- araratchurch
- Feb 27, 2024
- 4 min read
“I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.“
Psalms 116:1-2 NKJV
Sarah had convinced Abraham to go in to her maidservant so that a child could be conceived, seeing that Sarah had not yet been able to conceive a child.
However, when Hagar conceived a child, it seems that she began to despise Sarah. Therefore, Sarah dealt harshly with Hagar, causing her to flee into the wilderness. It was in the wilderness that the Angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar, giving her a promise concerning the child she would bear.
“The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied. The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.“
Genesis 16:7-11, 13-14 NLT
Hagar then realized that God had seen her and had heard her; therefore, she had not died in the wilderness.
Daniel, after having read Jeremiah‘s prophecy concerning the captivity of his people, set his face toward the Lord in prayer, fasting, and repentance. When Gabriel came to give Daniel the understanding he sought, he told him that a command for Gabriel to come, had gone out at the very beginning of his supplications.
“yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:“
Daniel 9:21-23 NKJV
After this message from Gabriel, another time came when Daniel was seeking the Lord on behalf of his people. This time he sought the Lord for three full weeks before receiving an answer.
“Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.””
Daniel 10:10-14 NKJV
The “Glorious Man” appearing to Daniel told him that his prayer had been heard at the first. Indeed, the response had been delayed by an evil spiritual prince.
These stories of Hagar and Daniel, are just a couple of the examples from the word of God, confirming the fact that God sees and hears.
We also see in the story of Daniel that sometimes answers are delayed because of spiritual warfare of some kind or another. As well, the answer can be delayed or denied, depending on the condition of the heart of the seeker.
“This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.“
1 John 5:14-15 AMP
But make no mistake, God never fails to hear the cry of His humble child who is seeking Him for help.
As I shared with you yesterday, the Lord gave me Psalm 116 as an epilogue, a commentary on my spiritual journey.
In our opening scripture we see the first two verses of Psalm 116. Here we see the psalmist expressing his love for the Lord Who had “inclined” His ear to him.
Child of God, be assured, no matter what you are going through, if you seek the Lord in an attitude of humility, He will not fail to hear you. And, when the Lord hears, He answers.
Given, the answer (as in the case of Daniel) may not come as soon as we desire. But, the Lord will answer. Yes, He will hear. He will answer; and it’s always on time.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Feb 26, 2024
- 2 min read
This week we will continue looking into the spiritual journey I recently experienced during a severe illness. Over the next several days I will share an “epilogue” the Lord gave me concerning the spiritual journey.
In preparation for our discussion over the coming days please carefully read and meditate on Psalms 116:
”I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living. I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.” I said in my haste, “All men are liars.” What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints. O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people, In the courts of the Lord’s house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!“
Psalms 116:1-19 NKJV
Our Lord truly is a mighty Deliverer. Over the next several days we will look into all we must know about accessing—and walking in—His delivering power.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Feb 24, 2024
- 3 min read
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep and honor Your word [with loving obedience]. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. Your hands have made me and established me; Give me understanding and a teachable heart, that I may learn Your commandments.”
Psalms 119:67, 71, 73 AMP
We ended off yesterday talking about the need to be open to the Lord revealing things in our lives that are not in alignment with Him.
Sadly, some people resent the correction of the Lord. That resentment can lead to hardness of heart.
”As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.“
Matthew 13:4, 15, 19 NLT
In the parable of the sower, Jesus likens hardened hearts to the compacted ground of a footpath. Because of the hardness, it cannot receive the seed, so it is stolen away. The hardened heart becomes impermeable to the word of God as well as the direction of the Holy Spirit.
James instructs that we get rid of those things that cause hardness of heart so that we can receive God’s word.
“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.”
James 1:21 NLT
Of course, this principle also applies to being able to hear God’s direction spoken to us by way of the Holy Spirit. Tragically, having a heart unwilling to receive the correction and instruction of the Holy Spirit, can lead to the quenching (stifling or ignoring) of the Holy Spirit.
”Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning]. But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good. Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].“
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 AMP
The writer of Hebrews, after extolling the faith of the patriarchs (Hebrews 11), warns that in order to live the life of faith as they did, we must receive and welcome correction.
”And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.“
Hebrews 12:5-11 NLT
Indeed, correction is necessary for us to be able to be led in the path of righteousness!
In our opening scripture we see the psalmist celebrating the fact that he had been disciplined through affliction.
Remember, no spiritual journey can course correct and/or elevate to a new level of understanding and operation, if the correction of the Lord is not cherished.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!