This
week, Michael writes that in Luke 11 Jesus told a story about a man who knocked
on his neighbor's door at midnight and said, "friend, lend me three loaves of bread for I have a guest who has come
to visit and I have nothing to set before him." The neighbor
replied, "my children and I are
already in bed and I can't get up and help you." Yet because of
the persistent knocking the neighbor will finally get up and give him as many
loaves as he needs. The key to receiving is in "shameless
audacity" to keep on asking. The King James Bible uses the word
"importunity" meaning shameless persistence. The context of
this verse says, "what father if his
son asks him for bread will instead give him a stone?" Persistence
is the key to receiving. Faith and faithfulness to God's promise will take
you through the storms of life. Though the storms may rage, Jesus said to
his disciples, "I'll meet you on the
other side." The disciples finally learned by walking with their
master to be courageous, audacious, and shameless men of God. Jesus himself
exemplified these qualities.
When you have a hunger for salvation by grace, Jesus will reveal himself to you and the Holy Spirit will teach you the things pertaining to life and godliness. God will bless us when we come to him on His terms. According to 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Therefore humble thyself under the mighty hand of God and he will lift you up. Pride cannot approach the throne of God. He will answer those of a humble and a contrite heart.
Shameless audacity motivates those who are desperate enough to forsake decorum, etiquette and political correctness. In such desperate times, we have no feelings of guilt, regret or shame. Guilt is a powerful motivator. However, shamelessness overcomes guilt. Repent means to turn around, to change your mind. Desperation results in shamelessness to cry out to God with a broken and a contrite heart. At such times our desperate plea is "Father, please help me to become more like my Lord. My desperate desire is to become just like Jesus."
When you have a hunger for salvation by grace, Jesus will reveal himself to you and the Holy Spirit will teach you the things pertaining to life and godliness. God will bless us when we come to him on His terms. According to 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Therefore humble thyself under the mighty hand of God and he will lift you up. Pride cannot approach the throne of God. He will answer those of a humble and a contrite heart.
Shameless audacity motivates those who are desperate enough to forsake decorum, etiquette and political correctness. In such desperate times, we have no feelings of guilt, regret or shame. Guilt is a powerful motivator. However, shamelessness overcomes guilt. Repent means to turn around, to change your mind. Desperation results in shamelessness to cry out to God with a broken and a contrite heart. At such times our desperate plea is "Father, please help me to become more like my Lord. My desperate desire is to become just like Jesus."
Let's continue Michael's message on Audacity on the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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