God’s Grace, Part 5 — A ‘Time With God’ Audio Devotion

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Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection…

Philippians 3:1-10b

Transcript

Good morning. I’m John North, and as we get this day started, let’s start it right by taking some time with God together. God wants to speak to you today. Are you listening?

I want to read from Luke chapter 11 as we continue our theme of God’s grace in our lives.

It says in Luke 11:1:

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And it came about that while Jesus was praying in a certain place after he had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray just as John the Baptist also taught his disciples. And Jesus said to them, When you pray, say, Father Hallowed be thy name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us and lead us not into temptation.

This is slightly different from the account of the Lord’s Prayer that many of us have memorised, which is the one in Matthew.

And Jesus also said to them, suppose one of you shall have a friend and shall go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, lend me 3 loaves, for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.

And from inside he shall answer and say, Don’t bother me. The door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs, and I say to you, Jesus says, ask and it shall be given to you. Seek and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you, for every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.

And it’s interesting when you look at the Greek language that these words are originally written in. It really has the idea keep on asking and it will be given to you. Keep on seeking and you will find, keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you.

You see what a difference there is between God and the way people react to others, even though this guy was that man’s friend because he was tired, he didn’t want to get up and help him, but when his friend persisted, then he did.

And Jesus says, persist in prayer because God loves to respond to you.

He goes on to say, now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish. He won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he’s asked for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?

God is so ready to bless you. He’s so ready to respond to your prayers, but you need to recognise it. If you don’t ask, you miss out on so much.

Learn to pray and not just to ask with this big list of things that you’re running through kind of halfheartedly, no, talk to your Father in heaven.

And as you speak to your father, share your needs and your concerns, you will find the amazing reality of God’s response to prayer in your life.

I’m John North.

To go deeper in your faith, visit AFCI.com.au.

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