Colossi ans 1:9 (Amp) says, "For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full, deep and clear knowledge of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things."
The greatest things we can pray for now, in order to be able to walk in the ways of the Lord, the understanding and discernment of Spiritual things. We've been taught about the flesh and the world for so long, that we don't have any understanding of Spiritual things. We've been taught to rely on what religious teachers know about the Lord. We've accepted that's how things are, so we don't seek understanding from the Lord, on our own.
One of the great privileges of Christianity, is the ability to "Come boldly before God's Throne of Grace," to personally seek God for ourselves. We're able to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. We're able to know God for ourselves, instead of relying only on what others teach about Him.
When we truly "know" and love someone and have built a trusting relationship with that person, then it's impossible for others to tell you lies and rumors about him/her and have you believe those things. Many of the things taught about our Heavenly Father are not true, but we've accepted them as Truth, because we don't know Him for ourselves. These falsehoods and opinions have clouded our understanding and the relationship we have with Him.
Jesus had a Personal relationship with the Father, so He didn't believe the things others incorrectly taught about God. I hear things coming from God's children that grieve my heart and I know that they only say these things, because they don't know Him for themselves. I certainly don't have all the answers either, but one thing I've learned is, if something goes wrong, then I'm the one who missed it and not God. Instead of making up some answer as to why it didn't work like God's Word says it should, I go to God and ask Him why it didn't work, so that I don't make the same mistake next time. If one of us missed it, then it's not God, but me who made the mistake.
When many our prayers aren't answered, then we say, "Well it must not be God's will." We don't know what God's will is, so we blame our failures on Him, saying, "God doesn't want to do what His Word says, in our lives." God's Word says, "God is not a man, that He should lie." If God's Word says it and He has Promised it, then it's a done deal. If that's not so in our lives, then we need to go to God and find out where we went wrong.
2Corinthians 1:20 (Amp) says, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes Answer in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (So be it), to God through Him (In His Person, and by His Agency), to the Glory of God." All of God's Promises are Yes and Amen for us, through Jesus. How many of those Promises are now functioning for us, in our everyday life in Him? I know several that aren't working and functioning in my own life. If what God says is True, and you know it is, then I must be the one who doesn't have the Wisdom and understanding in how to walk and receive God's Promises.
God doesn't tell us everything He knows, only the things we ask Him about. If we don't ask, then we won't know. We must have a personal relationship with God and ask Him for ourselves, instead of just relying on what someone else thinks about Him. Everything we get from God, is by a personal knowledge. Salvation can't come to you, because your neighbor is saved. We must personally ask for Jesus to become our Lord and Savior, in order to be saved. Jesus is Lord of all, but is He your Lord? This is personal for every believer. When God answers your neighbor's question, He doesn't expect your neighbor to answer and ask your questions to God, for you. God wants to speak to you personally.
Jesus said that, "My sheep know My Voice." He didn't say that "the herd of sheep, know My Voice," but that His sheep know His Voice. Every sheep must know the Shepherd's Voice, so it doesn't follow the other sheep, who might be following another shepherd's voice. If that voice tells them to "Jump off a cliff," then the sheep who know the Good Shepherd's Voice, won't following the herd off the cliff. This isn't saying that they're "not His sheep,"but they haven't cultivated a relationship with Him, so that they know and recognize His Voice. How many of us would have avoided things that happened in our lives that we were taught "come from God", if we had only recognized God's Voice telling us, "Don't go?"
God doesn't love some, more than He loves others. Jesus prayed in John 1723 (Amp), "Show them that You Love them even as You Love Me." God doesn't pick favorites. We have all become one with Jesus. Some hear and know His Voice, while others think, "God doesn't speak to me." We build a personal relationship with Him, by spending time in fellowship and conversation with God. I'm not speaking about praying only, but conversing with Him. We should ask God questions about things we don't know and seek understanding. Jesus never explained all of His Parables, even to His disciples. He only explained them, after they asked.
Some believers have been taught that we should never question God. If you don't ask, then you don't receive. Jesus said, "Ask that you may receive." This doesn't only refer to answers to prayer, but understanding too. James 1:5 (Amp) says, If any of you is deficient in Wisdom, let him ask of the Giving God Who gives to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproach of fault finding, and IT WILL BE GIVEN HIM." The only thing required, is that we ask. Isn't this better than finding out the "hard way," by making mistakes and excuses for why God isn't doing what He Promised?
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