A key to answered Prayer

Read Psalm 4.

"But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him." (v.3)

That is the simplest definition of the word sanctification.  Sanctification is not a word to ignore.  It is vital to understand.  The Bible explains two aspects of us being set apart for God.

1. Eternal.

"But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

At the very moment of believing in Jesus, we are set apart from the world to God.  This is a singular, eternal act of God's grace.  When the Bible speaks of this sanctification it is always in the past tense of one's life of faith.

2. Practical.

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)

A growing believer in Jesus continues to discipline themselves on a lifestyle that demonstrates that they have already been set apart to God.  This is an on-going endeavor of discipleship.  When the Bible speaks of this aspect of sanctification it is always in the present and progressive sense.

How important is our sanctification?  As the Psalmist wrote, it is a key to God responding to our prayers.

6 Declarative statements when there appears to be no Hope

Read Psalm 3.

Outwardly, there appeared to be no hope.  (vv.1-2)

David was on the run for his life.  Everything had turned upside down on him.  He was a leader, but the nation was not following him.  He was a warrior, but he chose to run rather than fight his own son, Absalom.  He was a man with great faith in God, but his pursuers declared that even God could not help him now.

Inwardly, David broke out in praise!  (vv.3-8)

With his life on the line, how could he praise God at a time like this?

1. He Protects me.

God was his shield, not an army.

2. He Honors me.

God was his glory, not his position on the throne.

3. He Encourages me.

God was his source of strength, not his circumstances.

4. He Answers my prayers.

David had a history of calling out to God and seeing Him work in response.

5. He Sustains me.

David could rest and even sleep without fear, knowing that God was his protector.

6. He Delivers me.

The threat was real.  But David knew the power of God and his full faith and trust was in Him.

"Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people!" (v.6)

Why is there so much turmoil in the world?

Read Psalm 2.

Why do the nations rage?  Why does not everyone embrace Jesus as Savior?

Rejection and outright rebellion against God is not new.  The first mention of such pride-filled actions occurred when Lucifer was expelled from heaven.  Ever since then Satan has made it his work to turn human hearts and nations to thwart God's will and purposes.

With the killing of Abel in the Garden of Eden, there has been a spiritual war against believers.  Today, from Asia to Africa, Christians are being killed and churches destroyed solely because of their faith.

What is God's response to the rebellious?  He laughs!  He laughs not because it is funny but in derision.  It is insane that a person would think they know better than God or can ignore His power and eternal claims.  At His will, at any moment, He can unleash His wrath on any of them.  This is His world.

The root issue is Jesus, the Messiah.  He is the One who will rule and reign over the nations from the throne of David.  But even more, the Messiah came to save us from our sin so we could enjoy an eternal and personal relationship with Him.

So, what should be done?

1. "Be wise." (v.10)

Only a fool ignores a warning like this.  Responding to salvation in Jesus is the most intelligent decision a person will ever make.

2. Serve and Fear God. (v.11)

Instead of rebelling against what He has said, respect it.  Serving God leads to a life of rejoicing.

3. Embrace Jesus as Lord. (v.12)

Most translations use the phrase "kiss the Son."  This refers to an eastern response of bowing, kissing the hand or feet of a supreme authority.  In doing so, one finds peace and safety under their protection.

"Blessed are all who take refuge in him." 

What does godliness look like?

Read Psalm 1.

This first song in Israel's hymnbook contrasts a godly person and a wicked person.

What are the distinguishing characteristics?

1. We are known by the advice to which we listen.

A godly person draws life coaching, first and foremost, from the Scriptures.

A wicked person has ruled God out of his thinking.

2. We are known by the company we keep.

A godly person desires to be with God's people for worship, learning and service.

A wicked person wants to spend time with those who are rebellious and lead a lawless lifestyle.

3. We are known by the commitments we make.

A godly person speaks from a pure heart that seeks to meets the needs of others.

A wicked person responds negatively to spiritual things, even mocking and ridiculing.

What are the keys to growing in godliness?

1. A godly person delights in what God has to say.

He sees the Scriptures as a pleasure and invaluable to life.

2. A godly person meditates on what God has to say.

More than reading or studying, meditation has to do with talking to yourself about it; turning it over and over in your mind in order to put it into practice.  Asking, "What does that mean to me and my behavior?" 

When does a godly person do this?

Day and night.  It is not a Sunday thing to do.  It is not limited to a daily quiet time.  Godliness is an all the time thing, while we are going about our daily lives.

What is the result?

Stability.  A godly person is firmly rooted by the values of the Word of God.

Productivity.  A godly person bears noticeable fruit in his labors.

Prosperity.  A godly person can be recognized by their spiritual vitality no matter where they are.

3 Questions believing sufferers need to Ask

Read Job 42.

1. What do I know now that I did not understand before this calamity?

Job realized a deeper understanding of who God is that he could not have learned in any other way.  For Job, it was summed up in these two statements.

-"I know that you can do all things."

- "I know that no purpose of yours can be thwarted."

He said things he regretted.  His words came out of his hurt and confusion.

2. How did God reveal Himself to me?

Job had a personal encounter with the one true and living God through his sufferings.  That was the turning point.  God's words both corrected and comforted Him.

There were three results of this meeting with God.

-Job repented of his sin of finding fault with the LORD.

-God rebuked Job's friends for their sin of misjudging Job.

-God restored the fortunes of Job by 200%.

3. What can I take away from this?

Believers in Jesus have an eternal, personal relationship with the same God who spoke to Job.  If we suffer and it is not our fault, we find ourselves in a school that is designed to teach us a deeper understanding of God's love for us and our hope in Him.

"...we rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."  (Romans 5:3-5)

Two Powerful Questions and the Ultimate Claim

Read Job 41.

God continued firing one question after another at Job.  All the questions here, except two, were singularly focused on a scary sea creature called Leviathan.  In chapter 40, we are told about the huge land creature call Behemoth.  It is unclear as to the exact identities of these two.  Some have suggested that these are types of dinosaurs now extinct.  Many conservative scholars see traits of the hippopotamus in one and a giant crocodile in the other.  If mankind thinks these creatures are frightening, how much more to be in the presence of the Creator Himself.

Interestingly, the climax of God's personal inquisition came in verses 10a-11 with two questions and an ultimate claim.

1. "Who then can stand before me?"

The answer is no one.  As seen previously, it is human pride that thinks they know better than God and could possibly argue with Him.  There is coming a day, however, when even the most rebellious will kneel in surrender before the LORD.

"...at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)

2. "Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?"

Job was a godly and generous man.  He did everything right.  He voiced several times that he did not deserve to suffer.  Indeed, he looked for God to reward him.  But God is no one's debtor.  Life with God is not transactional as a quid pro quo.  Some want to treat God in a manner that says, "If you give me what I want then I will give you what you want."  According to God that is not so.

3. "Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine."

This is the irrefutable statement of a Sovereign God.  He claims absolute ownership of all things.  Everything Job had from his breath, his ability to have children, his ability to earn, his opportunities and all the results had been graciously given to him by the One who owns and controls all things.

The Apostle Paul asked: "What do you have that you did not receive?  If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7)

"But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?  Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?'  Has the potter no right over the clay...?" (Romans 9:20-21a)

Humbling to acknowledge?  Yes.  But when one reaches that point they are in a perfect position then to experience God's grace as never before.

Embracing the root issue of Suffering

Read Job 40.

Yikes!  God did not stop.  The questioning continued for two more chapters.

Did not Job already feel humbled?  Did he not put his hand over his mouth and commit to say no more?  The answer to both is "yes".  However, there is a difference in feeling sorry and regretting what one said or did and learning a lasting lesson.

In a time of great loss, pain or distress it is in our nature to question God, to argue with Him, or to even want to reject His plans for us.  Accepting undesired circumstances is not the lesson to be learned.  That is a surface issue.  The root issue is moving to a deeper understanding of who God truly is and our relationship to Him.

Job wanted to argue his case with God to justify himself (v.8).  Such a thought exalts oneself to be on a par with the God of heaven.  So, let's compare.

God's questions to Job are comparison statements to Himself. 

"Do you have My power and ability?"

"Do you have a voice like mine that thunders to humble, create and provide?

"Are you really any match for My majesty and dignity, glory and splendor?"

"Can you make something like Behemoth, feed him, and take him all by yourself?"

Embracing our position before the LORD and exalting Him in our lives is the essence of worship.  The Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 8:3-4, 9:

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?...O LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

Such worship produces contentment regardless of circumstances.  “…I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)