Computer Woes – and Prayer

Computer Woes – and Prayer

I got a computer virus, necessitating a visit to the computer store for them to clean up my system – leading to an entire week without posting a blog. Apologies to all my faithful blog followers but, no fear, I am up and running with dozens of exciting themes just begging to be posted.

Indeed, my computer woes made me aware of a spiritual principle that could be a challenge, an encouragement, and blessing to us all.

I don’t think any of us could deny how amazing computer technology can be, or how much the computer age has influenced our lives – for good or ill. As a writer, computers have been a huge benefit to me and made me more productive than I could have imagined in the days when I slogged over a typewriter.

At the same time the computer age has been a boon to unprincipled people who have used it to profit illegally, or simply to plant viruses out of pure malicious intent.

So I thought of something else miraculous and of such benefit to the human race as cannot be measured. I speak of prayer, by which men and women can connect with the divine and receive the benefits of Heaven.  Once discover the blessing and intimacy of prayer through Jesus Christ, and your life is raised to a level impossible to the unbelieving masses.

It occurred to me followers of Christ, familiar with the intimacy of prayer, can also be afflicted with a “virus” that can compromise our prayer lives – render it largely ineffective. What is this malicious thing that can have such a devastating effect upon us? It is the “virus” of UNBELIEF.

Scripture paints a very clear picture of what unbelief can do to us:

                But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ [being] a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8 – NASB)

And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his [own] household.” ⁵⁸ And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:57-58 – NASB)

Now let us make it clear – unbelief and lack of faith are not the same thing. Even a tiny amount of faith, like a mustard seed, has power to move mountains. The measure of your faith may be small, but you will still be able to do great things for God.

On the other hand you may have a lot of faith but still be afflicted with the disease of unbelief.

How so?

Unbelief works like this: I believe God can move mountains; He can heal the sick; God can meet my financial needs. I believe God can help me win my neighbours for Christ; He can give me victory over certain addictions I am subject to. Unbelief can believe all these things with the utmost sincerity.

What unbelief has trouble believing is that God will do these things, and more, in the here and now. Unbelief says, “Of course God can do anything he wants, but I have trouble believing he will do it for me, or for my family, or my church in this day and age. I know God did these things in past generations for Bible people, and even for some people today, but I just can’t believe God can be that active in my life today.

Test your reaction to the following promise and see whether or not the virus of unbelief has caused a malfunction in your life of prayer:

                Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater [works] than these he will do; because I go to the Father.¹³ Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do [it]. (John 14:12-14 – NASB)

Can you apply this promise to your life in the here and now? If not you just may be afflicted with a virus – the virus of unbelief.

Unbelief

(© 28^th March 2015 – by Christopher Shennan)

There are those who don’t doubt God’s mighty power

To perform great works and great loving deeds;

They are full of faith in what God has wrought,

And work through people to meet others’ needs.

They will stand and defend God’s Holy Word;

They’ll declare with passion and holy zeal

That God is a God of miracles, true,

With power to save and power to heal.

Yet these same people seem to lack one small thing –

The faith to apply all this personally;

They believe God will bless most anyone,

But can’t quite say, He will do it for me!”

Save me dear Lord from this blight on my soul,

And grant me a faith that will make me whole.

 Please visit My website: http://www.christophershennan.ca
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Frustrated man at a desk. Contributed to wikimedia by LaurMG. Copyright. Used under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license; please note the Disclaimer at this link. We made no changes to this photograph.

Cracked Ice and a Fervent Heart

(Picture credits at end of post)

Cracked Ice and a Fervent Heart

I have heard the cracks as I poured warm Cola over ice in a glass, and I have witnessed similar cracks occur in Holy Scripture when a passionate heart has been released upon a cold-hearted audience.

When Stephen released his passionate assessment of his own contemporaries upon the cold hearts of his listeners (Acts 7:51-53), the resulting crack led to his own martyrdom:

 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they [began] gnashing their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; ⁵⁶ and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” ⁵⁷ But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. (Acts 754-57 – NASB)

Jeremiah experience the crack when he was let down into a well and had mud up to his armpits. He was also locked in the prison house all because he unflinchingly declared God’s truth to his generation.

I have felt the crack when some warm truth from God’s Word has washed over my own cold heart.

And I long to see the crack appear in the Western church when God raises an anointed Voice to wake her up from her lukewarm slumber.

I’d Rather

(© Wednesday 24^th December 2014 – by Christopher Shennan)

But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴ For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:13-14 – NASB)

I’d rather have a crack right through

My frozen heart, than to suffer

The consequences of coldness;

That, I declare, would be tougher.

The warm truth of God flows over

My coldness of heart and cold mind;

It cracks my stubborn will right through,

And melts all resistance – I find.

I’d rather endure persecution

When I speak the Truth from my heart,

Than wallow in self-satisfaction,

And know I have not done my part.

I’d rather the Church be ready,

And waiting for Jesus the King,

Than to wallow in self comfort

And have no true praises to sing.

Oh, pour Your warm Truth upon us;

Crack our complacency right through.

For, Lord, we need a revival

To bring all our hearts back to You.

 Please check out my books at My website: http://www.christophershennan.ca
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Ice Cubes by Darren Hester. Copyright. Used under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license: please note the Disclaimer at this site. No changes were made to this photo.

No Half measures

Photograph by Derek Jensen. This image is in the public domain.

No Half measures

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously (Colossians 1:9-11 – NASB)

The most amazing words are used in this passage; words that boggle the mind, and run contrary to the general climate prevailing in most modern churches. The general feeling is that we can be holy, but not too holy; we can please God, but not too much. To admit otherwise would be like saying we can be perfect in this life. And everybody knows none of us is perfect.

On such half-truths we conduct our Christian lives, and wonder why we have so little power.

There are three reasons why many Christians feel it is not possible to live more than a mediocre level of Christian holiness. The first is their misunderstanding of the meaning of the word “holiness.” They think it means absolute perfection, and glibly repeat the mantra, “Nobody’s perfect.”

The second reason is that they assume holiness is achievable by self-effort; we are to be partaker of His (God’s) holiness. The third reason has to do with not taking Scripture promises seriously, as in the Scripture for today:

First, we can be fully INFORMED

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding…

We can be filled with the knowledge of His will.

Second, we can be fully APPROVED

…so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…

We can please God in all respects

Thirdly, we can be fully EMPOWERED

…strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

We can be strengthened with all power for the attaining of all steadfastness.

Don’t settle for a pale imitation of what God has promised your Christian experience can be.

A Pale Imitation

(© Saturday 3^rd January 2015 – by Christopher Shennan)

 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰ For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness. (Hebrews 12:9-10 – AKJV)

A pale imitation of truth

Is mostly what Christians believe;

At least in these times of great ease –

The enemy strives to deceive.

Nobody believes anymore,

That the God of Mercy and Grace,

Is willing and able to grant

All riches, when we seek His face.

It’s a pale imitation when

We can’t quite believe God can

Do a full work within our hearts;

Make us clean in the inner man.

Sure, there’ll be struggles and battles;

Chastising is how He will bless,

But His goal is to make us partake

Of His Love and His holiness.

So don’t stagger in unbelief;

Don’t settle for less than the best.

Lay hold of God’s mighty promise:

I declare, you’ll surely be blessed.

Please check out my books at My website: http://www.christophershennan.ca
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CNShennan
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