The Father has been challenging me on our praise to Him and the focus and motivations behind it. So I ask you, "What is your primary motivation?"
A common characteristic of all religions is that they are motivated to “please their deity” to secure that the basic needs of the people will be met. For example: food, weather, protection, financial, etc. Please note that after mankind became separated from the Lord God because of his disobedience, he began to fear that his needs would not be met.
Focus Point: Mankind invented religions in an effort to appease their gods into giving what they needed for daily life. If they did things that would “please the gods” their crops would thrive, the rains would come at the right times, the animals wouldn’t fall ill, sickness wouldn’t enter their homes, and the sun would shine. Life was pretty harsh back then and full of violence. Again, I must say, the purpose of religion was to win the good favor of the gods by words, actions and possessions. Mankind's natural instinct is self preservation and desire for comfort. It is those feelings that drive mankind.
Resetting priorities: I don’t say this to condemn, but to ask, “What drives your prayers? When you talk to the Father, how much time is focused on pure worship and how much is spent praying for needs and requests to Him?” This is what the Lord Jesus said about our needs: Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?”
“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches or moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:22-34
We pray for material possessions, better schools for our children, better jobs, favor and prosperity, etc. Sometimes we pray for “more”. But the Lord Jesus told us not to worry about ANY of those things. We were to seek only the Kingdom of God and our Father will take care of everything else. He said it is the Father’s “good pleasure to give you the Kingdom”! But that doesn’t mean He will give us everything we ask for, rather everything we need. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3
Focus Point: In the Kingdom of God, the number one priority is to worship the Lord God through obedience to His Word and our worship and praise to Him because of who He is, not what He can do for us! “If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. John 14:15-17a NLT His Word will stand when everything else is gone. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Mark 13:31 In essence, being obedient to His Word is key to being a citizen in good standing to the King. If we love the Lord Jesus, we will obey His Word.
Focus Point: As the Lord Jesus said, “Don’t worry”! “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food and your body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25 NLT Yet that is exactly what many who claim to love the Lord do—worry! Our days are filled with anxiety about the very things the Lord Jesus said not to worry about—all the basic necessities of life. Our every waking moment is filled with thoughts and concerns of how we are going to make it in this life. How will we get ahead? How will we survive? How often are our prayers merely speaking our anxieties out loud? We have worry and fear over those things because we are trying to make it on our own and focusing on “self” rather than our mighty Father.
Please note: Most people either work to live or live to work. King Jesus told us our first priority. It is that alone that we focus on and live for. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:33-34 NLT Work is important and fulfills a need, but it should never define who we are. The Lord Jesus wants our total faith to be in Him. And the King rewards those who have faith in Him and His Word.
A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. Luke 7:2-10
Your faith in Him is the answer to all your needs. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6 Your true worth, your strength, your power is only found in Him! And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:13-15
Yes, your faith in His Word is your greatest asset in His Kingdom.
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are New King James except where noted.
These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
A common characteristic of all religions is that they are motivated to “please their deity” to secure that the basic needs of the people will be met. For example: food, weather, protection, financial, etc. Please note that after mankind became separated from the Lord God because of his disobedience, he began to fear that his needs would not be met.
Focus Point: Mankind invented religions in an effort to appease their gods into giving what they needed for daily life. If they did things that would “please the gods” their crops would thrive, the rains would come at the right times, the animals wouldn’t fall ill, sickness wouldn’t enter their homes, and the sun would shine. Life was pretty harsh back then and full of violence. Again, I must say, the purpose of religion was to win the good favor of the gods by words, actions and possessions. Mankind's natural instinct is self preservation and desire for comfort. It is those feelings that drive mankind.
Resetting priorities: I don’t say this to condemn, but to ask, “What drives your prayers? When you talk to the Father, how much time is focused on pure worship and how much is spent praying for needs and requests to Him?” This is what the Lord Jesus said about our needs: Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?”
“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches or moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:22-34
We pray for material possessions, better schools for our children, better jobs, favor and prosperity, etc. Sometimes we pray for “more”. But the Lord Jesus told us not to worry about ANY of those things. We were to seek only the Kingdom of God and our Father will take care of everything else. He said it is the Father’s “good pleasure to give you the Kingdom”! But that doesn’t mean He will give us everything we ask for, rather everything we need. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3
Focus Point: In the Kingdom of God, the number one priority is to worship the Lord God through obedience to His Word and our worship and praise to Him because of who He is, not what He can do for us! “If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. John 14:15-17a NLT His Word will stand when everything else is gone. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Mark 13:31 In essence, being obedient to His Word is key to being a citizen in good standing to the King. If we love the Lord Jesus, we will obey His Word.
Focus Point: As the Lord Jesus said, “Don’t worry”! “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food and your body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25 NLT Yet that is exactly what many who claim to love the Lord do—worry! Our days are filled with anxiety about the very things the Lord Jesus said not to worry about—all the basic necessities of life. Our every waking moment is filled with thoughts and concerns of how we are going to make it in this life. How will we get ahead? How will we survive? How often are our prayers merely speaking our anxieties out loud? We have worry and fear over those things because we are trying to make it on our own and focusing on “self” rather than our mighty Father.
Please note: Most people either work to live or live to work. King Jesus told us our first priority. It is that alone that we focus on and live for. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:33-34 NLT Work is important and fulfills a need, but it should never define who we are. The Lord Jesus wants our total faith to be in Him. And the King rewards those who have faith in Him and His Word.
A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. Luke 7:2-10
Your faith in Him is the answer to all your needs. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6 Your true worth, your strength, your power is only found in Him! And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:13-15
Yes, your faith in His Word is your greatest asset in His Kingdom.
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are New King James except where noted.
These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
