I think most of us listen acutely when we sense Threat is involved: “Clean your room, or else…” (parent), “Get this project done, or else…” (employer). If one in intense conflict with us wages those words of “or else,” we are most inclined to get law enforcement involved. But, as much as we believe we have rights to a life without Threats, the fact is our lives stand right within the huge statement of Threat.

Paul writes to Timothy: “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”(1 Tim 4:16). Paul says to the elders at Ephesus: “I commend you to the word of His grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance…” (Acts 20:32). Jesus told His hearers: “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” John 12:48. In these cases, the Word, be it proclaimed, or studied is tied to eternal situations, eternity and it appears salvation itself. The Word is not a suggestion.

In almost every circle of church attenders ever encountered there comes the inevitable opinions about sermons. Some sermons “speak” more to them than others. Where in the world did we get this concept? Are we more or less responsible based on that? Do we really hold a “holy Option” of whether His Word speaks to us or not?

A case in point: James says “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” (1:26). What is clearly being said, even threatened, here? But, we may come away and say: “That speaks to me.” Well, Ma’am or Sir, that’s nice, but that is not really the case. God’s Word is true for you whether it speaks to you or not. And whether it speaks to you or not, the result is still the same. A “useless” religion would not hold any security to stand before God. The Threat in this is real and alive. You are not over God’s Word, but it is OVER you.

Jesus especially warns about being deceived in the last days (see Matt 24-25). Do we seriously think our reception of the Word is our choice to take as advice or suggestions? I think we could be frightfully self-deceived if we do.

A church friend sat in my livingroom and said: “God is up to something, and I want to be in His Something!”
How quotable!!

Faith seems to require this of us: Do we really believe God has a Something?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.”
Later, “but without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Heb 11:1,2,6).

When we pray for others, we must believe there is Something they are going to gain from our prayers to God for them (Eph 6:18).

I never quite understood James 1:5-8 where the overabundant liberal, willingly-giving God shuts down where there is doubt. Doubt means “double-minded, two-faced, going two different directions.” We must believe God has a Solution. The focus of our personal lives apparently determines the confidence and assurance that there is a solution.

Ps 145:18: “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” This word for “truth” is often “sincerity,” but originally meaning “firmness, sureness, reliability, stability, continuance…”

“This is the CONFIDENCE that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us; and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (1 John 5:14,15). ‘The Holy Spirit beyond a doubt put into the Bible to encourage our faith. It begins with “This is the CONFIDENCE that we have in Him,” and closes with “We KNOW that we have the petitions that we desired of Him…(RA Torrey).’”

With greater sureness and reliability than ever brought to His throne, let’s confidently dive into this Something, this Solution.

“Stretched-out-ed-ly”

God is love. Ever since the “Decision” of Creator God to create His human, in the two of His most decisively-loving acts to us, there has been barely a thread of response realized in the creature. And yet when realized in the few responsive ones, the slightest crumb of awareness expressed itself among humans in noticeable intensity. There is no deserved English word: earnest, intense, without ceasing? Torrey speaks of the best as “stretched-out-ed-ly.”

Three places this word is used in the NT, and all three are strategically placed in three eras of humankind. Representedly, the human soul was never intended to be flatfooted toward his God!

Acts 26:7 – “To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake…” If we realize the magnitude toward beloved Israel, there was a remnant in the Jewish heart that never rested knowing in them a pull toward His promise. “Night and day,” with night expressed first. Even the sleeping hours knew no rest for the pulsating people knowing existence had a higher call!

Luke 22:44 – “And being in agony He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood…” The Atoner Himself in the hour of blasting a dotted crumb response open into a secured path of man relating to his God: never could be known without the greatest of pressure of the spiritual world pushing through mere human cells and pores.

Acts 12:5 “…but earnest prayer was being made by the church to God for him.” We are now on the side of the Promise realized! Now, human was found! Is there a leaning back? NOW in the immeasurable opportunity offered of something NEVER known, the Early Church, through this type of unbridled praying, equaled this same intensity of other eras. Yet, now is experienced Desire seeking the highest, establishing His Church and praying for His apostle on the way to extinction.

If we find ourselves outside this stretched-out-ed-ly response to our God, let us please take great inventory of the Truth we are living and the Holy Spirit within.

Before the Promise, in the Promise’s fulfillment, and after the blessed Promise realized, the response of humans was never intended to be flatfooted toward our God.

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