A Fresh Start
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12–14
The greatest enemy of the early church in Jerusalem was Saul of Tarsus. Fanatical in his opposition to the followers of Jesus Christ, he took every opportunity to persecute, arrest, and even execute Christians, not just in Jerusalem but across the country and in neighboring lands. Saul was on his way to Damascus when an encounter with Jesus radically changed his beliefs. Though he became just as ardent a follower of Jesus as he had once been an opponent, the man who came to be known as Paul still had the blood of many on his hands.
Paul could have allowed the memories of what he had done before he met Jesus to hold him in bondage. He could have been overwhelmed by guilt and remorse, but he put the past behind him and kept his focus on the future. One of the most important benefits we receive from God’s freely offered salvation is freedom from the burdens of the past.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). The devil works hard to keep us in bondage to the past because he knows how much it hinders our service to God. The Christian life is not meant to be lived while looking backward. Instead God’s forgiveness allows us to look forward, and to accomplish all that we can for Him.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
—James 5:16
For prayer to be effective it must be fervent. However, if we misunderstand the word fervent, we may feel that we have to "work up" some strong emotion before we pray; otherwise, our prayers will not be effective. At times I experience a great deal of emotion while at prayer, sometimes I even cry. But there are plenty of times when I don't feel emotional and don't cry. I am sincere in my praying, but I don't feel anything out of the ordinary. We can't base the value of our prayers on feelings. I remember enjoying so much those prayer times when I could feel God's presence, and then wondering what was wrong during the times when I didn't feel anything. I learned after a while that faith is not based on feelings in the emotions, but on knowledge in the heart.
Also, James 5:16 states that the fervent prayer of a "righteous" man is powerful. This means a man who is not under condemnation—one who has confidence in God and in the power of prayer. It does not mean a man without any imperfection in his life.
The book of James goes on to talk about Elijah. Elijah was a powerful man of God who did not always behave perfectly, but he still prayed powerful prayers. He loved God and wanted to know His will and fulfill His call upon his life. But sometimes he gave in to human weaknesses and tried to avoid the consequences of that will and calling. In many ways, Elijah was a lot like you and me. In 1 Kings 18, we see him moving in tremendous power, calling down fire from heaven and slaying 450 prophets of Baal at God's command. Then immediately afterwards, in 1 Kings 19, we see him fearfully running from Jezebel, becoming negative and depressed, and even wanting to die. Like many of us, Elijah let his emotions get the upper hand.
The fact that James instructs us to pray powerful effective prayers like the righteous men and women of God—and then gives a discourse on Elijah and how he was a human being just like us, and yet prayed powerful prayers—should give us enough "scriptural power" to defeat condemnation when it rises up to tell us we cannot pray powerfully because of our weaknesses and faults.
Philippians 3:12–14
The greatest enemy of the early church in Jerusalem was Saul of Tarsus. Fanatical in his opposition to the followers of Jesus Christ, he took every opportunity to persecute, arrest, and even execute Christians, not just in Jerusalem but across the country and in neighboring lands. Saul was on his way to Damascus when an encounter with Jesus radically changed his beliefs. Though he became just as ardent a follower of Jesus as he had once been an opponent, the man who came to be known as Paul still had the blood of many on his hands.
Paul could have allowed the memories of what he had done before he met Jesus to hold him in bondage. He could have been overwhelmed by guilt and remorse, but he put the past behind him and kept his focus on the future. One of the most important benefits we receive from God’s freely offered salvation is freedom from the burdens of the past.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). The devil works hard to keep us in bondage to the past because he knows how much it hinders our service to God. The Christian life is not meant to be lived while looking backward. Instead God’s forgiveness allows us to look forward, and to accomplish all that we can for Him.
Powerful Prayer
by Joyce Meyer - posted December 27, 2016The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
—James 5:16
For prayer to be effective it must be fervent. However, if we misunderstand the word fervent, we may feel that we have to "work up" some strong emotion before we pray; otherwise, our prayers will not be effective. At times I experience a great deal of emotion while at prayer, sometimes I even cry. But there are plenty of times when I don't feel emotional and don't cry. I am sincere in my praying, but I don't feel anything out of the ordinary. We can't base the value of our prayers on feelings. I remember enjoying so much those prayer times when I could feel God's presence, and then wondering what was wrong during the times when I didn't feel anything. I learned after a while that faith is not based on feelings in the emotions, but on knowledge in the heart.
Also, James 5:16 states that the fervent prayer of a "righteous" man is powerful. This means a man who is not under condemnation—one who has confidence in God and in the power of prayer. It does not mean a man without any imperfection in his life.
The book of James goes on to talk about Elijah. Elijah was a powerful man of God who did not always behave perfectly, but he still prayed powerful prayers. He loved God and wanted to know His will and fulfill His call upon his life. But sometimes he gave in to human weaknesses and tried to avoid the consequences of that will and calling. In many ways, Elijah was a lot like you and me. In 1 Kings 18, we see him moving in tremendous power, calling down fire from heaven and slaying 450 prophets of Baal at God's command. Then immediately afterwards, in 1 Kings 19, we see him fearfully running from Jezebel, becoming negative and depressed, and even wanting to die. Like many of us, Elijah let his emotions get the upper hand.
The fact that James instructs us to pray powerful effective prayers like the righteous men and women of God—and then gives a discourse on Elijah and how he was a human being just like us, and yet prayed powerful prayers—should give us enough "scriptural power" to defeat condemnation when it rises up to tell us we cannot pray powerfully because of our weaknesses and faults.
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