Apathy – Please Pray..
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MadeNewPrayers: 197Requests: 70
August 2, 2020 at 1:38 pmThe following are presented to prompt thought, deliberation, meditation and contemplation in prayer. They are presented from the perspective of my current understanding and not to be interpreted as an authoritative assertation.
Some Christians say to hate nothing. God says:
– Hate evil, you who love the Lord (Psalm 97:10)
– Hate evil, love good (Amos 5:15)
– The fear of the Lord is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13)
— The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10)Some Christians say they are good, they are not evil. God says:
– Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone (Mark 10:18)
– There is only One who is good (Matthew 19:17)
– If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts… (Matthew 7:11)How do we hate all evil, yet love all people when we are told all people are evil?
– We hate the spiritual forces of evil that many are controlled by.
– When born again, it is the spirit that is cleansed and sealed.
– The flesh remains evil and its lusts are to be in submission by the power of God.
— We receive a glorified body (flesh) after the resurection.Some Christians say we must tithe, give ten percent. New Testament teaching says:
– Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart (2 Corinthians 9:7) – Give according to our hearts
– But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart – against him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17)
— 1 John 3:17 uses the word ‘compassion’ for ‘heart’ in some translations. – No one person can provide for the needs of all, but we can careWe are to give to those who lead and teach us (we spiritually benefit from) and to those who are in need, as we have been given the ability to by God and as we decide for ourselves. We all make our personal choices about how much we will give based on our compassion for others, what is in our hearts, and what we have available. It’s easy to drop something in an offering plate (or similar) and be unmoved by all the homeless as we drive by, all the people starving to death every day in the world, all the displaced refugees, all those digging through a dumpster or a landfill for something to eat, all those abused, oppressed and used by others for evil purposes, etc.
How can the love of God be in our hearts if we are unmoved by the needs of others, and by the evil perpetrated against others created in the image of God? The next logical question to ask would be, how can God be in our hearts without that love as God is, Himself, love? Jesus tells us that many will come to Him on that day…(Matthew 7:22-24) so it’s likely that many who think of themselves as ‘Christian’ may not be. Sadly, it may be that many who ‘profess Christ do not possess Christ.’ We are told that ‘By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.’ (John 13:35)
Jesus calls Himself ‘life’ (John 14:6) and that He came that we may have ‘life’ more abundantly (John 10:10). I do not think this abundant ‘life’ is worldly things, rather it is Christ in us more abundantly; the flesh/worldly benefits nothing (John 6:63). The end-game for all who are saved is to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) and is the work of transformation, sanctification, not the process of this? Jesus was a man of sorrows and accustomed to grief, (Isaiah 53:3) despised and rejected; this, and similar, is the promise for those who follow Him. (2 Timothy 3:12)
Some say we must NEVER be angry, but only experience joy, we don’t even have a ‘right’ to be angry about anything. Even Jesus displayed anger in the temple, turning tables over. Scripture does not agree (Ephesians 4:26) but says to be angry, yet do not sin in our anger; and that our joy is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Joy is strength for what? To balance out our grief and sorrows, our anger and hatred toward all that is evil, and to carry our cross (Matthew 10:38) are a couple of examples. We receive our crowns of joy in the after-life. This doesn’t mean we do nothing but cry, it means that our joy is the strength to carry the burdens God places on our hearts. I believe it’s in this context, we are instructed to encourage and uplift our brethren.
It is not for me to judge, nor am I, and it is completely unrealistic to generalize and stereotype, and I am not. Only God knows the heart, I’m making observations and trying to call some things out in love. It seems that the Christian community may have largely lost some of these teachings. I have heard a pastor / teacher claim that ‘the church’ is 40 miles long and 1/4″ deep; claiming that ‘the church’ is largely apathetic (feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent, feeling or showing little or no emotion; unresponsive.) It’s tough, based on my personal observations, to disagree. These are not easy things to call out, nor will they be popular, and that is the precedent in scripture is it not? I request that these things be weighed in light of the scriptures and in prayer.
I pray that the Lord would work through His Holy Spirit to draw His church near and to lift the apathy that appears to have settled over many who profess His name. Through the Holy Spirit, that as many as possible would count everything as loss and, through a love of others, we begin to examine the choices we make with the resources (time, treasure, talent) given to us and to accept the burdens associated with a compassionate love for all people. Please lead Your people into the water, into deep waters, that we may draw near to You and not be far from Your heart, Lord. We do not want to worship You with our lips while our hearts remain far from You. Amen.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be LOVERS OF SELF, LOVERS OF MONEY, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.Out of timePrayers: 219Requests: 4
August 2, 2020 at 5:52 pmHoly God – Grant us ears to hear and eyes to see your truth, and the strength to live in it. We cant do this by ourselves alone. Have your spirit help us lead a life worthy of your example we have in Jesus. Amen.
pattysyellowbusPrayers: 5708Requests: 49
August 3, 2020 at 7:41 amAbba Father! Ignite Your fire in our hearts and may we be as passionate about the things that You are passionate about. As in our reading today, may we, like Josiah, tear our clothes as we hear the law of the Lord. Give us tender hearts O Lord, for those who do not know and compel us to share Your love. Help us to know You, Holy Spirit as You permeate us; convict us when we grieve You and guide us to Your path. In Jesus Name!
MadeNewPrayers: 197Requests: 70
August 7, 2020 at 6:30 amEDIT:
1 John 3:17 uses the word ‘compassion’ for ‘heart’ in some translations. – No one person *who is willing* can provide for the needs of all, but we can care“— 1 John 3:17 uses the word ‘compassion’ for ‘heart’ in some translations. – No one person can provide for the needs of all, but we can care”
goingupsoonPrayers: 20097Requests: 1132
August 7, 2020 at 3:30 pmFather, thank You that You are daily in the process of conforming us into the image of Your dear Son. We haven’t arrived yet, but we are on our way. I am amazed at how You take broken people, and turn them into something beautiful. This all happens only because of Your unmerited favor, and grace. We may not completely look like what You have purposed us to look like. And we still fall short in many ways. And i’m sure we have more than once disappointed You. But, in spite of all of this, You still see us as having great value in Your eyes.
Lord give us Your heart of compassion. Stur our hearts for lost people. Forgive us for being apathetic at times. Help us to walk close to You each day, and to be ready to obey what you say. Uses us as Your hands ,and feet. Time is short, time is far spent. mold us into vessels of honer for your use.In Jesus name! amen!
Beloved
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