Praying Pint

 

Genesis 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Romans 2:14-15  For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

Gen 3:7-10  Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

 

 

The concept of conscience holds a vital place within Christian theology, serving as an internal moral compass that guides individuals in discerning right from wrong. Unlike mere instinct or social conditioning, the Christian understanding of conscience asserts its divine origin and enduring significance for spiritual growth, ethical decision-making, and the believer’s relationship with God. It is important to explore the origin, function, limitations, transformation, and stewardship of conscience from a Christian perspective, drawing on scriptural foundations and theological reflection.

Christian theology affirms that conscience is a God-given faculty, bestowed upon humanity at creation. It is not an evolutionary byproduct or a simple social construct, but rather an expression of humanity’s creation in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Conscience serves as an internal witness, affirming or accusing individuals regarding their actions (Romans 2:14-15). The narrative of Adam and Eve in Genesis illustrates the awakening of conscience: after disobeying God’s command, they became aware of their nakedness and experienced shame and fear (Genesis 3:7-10). This awareness signals the conscience’s role as a moral monitor, prompting self-examination and a sense of accountability before God.  (MacDonald)

 

This world and what it has to offer as normal living is mostly a lie. It will consume your time with God, God’s Word, and thinking about things of God.

Paul and the writer of Hebrews said: You ought to be on solid food but as it is your are still on babies milk. There should be maturing and growth in our lives. What is considered normal for scripture understanding and wisdom is watered down to basics of faith and limits its application and influence in our lives.

What would happen if we chose to limit our TV – show time, TV – Sports time, Social media time, Scrolling time, etc……???  I think for most this would result in withdraw symptoms. The fact that it is so normal in everyone’s lives it could not have any other outcome. How sad is this?

Like many of you, I often find myself observing the way people live their lives. We notice the behavior of those who share our faith, those who don’t, and even those whose beliefs are unknown to us. We pay attention to both their words and their actions, sometimes marveling at their kindness in the face of wrongdoing or feeling surprised by acts of unkindness that make us question how someone could behave that way.

Often, our own perspectives are colored by personal biases. Our conscience—or, for believers, the conviction of the Holy Spirit—guides us away from certain words and deeds, prompting us to intentionally choose obedience in order to honor and glorify Jesus Christ. Scripture reveals truth; it is powerful, able to discern our thoughts and intentions. God’s Word, when illuminated by the Holy Spirit, speaks deeply to those who earnestly seek it.

This brings us to a crucial question: Are we truly seeking God and drawing near to Him? Do we listen for the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit guiding, convicting, and encouraging us? Is our ultimate aim, while we are here on earth, to honor Jesus Christ in every thought, word, and deed? Are we actively growing in our knowledge and understanding of God’s Word, or are we letting the distractions of this world take precedence over our witness and our devotion to Christ? Are we learning to trust, obey, and follow Him more each day?

The world offers countless distractions that occupy our minds and our time, leaving less space for God’s Word and spiritual reflection. Whether it’s television, social media, sports, work, family, recreation, or simply scrolling through our devices, these activities can easily crowd out our focus on God. It’s clear that our culture has drifted further from God, and this shift influences every corner of our lives. Even within the church, worldly habits gradually become accepted, replacing time once set aside for God with the relentless busyness that our society now considers normal.

The more our lives are filled with these worldly pursuits, the more complacent and neglectful we become in our faith. If you doubt this, just consider how challenging it is for families to maintain daily devotional time. There always seems to be room for the world’s demands, but not enough for spiritual growth, and this gets mistaken for a typical Christian life.

I feel fortunate to have grown up in an era without cell phones, remote controls, the internet, personal computers, tablets, or the endless entertainment options we have today. Back then, television meant choosing between just three channels, and content was held to certain moral standards. People read books, children played outside, and social visits were face-to-face. Outside influences were limited mostly to family, church, school, neighborhood, and town. It’s remarkable to see how much has changed over the past seven decades.

How did our society reach this point? Is it the result of new technology, generational shifts, or the gradual acceptance of new norms? By embracing what the world presents as “normal,” we risk losing precious time with God and neglecting His Word.

Both Paul and the author of Hebrews admonished believers that, by now, we ought to be ready for solid spiritual food, not still relying on spiritual milk. We are called to mature and grow, yet what passes for normal scriptural understanding and wisdom is often diluted, limiting its impact in our lives.

Imagine the results if we intentionally reduced our time spent on TV, sports, social media, or endlessly scrolling. For many, this would cause real discomfort—withdrawal, even becoming upset if they are not available because these activities have become so deeply ingrained in our daily routines. Isn’t it troubling how much this has become the new normal?

 

There is so much in the world to consume our thoughts and interests resulting in less and less time for God’s Word and thinking about things of God. TV – time. Social media – time? Sports – time. Work – time. Family – time. Recreation – time. Scrolling – time.  I get it, our culture has moved further and further away from God and things of God. It permeates every aspect of our lives because it is the culture we live in. The church adopts more and more of this into its being as time and new generations become adults. As it becomes the norm, more and more of “God Time” is replaced by the busyness of what is considered normal.
The more the things of this world occupy our minds and time the more normal it seems to be.  We become complacent and neglectful as it becomes more normal. If you don’t think this is true, look at how hard daily devotions are for families. There always seems to be time for what the world demands of our time and what we translate that into a normal Christian life.
I was blessed to be raised in a time where there were no cell phones, remote TV, internet, personal computers, iPad, thousands of TV options, etc…..  When we got to watch TV there were 3 stations to pic from. There were accepted moral expectations for what was presented on TV. People read books. Kids played outside. People would visit other people in person.  There were very little outside influences into their lives outside of family, church, school, neighborhood, and town. I think about how much this has changed over the last 70 years.

How did it get here?

Technology?

New generation?

Little by little easing into new worldly norms?

Adopting what the world offers for normal activity?

 

I, like you, more than likely, watch how people live. We watch both believers, non-believers, and those we have no clue about their faith. We watch their actions and the what they say. We wonder how they could act that way. How can they be so kind when there was an obvious act that was committed against them and they acted so kind. Likewise, when a person acts so unkind or does or says something that would give us pause to wonder how they could act or speak that way.
Much of the time we are biased in how we see these actions or hear these words.  Our conscious would never allow us to act or speak that way because we have been convicted of those actions/words, or the Holy Spirit has made it clear to our heart and mind that this is wrong, and our intentional choice is to follow and obey the Holy Spirit to honor and glorify Jesus Christ. God’s Word speaks truth. It is sharper than a two-edged sword, able to divide thoughts from intents. God’s Word is opened magnified by the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of believers. That is, if they are seeking and desiring it.

Herein lies the issue. Are we seeking it?

Are we choosing to be close to God?

Do we want to hear the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit directing, leading, convicting, and encouraging us?

Is our goal this side of eternity, to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all of our thoughts, words, and actions?

Are we growing and maturing in our understanding and knowledge of the Word of God and things of God?

Are we consumed with things of this world at the peril of our witness and glory and honor to Jesus?

Are we trusting, relying, obeying, and following more and more each day?

 

 

Acts 10:15  And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

Acts 10:28    And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

Acts 11:9    But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’

Acts 15:9    and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

Matthew 15:11    it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

1 Corinthians 10:25    Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

Galatians 2:12-13    For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.  And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

1 Timothy 4:3-5    who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.  For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,  for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Titus 1:15    To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

The Conflict: Spirit Versus Tradition

At the heart of the reflection is Peter’s rhetorical question: “Who was I that I could withstand God?” This question arises after Peter’s actions, guided by the Spirit, are criticized by those in Jerusalem who are deeply rooted in tradition. The passage notes that even Peter, a central apostle, struggled with letting go of established customs, falling “into the same old traditional snare,” which led to Paul confronting him strongly.

The “fixed tradition” not only affected Peter but also characterized the broader community, which was quick to “contend” with any deviation from what was recognized and established. The implication is that tradition, while sometimes rooted in divine origin, can become an obstacle when it resists the fresh movements of God’s Spirit.

The Danger of Withstanding God

The passage warns believers to examine themselves honestly, lest they find themselves “withstanding God” or “limiting the Holy One.” By clinging too tightly to tradition and not leaving room for the sovereignty of the Spirit, believers may inadvertently oppose God’s work, much like the religious authorities who opposed Christ and the Judaizers who hindered Paul’s ministry.

Re-examine the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, questioning how many times new moves of God were misunderstood or resisted because they appeared to violate the accepted “Divine order.” The point is that throughout history, every genuine movement of God has often been met with suspicion, contention, and opposition from those wedded to tradition.

The Call to Openness and Spiritual Enlargement

There is exhortation for believers to make space for God to act in new, unexpected, and even “strange” ways. Spiritual growth and “enlargement” occur when believers do not bind God to their fixed judgments or frameworks. The risk is that by limiting God to what is familiar and traditional, one may miss out on His intention to bring about spiritual increase.

The misuse of scriptural slogans—such as “By their fruits ye shall know them”—is highlighted as a common error, often wielded to resist change rather than discern genuine spiritual fruit. The real challenge is to trust God’s sovereignty enough to allow for diversity in how He leads His children, even when it defies conventional expectations.

Conclusion

This requires genuine humility, discernment, and openness to God’s ongoing work. It urges believers not to confuse their own traditions with God’s unchanging will and to be vigilant against the temptation to oppose new expressions of the Spirit simply because they are unfamiliar. True faith, the passage suggests, requires leaving room for God to surprise us and to lead His people in ways that may challenge, stretch, and ultimately enlarge the community of faith.  (Austin-Sparks)

 

Jhn 3:16-18    “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

 

As Christian believers, we hold dear the profound truth that our lives have been fundamentally changed—regenerated—by faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning death on the cross. This assurance is not rooted in mere religious observance or in belonging to an institution; rather, it is the living reality of knowing Christ personally and being assured of eternal life through Him.

Where this good news is not known, religion can become a kind of bondage. Without the liberating message of salvation by faith, Christianity risks being reduced to a legalistic system, where the hope of eternal life becomes little more than a distant, uncertain dream. Instead of joy and freedom, there is only obligation and uncertainty.

The reality we experience as believers is not just a set of doctrines or traditions, but an ongoing transformation—a daily renewal by the Spirit of God. This transformation is the evidence of our assurance; it is what marks us as God’s children. It is vital to recognize that God’s work in us did not end the moment we first believed. Rather, He has been shaping and molding us day after day, year after year.

Many of us have been in God’s household for a long time. Sometimes, it is easy to take for granted the subtle, persistent work of the Holy Spirit within us. Yet, God’s purpose extends beyond our initial salvation. He is preparing us, refining our character, and deepening our trust in Him so that we are ready—not only for the challenges of this life but, ultimately, for the glory of heaven.

We are not left to wander aimlessly; God is intentional about our growth and destiny.

Let us be encouraged by the reality of our new life in Christ and the certainty of His promises. Let us remember that God’s work in us is ongoing, purposeful, and rooted in love. He is preparing us for glory, and our daily walk with Him is both the evidence and the means of that preparation.

May we embrace God’s transforming work, confident that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

Ephesians 3:20     [God] is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. –

 

Jeremiah 32:17   

‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

Jeremiah 32:27    “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?

Daniel 3:17    If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

Daniel 6:20     As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

Matthew 3:9     And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

John 10:29-30     My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”

Romans 4:21     fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Hebrews 7:25     Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

1 Corinthians 2:9    But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

Psalms 36:9   For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

1 Kings 3:13     I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.

 

When Jesus faced an impossible situation–thousands of hungry people with very little food–He responded by praying. And His prayer resulted in God’s supernatural provision. Luke 9:16 says, “He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people.”

Yesterday, we began looking at three characteristics of Jesus’s prayer. First, Jesus prayed with gratitude. When facing a need, Jesus began by thanking God for what He had already provided.

Second, Jesus prayed with action. He prayed, but He also had a plan. He divided the crowd into groups of fifty and created a distribution plan for the food. If you have a need, your first response should be to pray about it. But prayer should never be a substitute for action. If you need a job, pray about it and send résumés. If you need healing, pray about it and go to the best doctor you can find. If you’re looking for a godly mate, pray about it and seek places where you can meet other Christians. Does taking action lessen the miracle of answered prayer? Not at all. Remember, God “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

Third, and perhaps most importantly, Jesus prayed with faith. He did not allow the circumstances to diminish the size of His prayer. If I had been in Jesus’s shoes, I would have prayed, “Lord, please take their appetites away,” or, “Please send a thunderstorm that will scatter the crowd away from here.” We often limit our prayers based on our circumstances. If a loved one is facing an incurable illness, we pray, “Lord, please give them peace,” rather than, “Lord, heal them.” If the church is facing a resource shortage, we pray, “Lord, give us wisdom in cutting the budget,” rather than, “Lord, enlarge the hearts of Your people to be generous in their giving.” When Jesus prayed, He wasn’t looking at the massive crowd or the five loaves and two fish, wondering, How am I going to make this work? Luke 9:16 says Jesus prayed “looking up to heaven.” As He prayed with His eyes on God, He was reminded that God is capable of meeting every need we have–and more. (Jeffress)

 

2 Samuel 7:25   “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised,

Psalms 119:38     Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.

Psalms 119:42.   then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word.

Psalms 119:54   Your decrees are the theme of my song   wherever I lodge.

Psalm 119:72     The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Psalm 119:89-90    Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.

Hebrews 6:17     Because God wanted to make the unchanging   nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,   he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

2 Peter 1:4     Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,   so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,   having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

 

Isaiah 41:8-10  But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 

God’s promises are given “liberally and upbraideth not,” meaning He bestows them generously and without reproach. Unlike humans, who may grow weary of repeating themselves or feel slighted when their word is doubted, God understands the depth and resilience of unbelief in the human heart. He does not withhold assurances but continues to offer His word—again and again—knowing our need for reassurance.

Just as a single strike cannot reduce a mountain to dust, a single promise may not be enough to overcome entrenched doubt. God, therefore, provides “mighty stores of promise”—an abundance of assurances—so that, over time, even the most stubborn unbelief may be overcome.

Many times believers doubt God despite His clear promises: He says, “I will strengthen thee,” yet we hesitate; “I will help thee,” yet we worry about tomorrow; “I will uphold thee,” yet we shrink from responsibility. Each act of unbelief is not merely a private struggle but an implicit accusation against God’s faithfulness and righteousness.

God’s promise to uphold His people is backed by His own righteousness. He declares that if He were not to uphold us, His very character—His justice, His holiness—would be forfeited. To doubt Him is, in effect, to liken Him to unreliable, unholy idols, rather than the faithful God He is. This is a sobering thought, urging us to recognize the seriousness of our unbelief.

Faith is not only a personal matter but a testimony to others. When believers live in trust, they display God’s reliability and love; when they live in doubt, they obscure His glory and mislead those who observe their lives.

Examine your heart and attitude toward God’s promises. Am I living as if God’s word is true, or am I allowing unbelief to shape my actions and attitudes?

Trust Him fully and represent His faithfulness to a watching world

 

 

Matthew 3:16  And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;

Isaiah 11:2    And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

Isaiah 42:1    Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

Isaiah 61:1    The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

John 1:31-34     I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

John 3:34   For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

Just as the Spirit of God descended upon the Lord Jesus—the head of the Church—so also does the Spirit descend upon each member of His church body. This descent, though given in measure to us, is patterned after the manner in which it was given to our Lord. There is often a peculiar swiftness in the Spirit’s coming; before we are fully aware, we are propelled onward and upward, moved toward heaven beyond our expectations. Yet, unlike the rush of earthly haste, the Spirit’s movement is marked by a gentle quietness—the wings of the dove, soft and swift, carry the presence of God in tranquility.

Many of the Spirit’s operations require a deep quietness. The Holy Spirit speaks in a still, small voice, and, like the dew that falls in silence, Gentleness is a natural result of the Spirit’s transforming power. Hearts touched by His gracious influence become meek and humble, changed forever. Just as the Spirit brooded over the face of the deep to bring forth order and life at creation, He also comes into our hearts to foster new life and light.

Dear heavenly father, may the Holy Spirit’s presence continue to transform us, filling us with purity, peace, gentleness, harmlessness, and divine love, so that our lives reflect the beauty and grace of Christ. (Spurgeon)