Demands of Jesus - Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart - 1

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

We have been learning steadily about the demands that Jesus makes of His followers. In this session let us now concentrate why Jesus asks us to pray. 

And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. - Luke 18:1

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. - Matt. 6:6

Jesus intends to create a praying people. His demand is clear, and the issue is so important that He tells us why, how, for whom, and what we are to pray. And though we might think that the Son of God would be above the need to pray, He sets the example for us, as a perfect human being, by rising early in the morning to pray (Mark 1:35) and seeking times alone to pray (Matt. 14:23) and sometimes spending the whole night in prayer (Luke 6:12) and, in the end, preparing for His suffering by prayer (Luke 22:41-42).

WHY? FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

Why did Jesus think prayer was so important for His followers? The reason is that prayer corresponds with two great purposes of God that Jesus came to accomplish: God's glory and our joy. Jesus said: "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13). Prayer is designed by God to display His fullness and our need. Prayer glorifies God because it puts usin the position of the thirsty and God in the position of the all-supplying fountain.

Jesus knew the Psalms and read Psalm 50:15 where God, like Jesus, demands that we pray for help and shows that this gives glory to God: "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." Prayer is designed as a way of relating to God, so that it is clear we get the help and He gets the glory. Jesus said that He had come to glorify His Father. "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do" (John 17:4). Part of what God had given Him to do was to teach His disciples to pray, because when we pray in Jesus' name, "the Father (is) glorified in thee Son" (John 14:13).

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus

This is just the beginning of the next session of why we are meant to be a praying people to the Lord. In the next session we will see why prayer is for our joy. Let the mercy of the Father, the love of Jesus and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.

Please do keep me in your prayers

Your brother in Christ Jesus

Demands of Jesus - Do Not Be Anxious About the Threats of Man - 3

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

In the last session, we were learning about some of the reasons why Jesus said not to be anxious about the threats of man, to not to be afraid to speak clearly and openly what Jesus taught us - even if it costs us our lives in the end. Let us look into some more reasons why Jesus says so...

EVEN THE HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED

Fourth reason Jesus says to not fear to speak the truth, but to be courageous and speak clearly and openly is because God is always giving close and intimate attention to all you do. Jesus says, "Even the hairs of your head are all numbered" (Matt. 10:30). In other words, the suffering you may undergo in speaking the truth is not because God is disinterested in you or unfamiliar with your plight. He is close enough to separate one hair from another and give each one a number. Fear not; He is close. He is interested; He cares. Be of good courage, and speak the truth whatever the cost.

NOT ONE OF THEM WILL FALL TO THE GROUND WITHOUT YOUR FATHER'S WILL

Finally, fear not because God will not let anything happen to you apart from His gracious will. "You are of more value than many sparrows." "Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will" (Matt. 10.29, 31). Jesus' point is: God governs the world right down to the smallest events like birds falling to the ground. Therefore, no harm can befall you but what God wills. This confidence has given great courage to the followers of Jesus for centuries. Many have spoken in the words of missionary Henry Martyn, "If God has work for me to do, I cannot die." We are immortal until the work God has for us is done.

SO DO NOT FEAR THE FACE OF ANY MANY

Therefore, the demand of Jesus stands, and there is sufficient reason to obey it with joy and courage. Don't be anxious about the ordinary needs of life, and don't fear the threats of man. Don't yield to the spirit of age that woos us into peaceful silence when the truth is being trampled. "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth," Jesus said. "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:34). Not the sword of steel, but the sword of truth that gives life to all who believe. Love the truth, therefore, and what you learn from Jesus in the solitude speak from the housetop. And do not fear the face of any man.

Dear brothers and sisters, I have now completed the Demand of Jesus to not to be anxious about the threats of man. Hope that you all enjoyed and learnt from these series. Will come soon with more of Jesus Demands. Stay tuned. Meanwhile do uphold me in your prayers.

Your brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin George

Demands of Jesus - Do Not Be Anxious About the Threats of Man - 2

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

In the last session, we learnt that we should be courageous to talk about Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We should  be courageous to stand for Jesus in the dark and unsavory world, in which we are now living. Now let us look at some of the reasons why we should have courage to be standing for Christ, even if it means death of our life and everything we might hold dear in our life.

THEY WILL MALIGN YOU LIKE THEY DID JESUS

When we consider Matthew 10:26, Jesus says, "SO [therefore] have no fear of them." In other words, fearlessness should flow from what Jesus just said - "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of His household."

Jesus reasons such: "Your mistreatment for speaking the truth is not some unexpected, random, meaningless experience; instead it's the same way they treated me, and so it's a sign that you belong to me. So don't be afraid of the names they call you when you speak out plainly. Those very names bind you and me together."

NOTHING IS COVERED THAT WILL NOT BE REVEALED

Secondly, in the middle of the same verse 26 - "So have no fear of them; FOR nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that  will not be known." How are we to be made courageous here?

It gives us assurance that the truth we are speaking will triumph. It will be vindicated in the end. People may reject it ow. They may call it demonic. They may cast it out. They may try to bury it and hide it from the world ad pretend that it does not exist. But Jesus says, "Take heart in the cause of truth, because in the end all truth will be revealed. All reality will be uncovered. Ad those who spoke it with clarity and openness will be vindicated.'

FEAR NOT, YOU CAN ONLY BE KILLED!

Thirdly, Jesus says, fear not, you can only be killed! "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul" (Matt. 10:28). In other words, the worst thing your opponents can do to you when you speak the truth is kill your body. And that leaves the soul untouched and happy in God forever. But if you keep silent, if you forsake the path of truth and fall in love with the praise of men, you could lose your very soul. If you want to fear something, fear that! But don't fear what man can do to you. All he can do is dispatch your soul to paradise. Fear not.

Your Brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin George

Demands of Jesus - Do Not Be Anxious About the Threats of Man - 1

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

In the last session, we completed why Jesus demands us not to be anxious about our daily necessities, but even is we gain a measure of victory over the fear that all our needs will not be met, there remains another gut-wrenching fear that we all face. The fear of speaking the truth when it might cost us our lives. Jesus deals with this fear in Matthew 10:24-31. It is especially relevant in our day as the likelihood increases that tolerance will hold sway for everyone, except the person who claims that everyone must give absolute allegiance to Jesus.

The aim of Jesus in Matthew 10:24-31 is to give us the courage to speak His truth with clarity and openness no matter what the cost. Throughout the command, Jesus makes three repetitions of the command do not fear.

Verse 26: "So have no fear of them."

Verse 28: "Do not fear those who kill the body."

Verse 31: "Fear not therefore; you are of much more value than many sparrows." 

Jesus' aim is clear: Be fearlessly courageous. But courageous to do what? Let's concentrate on what Jesus demands us to courageously do.

WHAT YOU HEAR WHISPERED, PROCLAIM UPON HOUSETOPS

Jesus has something very specific in mind that is threatened by fear and advanced by courage. he says in Matthew 10:27-28, "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon housetops. And do not fear..." We all can relate to this fear. We face it constantly in our daily lives. We are afraid to speak about Jesus to this world, fearing what others will think about us. We fear we might lose our comfortable positions in this world when we proclaim the Word of God. This is the fear that Jesus focuses in this passage: the fear of speaking clearly (in the light) and openly (on the housetops) when that speaking might get you into trouble.

So here's the demand: "Don't be afraid to speak clearly and openly what I have taught you, even if it costs you your life.

Rest of Jesus' words are motivation - five reasons why we should have courage in the cause of truth, which I would be glad to share with you in the upcoming days. May the grace of God, The Father, the love of Jesus Christ, His Son and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Please do uphold this sinful brother in your prayers.

Jobin George

The above extract has been take from the book "What does Jesus demand from the world" by John Piper.

Demands of Jesus - Do Not be Anxious About the Necessities of Daily Life - 5

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen! Wishing you all a very Happy Easter. Before the Great Lent we were learning about some of the demands of Jesus and in particular His demand to not be anxious about our daily lives. In Part 4, we were learning about the reasons why Jesus said such a demand. We learned that by being anxious we do not add anything to our lives and also that our Father in Heaven loves us so  much that He would take care of our needs. Now moving forward, lets see some more reasons why Jesus says not to be anxious about our daily necessities...

YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THEM ALL

The fifth and sixth reasons why a follower of Jesus shouldn't be anxious are given in Matthew 6:32. We shouldn't be anxious about what we eat or drink or wear because "[fifth reason] the Gentiles seek after all these things; and [sixth reason] your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all." Anxiety about the things of this world puts us on the same level with the world of unbelievers. It shows that we are really very much like the world in what makes us happy. And Jesus assumes that we will not want to be like that. It also shows that we don't think our Father in Heaven knows our needs. Or perhaps we don't think He has the heart of a loving Father. Anxiety shows that we are too close to the world and too far from God. So don't be anxious-the world has nothing eternal to offer, and your loving heavenly Father knows your needs now and forever.

ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU

The seventh reason not to be anxious is that when you seek the kingdom of God first, He works for you and provides all your needs. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). "All these things" does not mean everything we think we need, but everything we really need. And real needs are determined by what God calls us to do, not what we feel like doing. God will give us "all these things" that we need to fulfill His calling on our lives.

TOMORROW WILL BE ANXIOUS FOR ITSELF

The last argument is, "Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day" (Matt. 6:34). In other words, God has appointed to each day its portion of pleasure and pain, as the old Swedish hymn says, especially the last  two lines of this verse:

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength  find, to meet my trial here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,

I've no cause for worry or for fear.

He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best-

Lovingly, its part pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

So don't misappropriate God's allotted troubles for tomorrow. That is, don't bring them forward into today in the form of anxiety. Believe that God will be God tomorrow. Tomorrow there will be grace for tomorrow's troubles. That grace is not given today.

The main point of all this is clear and unmistakable: Jesus does not want His followers to be anxious. He does not secure His kingdom by keeping His subjects in a state of worry. On the contrary, according to Matthew 6:33, the more primary and central His kingship becomes in our lives, the less anxiety we will have.

Source: What does Jesus Demand from the World - John Piper

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, with this I now finish Jesus' demand for not to be anxious about our daily necessities. Let us all be more trusting in His abundant grace to carry us through our daily troubles.

Please do keep this sinful brother in your prayers.

Jobin George

"The Lord bless you and keep you; 

The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 

The Lord lift His countenance upon you, And give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-26