"They [all sinful, wicked, people who suppress truth by their wickedness] know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them."
Romans 1:19 [emphasis mine]
Romans 1:19 [emphasis mine]
How has God make it obvious? They have seen the earth and sky. They can see His invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature. They have no excuse for not knowing God.
The weight of "they" is heavy on me as I write. They have no excuse. The things of God have been made obvious to them but they have chosen to suppress the truth with their wickedness. The word suppress is more closely translated in the original Greek as hold or katecho (kat-ekh'-o). It means to retain or hinder the progress of. Not only have they chosen to ignore the obvious, they are working to impede the progress of the Truth.
So today, let's pray for they. They are clearly defined in Romans 1: 21-32. They
- know God but won't worship Him as God
- will not give Him thanks
- make up foolish ideas of what God is like
- have confused and dark minds
- claim to be wise
- worship idols
- degrade their bodies
- trade truth for lies
- are sexually impure
- have become full of every kind of wickedness
Ironically, the Greek word for full pleroo (play-ro'-o) is the same word used in John 15:11. It means to render full, i.e. to complete to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.(KJV)
To the same capacity the righteous (We are righteous because of Christ- (2 Corinthians 5:21) are with the joy of God, they are filled with wickedness. How terribly sad! Today, let's pray they become filled the brim with the right stuff.
6 Comments:
Good Morning Wendy and all~
One verse I use to pray for those I know that are not saved is 2 Corn. 4:3-4, "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." In our reading it says, as Wendy pointed out, that their minds have become dark and confused. The god of this age has blinded them. Satan has so many plans to keep people blinded! Everything from media, politics, television programs that claim to know the truth of science and such, and the big ones to me, keeping Christ's church divided and Christians in the public eye falling into sin. I think Satan has a master plan on how to make us look foolish to the world. BUT, greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world! Our prayers are so powerful and I am walking out answers right now and I know that God's truths can break through even the hardest and toughest of hearts if we keep praying.
I share with you ladies, I am praying for wisdom right now and God's direction. Over the weekend I was asked to pray about coming to speak at a new MOPS group at their upcoming Christmas meeting on December 9th. Their original speaker had to cancel on them due to some family situations and I was asked if I would come share some of my story and present the gospel message. It is a door that I have been praying for to be opened, but I admit I am very nervous about saying yes. I need God to show me and reveal to me if this is HIS plan and if He wants me to do this. I don't have a lot of time to prepare and there is alot going on with school the next few weeks, but I don't have anything set on the calendar for sure where I could not go and speak. I highlighted Romans 1:5 this morning, "Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name." I am asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to me the answer and God's will in this. Was this part of the answer? I am not sure yet. I told them I would let them know by the end of this week. This MOPS group has several unchurched women that attend and last year at my own MOPS group we had four women saved as a result of our Christmas message and gospel presentation. My initial gut thoughts are to say yes, but it makes me nervous to say yes :) Thanks for saying a prayer for me today for God to reveal His plan and show me the direction I need to take.
Have a blessed day sisters! I am off to school to share a wonderful day with 13 Kindergartners at their Thanksgiving party :)
In His Love,
Brandee, TN
Brandee,
You are doing the right thing by praying for God's will to be revealed to you. Maybe the verse was part of His answer, but it is okay to ask again for Him to be clear with His answer.
Then be still and listen. Pray the words of Samuel "Speak, for Your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10). He will let you know with perfect clarity His will in this situation. And if it is a yes, He will bless the words of you mouth and with your words you will bear much fruit!
Isaiah 55:11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth ; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Good luck on this big decision!
Blessings,
Karen
Praying for you dear Brandee, and I love what you wrote Karen. "Speak, for your servant is listening." Quietly listen Brandee, and you will hear His whispers. I'm praying that you will know His peace as He guides you where He wants you to be.
After reading today, I spontaneously started singing a song we sang in church when I was a child: "Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!..."
Yes, dear Wendy, it is so sad that the Earth does not see the God that we have come to know and love so deeply. I love Brandee's verse...we pray that the veil's will be taken off. That Christ will not be hidden and concealed from each unbeliever. Oh, that His Glory would be exposed clearly. That each heart would be opened and that their eyes would see the Truth! Daily, we pray for unbelievers, that God's Will, will be done here on Earth as it is in heaven. Our God can move mountains. Even the hardest of hearts can be melted to see His majesty. Praying that eyes will be opened today as we go about our day and "do everything with love" I Cor. 16:13).
Seeking to please Him, Lori - AZ
Brandee, know that your testimony of God's power over bondage is so powerful. Your nerves are just a part of being human. I am a professional musician and I still get nervous (even after 28 years) when I perform in front of people, even though I know my notes and have practiced diligently, I still suffer from performance anxiety. There are times when I say "yes" to a performance opportunity that scares and excites me at the same time. I know God alone will empower me and calm my nerves, and I try to focus on the "giving it away" aspect instead of my fear of making a mistake (my natural human instinct). My favorite verse I recite before performances: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13. This places the focus back on Him, and reminds us we are not meant to travel this life in our own strength. I've read your testimony, your posts...you have so much wisdom to share, you are already being used by God to bless others. Step on those nerves and "vessel His truth" to a world that's hungry for filling that void with anything but Him. I pray God provides you with the peace that passes understanding as you consider this opportunity He has placed in your path.
Krista
I read Melanie Chitwood's blog alot and these were the verses from Psalm 107 she had on there today:
Oh, thank God—he's so good! His love never runs out.
All of you set free by God, tell the world!
Tell how he freed you from oppression,
Then rounded you up from all over the place,
from the four winds, from the seven seas.
I have gotten nothing but yes's on this one today and I thank you all for your encouragement and your prayers. I have prayed for a long time for doors to open. I think they are and I need to walk through them! Speak now Lord, your servant is listening...
Oh, continuing to pray for "they" - have so many "they's" that I know and love.
Sharing from this days reading: “…Paul felt compelled…” “…God has given us the privilege…” “…I am eager to come to you…” “…I am not ashamed…” Acts 19:23, Romans 1: 5,15,16
I was captivated today by some adverbs, nouns, adjectives and verbs.
Compelled. Privilege. Eager. Not ashamed.
Have I ever felt compelled to do something for Christ?
Do I view sharing what God has done for me a privilege?
Am I eager to tell others about Jesus?
Can I say I am not ashamed of the Good News?
My life needs to be so much more than words. Desiring to live in the active, not passive voice.
Brandee, praying for you. God is using you my sweet friend. I just love your heart.
Joy
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