James 1:14-15). All sin can be traced back to the desire to satisfy self (James 3:14–16) and selfishness ultimately leads to our destruction (Philippians 3:19).

The Holy Scriptures are clear that the center of our affections must be to serve and love God and others (Matthews 6:24, 33; Matthew 22:34-40). Jesus taught that God and His will must be first and foremost in our daily lives (Matthew 16:24). The Bible does not condemn our prayers for a pleasurable life. God blesses His people with good gifts from heaven to enjoy (James 1:17; Ephesians 4:7; 1 Timothy 4:4-5). Nonetheless, God does condemn any pleasure that keeps us away from loving, pleasing and serving God and our neighbors (Matthew 22:34-40).

Sadly, selfishness leads to quarrels, fights, and wars to rage within our hearts and the immediate cause of the battles among church members. The Bible teaches us instead of selfishly grabbing what we want, we should submit to God’s will and love others like Jesus Christ (Mark 10:45).  Even more, we can ask God to help us get rid of our selfish desires, and trust Him to give us what we really need.

God’s Glory

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything (all) for God’s glory. 32 Give no offense to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, 33 just as I (Apostle Paul) also try to please all people (everyone) in all things (everything), not seeking my own profit (what is best for me), but the profit of many (best for others), that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (HCSB).

Jesus Christ summed up our aim in life:  love God and love people (Matthew 22:34-40).  The Apostle Paul reinstates Jesus Christ’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 and also summarizes two principles that are to guide everyone’s behavior or ethic: (1) do everything for God’s glory (see also Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11); and (2) try to please all people by not seeking our own benefit first (1 John 2:10). In other words, the Apostle Paul teaches that our behavior should be guided by what glorifies God and what is good for others rather than our own personal benefit or privilege (cp. Romans 14:13-15, 19-21; Romans 15:1-2). The Apostle Paul's gauge for all his movements was not what is best for him, but what will bring God’s glory and what is best for others.

Everything we do in life must have an aim of God’s glory. God owns everything and He desires our complete allegiance, faith, and obedience in Him as our God. Even more, God wants everything we do, even our eating and drinking, to bring Him glory. Moreover, God wants us to love others and not harm nor hurt them in anyway. God's love must fill our hearts and motives so that we do all for God’s glory and what is best for others.

Jesus has given all Christians freedom; however, He did not give this freedom to hurt another person and seek our own satisfaction. Instead, Jesus taught we are to do good to others by being considerate and sensitive of everyone’s feelings and needs even if it means giving up our rights for the sake of others. The attitude that pleases God is not a "me first'' and "look out for number one'' attitude but an attitude and goal to love God and love others. We all must put aside self-pleasing actions for the sake of genuinely loving God and loving others. So, in making a decision or facing any situation ask, “Will this action bring glory to God?” and “Will this decision hurt or harm another person?” 
 

The Hands and Feet of Jesus Christ!

Jesus lived and taught a life of compassion and love for others. More than anything, Jesus lived a life of placing the will of God and needs of others ahead of His own particularly as He faced the Cross (e.g., Luke 22:42). Even more, Jesus taught in Matthew 25:31-46 about how His followers (or Christians) are the ones that act like Him. The real evidence of our belief in Jesus Christ is the way we treat all people with love, especially the “least of these” in our society. Jesus instructed His followers to feed and care for the hungry, homeless, widows, orphans and the sick. These acts of mercy are simple acts of kindness that ALL people can do daily.  We can no longer wait on the church and the government to fix our problems.  Instead, Jesus demands we care for those in deep needs (see also Isaiah 58:7).

God wants everyone to attend church regularly, pray and read His Holy Scriptures. More than anything, Jesus wants Christians to do more than just correct worship and doctrine but DO compassion for the poor, helpless, hungry, needy, and the oppressed. Our faith must reach out to love one another with sincerity. Love for others, regardless of race and political group, glorifies God and reveals we are REAL Christians and the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.  So, let us all place the needs of others ahead of our own like Jesus!

31 “But when the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left. 34 “Then the King (Jesus Christ) will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I (Jesus Christ) was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing? 39 When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!’ 41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give Me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give Me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.’ 44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help You? 45 “And He will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.’ 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT).

 

7 Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Isaiah 58:7 (NLT).

True Prayer

14 This is the confidence (boldness) we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will (that pleases Him), He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us--whatever we ask (request)--we know that we have what we asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15 (NIV).

When we pray to God, our primary goal should be asking according to God’s will. The only way to please God is seeking, asking, and living according His will. If our prayers line up according to God’s will, God will listen! In essence, all of the conditions related to prayer are summed up in this phrase—”according to His will.” With this understanding, “according to His will” means according to what pleases God as found in the Holy Scriptures (John 15:7). This means that God’s answer may be “no” or different than planned (Luke 22:42; 2 Corinthians 12:8-9). If you do not know God’s will, ask God (James 1:5)!

True prayer is not demanding, persuading, forcing, nor manipulating God (Matthew 6:5-6); but rather submitting our will and way into complete agreement with God (1 John 5:14). Even more, true prayer means (1) praying in Jesus’ Name, that is, in accord with Jesus' character and nature (John 14:13-14; John 15:16; John 16:23-24), (2) abiding in Jesus and His words abiding or remaining in us (John 15:7), (3) having faith (Matthew 21:22; James 1:6), (4) being righteous in life and fervent in prayer (1 John 3:21-22; James 5:16), and (5) praying persistently until God’s will is accomplished. That is true prayer! So, believers in Jesus Christ can stand firmly and confidently in faith that God hears us believing whatever we pray for is already ours (1 John 5:15). 

God Centered and Spirit Controlled Prayer

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

Romans 8:26-27 (NLT)

God sends His Holy Spirit to provide supernatural help and care for His people. The Holy Spirit lives inside a person’s heart with faith in Jesus Christ (John 14 ─ 16). God’s Holy Spirit helps with our weaknesses, imperfections, limitations and problems (see e.g., Galatians 5:16-23).  Even more, the Holy Spirit helps God’s people with prayer.

The Holy Spirit prays a person’s innermost feelings, which cannot be put into words, and God answers. When we do not know how to pray or what to pray for, the Holy Spirit intercedes (intervenes, pleads, and negotiates) for us before God. In essence, God’s Holy Spirit does our praying in, with and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans and meaningless utters of sounds. This “groanings” are believers’ deep feelings that cannot be expressed in words. God sees what is in a believers’ hearts and knows what the Holy Spirit is saying. The Holy Spirit prays for believers "in accordance” and in harmony with God's will and purposes in order to do what is best for them (Romans 8:27).

Often, believers face difficulties so impossible that they do not know how to even approach God with their problems. In fact, every believer of Jesus Christ encounters difficulty in knowing how to pray and for what to pray. They know that they must pray to God, but they may not know what to say. Even when believers do not know what to say to God, the Holy Spirit interprets our innermost thoughts and feelings. As stated earlier, the Holy Spirit “makes intercession” for believers with words, “unspoken sighing,” meaningless sounds or groaning which cannot be uttered. Sometimes, the believer may not be speaking at all. Those incoherent or speechless sounds are heard by God. The Holy Spirit guides believers and articulates those prayer burdens to God. These groanings or meaningless sounds are the Holy Spirit’s, not ours because the Holy Spirit is interceding for believers before God.

The Holy Spirit understands that God, who both omniscient and omnipotent, is causing everything, even painful experiences, to work for good to those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28). God searches believers’ hearts and knows our thoughts (cf. I Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 139:1, 23; Jeremiah 17:10; I Corinthians 4:5; Hebrews 4:12–13). As the omniscient God, He searches those mumbling groaning of our hearts and His Holy Spirit makes intercession for us. The Holy Spirit takes part with us and makes our sighs, groans, loud “cries and tears” (Hebrews 5:7), and other expressions of our hearts and spirits in prayer and make those prayers strong and effective. Those groans are taken by the Holy Spirit and made into effectual intercession before the very presence of God.

Amazingly, both Jesus Christ (who lives at the right hand of God the Father), (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrew 7:24-25) and the Holy Spirit (who lives within believers of Jesus Christ) make intercession for believers before God. Thank you God for all Your help!

Pleasing God

11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.… 14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. 15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. 16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from Him whatever we ask because we obey Him and do the things that please Him. 23 And this is His commandment: We must believe in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with Him, and He with them. And we know He lives in us because the Spirit He gave us lives in us. 1 John 3:11, 14-24 (NLT).

The Christian faith is a religion of the heart (Matthew 5:21-22; 27-20; James 4:1-3). Outward obedience to God alone is not enough without first an inner heart submission and obedience to Him as God (Matthew 6:24; Matthew 10:37). God not only sees our actions, but also the inner motives and intentions behind them.

The primary commandments of Jesus Christ are genuine love for God and love for others (Matthew 5:43-48; Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:31; John 13:34-35; John 15:13). Real love produces selfless and sacrificial living. Putting others' desires first, generosity with our money, possessions, and time and helping those in need are examples of genuine Christian love (James 2:14-17). Also, the apostle John gave Jesus Christ’s life as an example of true love for Christians to follow. According to the apostle John, if we are living like Jesus Christ, we will “love one another” even with our own lives. Loving others like Jesus Christ is primary evidence of real faith in Him as our Lord and Savior (see 1 John 4:7-8). Jesus promises to send His Holy Spirit to help believers live their daily lives like Him (John 14 – 16; Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit comes to all sincere followers of Jesus Christ to motivate obedient discipleship.

One of the great results of loving God and others is an effective prayer life. Love is an important part of a successful prayer life. With genuine love in our hearts, we can come to God in prayer with a clear conscience and confidence that whatever we ask for will be given to us (Matthew 7:7; see also Matthew 21:22; John 9:31; John 15:7). Love fulfills God’s commandment (Matthew 22:40) and pleases Him because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). Even more, love lines up or matches our prayers with God’s will and purposes (John 15:7). With real love, our prayers become powerful, effective, and answered (James 5:16; 1 John 5:15).