06 October 2014

Do you know how and what to ask?







One thing we must recognize in a crisis situation is the difference between what is true and what is truth. 

Certain things are true from a physical perspective, but there is an overriding spiritual truth. This is what Jesus was ministering. People always go by what's happening in the physical realm. If all you do is acknowledge that, you'll never be able to operate in the truths of God's Word because they'll always cross each other. They'll be contrary to each other a lot of the time, usually most of the time.

The world of the flesh and the world of the spirit are enmity against each other (Gal. 5:17). They're at war. **  Satan is the god of this world and seeks only to lie, steal and kill all who follow Jesus...

We often make the mistake of exalting physical truth over spiritual truth. We hold what we can see, taste, hear, smell, and feel to be more real than what God's Word says. But one of the things you must do in a crisis is go back to God's Word, humble yourself, and say, "Father, forgive me for exalting natural "truth" over your truth. Whatever your Word says is true. If I don't understand it, please explain it to me."

But that's not what the disciples did. Thomas countered Jesus, saying, "Lord, we don't know where you're going, so how can we know the way?" Then Jesus turned to him and said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him" (verses 6-7).

Then Philip said, "Lord, shew us the Father, and it will suffice us" (verse 8). Philip did the same thing Thomas did. He said, "Lord, what you say is not true. We haven't seen the Father." Jesus just said that they had seen the Father, and this time Philip contradicted Him.

 John 14:5-14 (NIV)

Jesus the Way to the Father

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know[a] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

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You must make sure you never question the integrity of God's Word, God's faithfulness to you, or the things God has spoken to you. God has said He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5). So don't ask, "God, where are you?" That's unbelief. You aren't going to get a positive response from God out of that. You'll be rebuked. Similarly, the Bible says that only good and perfect gifts come from above (James 1:17) and that Satan is the one who brings problems (John 10:10).

So don't say, "God, why did you do this?" or you're headed for trouble. The Bible says Jesus became poor so we could become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). So don't ask, "God, why am I poor?" That's doubt and unbelief.

However, if you question it by saying, "God, what is going on? I know you're faithful. I know your Word is truth. I know you'd never do anything wrong. Is there something I haven't learned?"

If it's that kind of question, for information, that's positive.
There is a godly type of questioning.