Which One Are You Praying For Most?

[TLHKAJ]

I think that in a nutshell, Rev 3:17 is an exchange of religion for relationship. The closer we draw to Christ, the more we experience trials, testing, and suffering. All who live godly will suffer persecution. Jesus said that if we are to reign with Him, we will also suffer with Him (key phrase, "with Him"). He will never leave us or forsake us.

So the life of relationship with Christ is one of denying the flesh, denying self, so that Christ may be seen in us.

The prayers I have found myself praying is to be more like Him... insomuch that I want my life to honor Him, and be profitable for the kingdom of God.

Help me love like You do, Lord! Anoint my eyes to see what You want me to see, my ears to hear what You speak, my mouth to speak what You give me to speak.

And as the song, based on Psalm 51...

Create in me a clean heart, O God ...especially when I feel I've missed the mark.

Lord, glorify Yourself in me!

Sometimes, I feel so broken, all I can do is weep ...and boy, that seems to be the case a lot of the time. I want to pass these tests in a way that honors You, Lord.

Help me to do Your will in this place where I am right now! Lord, this is hard, and I need Your strength. I don't understand why Your answers aren't what I hoped or what I thought they would be... but I trust Your heart for me, and for my loved ones. YOU are GOOD! And I know Your will is far better than my wishes. Lord, forgive me where I failed the tests or stumbled a bit in the trials.

Thank You for the gift of my son ... that You saved him, and grew him into a young man of faith and sacrificial love ....and then You took him Home. I miss Him more than words can express ...please heal my broken heart. Please heal my husband's broken heart...and our other children. Let this trial accomplish in us what You mean it to.

Thank You for what You have done and what You are doing in the lives of my loved ones. Keep my children and grandchildren close to Your heart. Lord, that we may only see You and nothing else ...a single eye.

Lord, I don't want to leave this world without showing them Your love ...let me take others with me who You can enjoy, and they can enjoy You for eternity! Lord....see those ones who have hated me? Please turn their lives right side up, and turn them around ...bring them and their entire households to the foot of the cross!

Help me to love and not hate in return. Oh Lord, I need You!!! You are my righteousness ...You are my shelter in the storm ...You are my life ...my peace, my strength. In You, Lord, I live and move and have my being! Everything I have need of is found in You.❤

This ended up being a time to reflect and pray. This isn't complete...I'll need to come back to this again.

 

[marks]

1. "Gold tried by fire" is also referred to in 1st Peter as "a faith tried in the fire." The metaphor refers to attaining to a place where sufferings have burned away all but the desire for whatever God wants in our lives.

I think this is more referring to faith that is proven true for having endured through persecutions and afflictions. The desires for evil things, the same as all other sins, are left behind in the flesh when we become born again.

The desires for evil things arise from the flesh, not the new creation. As we come more to believe in the reality of the new creation, and how our new nature desires righteous only, we "put on" that new man, because we believe that's who we are, and we live according to what we believe.

Much love!

 

[marks]

2. "White Raiment" refers to being "clothed upon" in the Spirit of God. The reason that the shame of our nakedness can no longer be seen is because this covers over it. All of us have sins, even those closest to God, but when the Spirit of God is poured out upon us and overshadows us, all the world can see is the Lord manifesting Himself through us.

I agree with you what this clothed upon is, however, I'd go further to say that we are not "covered", we are justified. The Holy Spirit more than covers us, He cleanses us, recreates us, justified, righteous.

Now, what the world sees, that will have a lot to do with what they want to see at least to some degree. But may God move so they will see Him through us!

Much love!

 

[marks]

3. "Eye Salve" refers to an anointment that was used to heal the eyes that one could see better, and more clearly. Spiritually, it refers essentially to seeing things as God sees them, especially as regards sin, true Christian teaching, religious deception, and the spiritual schemes of our enemy.

Restoring sight to the blind!

 

[marks]

If that's the case, which of these things are you praying for?

1. A faith tried in the fires of adversity (i.e. sufferings)
2. A life clothed in the Spirit of God, by which ones sins do not appear, and
3. Eyes opened spiritually to see the world as God does.

Mostly, what I pray along these lines is, to have a strong faith in God. Adversity is up to Him to decide. I pray for a peaceful life. But whatever He wants is good.

I realize that trust in Jesus answers every question, meets every need, brings all fulfillment. We have His promises. We can trust Him.

Much love!

 

[marks]

I remember asking for God to give me faith and it's been testy, as you know, and then the second one I feel like I'm constantly working through anyway. The third I feel like God did on his own overtime. So the second and third I don't remember ever praying for but God is working me through.

I feel like that second and the third come through lessons learned over a lifetime and seeking him.

In other words, I wasn't totally given a choice and I was put in a position of striving for what he wanted anyways.

There was a day I prayed to God, "I want health, and you know what I mean!" Physical, emotional, mental, I was a mess!

When you say, "God on overtime," I know what you mean!! What a ride! And afterward the peaceable fruits of righteousness.

Much love!

 

[marks]

The operative word bugalugs is 'focus'. And while this subject is alive, consider the many songs that are sung that pass as worship.....where is the focus?.....and observe how we rationalise putting self on the throne.

There are many ways, I think, that an unhealthy self-focus can creep into the Christian's mindset.

Much love!

 

[marks]

I would say our focus should be on God and His kingdom.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Matthew 6:33

Heaven isn't going to go bankrupt no matter what. God does bless us with the desires of our hearts. But when we pray for our desires to match with God's, we get more bang for our buck since "all these things are added to us". God abundantly blesses and prospers His children way above our needs.

I like what you said . . . Heaven isn't going bankrupt!

Since God works in us to "will and to do what pleases Him", we can follow the Godly desires in our hearts, asking Him for those things.

Much love!

 

[amadeus]

Agreed, and excellent point. Btw, sorry I didn't tag you. I meant to but then my mind drifted when I was trying to remember everyone I wanted to tag. Speaking of which, @Nancy, @lforrest, @Josho, @April_Rose, @Helen.

About this, I agree. These things need to be prayed for in a spirit of humility, wanting the will of God to be done in our lives. I think that's one of the things the 1st one tends to burn away in us, is the desire to make ourselves out to be something when we are not.

Thanks for the post : )

It may burn away at the first, but not completely. When a person has been moved away from the lust of the eye and the lust of the flesh and sees himself as doing so well in God then the danger of the pride of life, that is pride in his own life or the glorifying of self, is there ready to slip back in to the forefront.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." I John 2:15-16

 

[marks]

'Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;
and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;
and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;
and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.'
(Rev 3:17)

Hello @Hidden In Him,

I believe that the Apocalypse contains a record (by vision and prophecy) of the events which shall happen 'in the day of the Lord': that the whole book is concerned with the Jew, the Gentile, and the Earth, but not with the Church of God, or with Christendom; or with the latter only so far as the present corruption of Christianity shall merge in the great apostasy, and form part of it, after the Church, the Body of Christ, shall have been removed.

* But there will be a people for God on the earth during those eventful years. There will be the remnant of believing Israelites; the 144,000 sealed ones; the great multitude; and other bodies of faithful ones who are referred to all through the book (see ch.7, ch11, & 12:17). In which latter passage we read of 'the remnant of her (the woman's) seed', which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

* Yet there are lessons which we can learn from these passages, and which we may apply.

* The seven letters each have reference to a stage in Israel's history, and the one of Loadicea that you have chosen has reference to the period of Judah's removal (the minor prophets), the lowest point of Israel's degradation, and departure from God. The whole of Hosea 2-5 & 12:8, needs to be read to see the pointed reference to this stage of Israel's condition. Compare also (Haggai 1:6; Jeremiah 13:25-26; Jeremiah 5:27; Zechariah 11:5; Zechariah 11:13-18) .

* The prayers particularly of interest to me, are those found in the prison epistles, for they have direct reference to the needs of the Church which is the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 1& 3) (Philippians 1:9-11) (Colossians 1:9-14); but mostly I ask that His will be done.

Thank you for including me.
With love in Christ Jesus
Chris

I also see the alignment of these 7 letters to the 7 parables in Matthew 13.

Much love!

 

[amadeus]

Am I praying specifically for these things? Certainly at times but to say one is or should be of a higher priority than another I would say is dependent upon our needs in the moment. Sometimes we know, but sometimes we do not know what it is that we need the most. We don't know where we are lacking or failing so we simply ask as Jesus did...

"...nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matt 26:39

For any like myself who pray in tongues, God can put the right requests in our mouth when our heads are unable to understand what is needed. We know many times what we want, but as someone, I believe, already suggested... is that equal to what we need? God knows better than we do.

1. A faith tried in the fires of adversity (i.e. sufferings)

Whoa! Who has not been so tried? Some more than others but is it not a necessity for us to be persecuted? Are the fires of adversity not included in that persecution?

"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." John 15:20

Should we, however, pray that we undergo adversities in order for our faith to be tried? I would certainly hesitate to say that because it could easily lead us into tempting God. Rather I would pray that God bring upon me whatever it is I need to stay in His will and to move always closer to Him. If that includes the "fires of adversity" then should we not thank our God knowing always what we need? Did Jesus need to suffer and die as He did?

2. A life clothed in the Spirit of God, by which ones sins do not appear, and

How do we look to those who see us? Would we hide what we are before men? Would we be ashamed to show ourselves to others as we are?

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt 5:13-16

3. Eyes opened spiritually to see the world as God does.

We had certainly better be praying for this one...

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:.." Prov 29:18

"Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." John 9:24-25

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." I Cor 13:12

 

[Hidden In Him]

'Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;
and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;
and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;
and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.'
(Rev 3:17)

Hello @Hidden In Him,

I believe that the Apocalypse contains a record (by vision and prophecy) of the events which shall happen 'in the day of the Lord': that the whole book is concerned with the Jew, the Gentile, and the Earth, but not with the Church of God, or with Christendom; or with the latter only so far as the present corruption of Christianity shall merge in the great apostasy, and form part of it, after the Church, the Body of Christ, shall have been removed.

* But there will be a people for God on the earth during those eventful years. There will be the remnant of believing Israelites; the 144,000 sealed ones; the great multitude; and other bodies of faithful ones who are referred to all through the book (see ch.7, ch11, & 12:17). In which latter passage we read of 'the remnant of her (the woman's) seed', which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

* Yet there are lessons which we can learn from these passages, and which we may apply.

* The seven letters each have reference to a stage in Israel's history, and the one of Loadicea that you have chosen has reference to the period of Judah's removal (the minor prophets), the lowest point of Israel's degradation, and departure from God. The whole of Hosea 2-5 & 12:8, needs to be read to see the pointed reference to this stage of Israel's condition. Compare also (Haggai 1:6; Jeremiah 13:25-26; Jeremiah 5:27; Zechariah 11:5; Zechariah 11:13-18) .

Hi Charity, and thanks for the response. This sounds on the surface like it might be an appeal from scholarship somewhere. My problem with it, however, is that it is applying a letter written to the churches as if it were ultimately not written to the church, which is a very strange concept.

* The prayers particularly of interest to me, are those found in the prison epistles, for they have direct reference to the needs of the Church which is the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 1& 3) (Philippians 1:9-11) (Colossians 1:9-14); but mostly I ask that His will be done.

Again, my answer here would be that the letters were written to seven churches about their needs; seven churches that were part of the body of Christ at that time, so I'd have to stick with my position that the letters were a reference prophetically to the church (both New Testament and end-time), not Israel.

But I appreciate the response. Never heard that view before.

 

[Hidden In Him]

2. A life clothed in the Spirit of God, by which ones sins do not appear, and <---- Never thought of this as a "now" thing. But a "then" thing after finishing the race but a closer read sure does say to 'buy' these things from Christ. I can't imagine myself clothed in such holiness, I'd feel fraudulent, not worthy :O But how I would love this. My only question here would be that, didn't God remove our sins sf far as the East is from the West? And if so, why would we need something to, well, "hide" sins? Prob. way off here but, it's what comes to mind bro.

Thanks for the honest answer, sister.

Now, the verse you are referring to is this: "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him." (Psalm 103:12-13).

What this is essentially referring to is that God has taken pity on His children by forgiving them of their former transgressions. It doesn't really address Him dealing with future sins like we think of in the New Testament (once and for all through Christ) because that concept was still foreign to the Jews. It was a mystery still hidden in God.

Ah, this one has grown exponentially with me! The area I now live in is very close to a poor neighborhood and there are many junkies, and alcoholics and just plain lost or homeless. We CAN feed them, cloth them and try to find places they can stay for a week or so at a time. We can pray for them and I do but, some do not want that so, silent prayer then.

There is not much I pray for for myself unless along these lines. To experience His peace is like nothing other, I understand now what "resting in Him" means...it's a freedom, really. His joy is what I chase after all the time as, over the last few years, that has lagged as I go from blue to blah mostly anymore.

My prayers are mostly for family, friends and those I see on the streets. Oh yes, and for His true joy, strength, holiness and for purpose in this world.

Good post HIH, thanks for the invite

Well praise God, and thanks for the nice post : ) It is a wonderful thing to see others as He sees them, because He sees the good in others. He sees them when they were a child; He looks upon them with compassion knowing everything they have been through, and reaches out a hand to them where they truly are.

God bless you, dear, and always good to hear from you,
Hidden

 

[Hidden In Him]

I think that in a nutshell, Rev 3:17 is an exchange of religion for relationship. The closer we draw to Christ, the more we experience trials, testing, and suffering. All who live godly will suffer persecution. Jesus said that if we are to reign with Him, we will also suffer with Him (key phrase, "with Him"). He will never leave us or forsake us.

I agree. Much of the current church today operates under a deception IMO, just as the church at Laodicea did back then. I trace many Christians saying to themselves today, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing" to a return the church made to Old Testament mentality several decades ago, when the prosperity movement really started to take hold. People started equating "being blessed" with material wealth again, as opposed to being rich in spiritual things first and foremost.

I hadn't stated it yet in response to anyone yet (I don't think), but the first one is actually the one I am returning to praying more now. What good would it do in eternity to enter it spiritually poor for having lived an easy life?

God bless, and thanks for replying to the thread : )

 

[Hidden In Him]

I think this is more referring to faith that is proven true for having endured through persecutions and afflictions.

Hi Marks. We agree on this first sentence. Persecutions and afflictions were the most commonly understood outward version of what the Lord was referring to in Revelations 3:18. There are also internal sufferings as well, such as the loss of loved ones.

The desires for evil things, the same as all other sins, are left behind in the flesh when we become born again...

This lead sentence is where we part company. I agree that ultimately our sins get increasingly left behind as we crucify the flesh and its desires, but being born again does not take away the desires for evil things. If it did, I think I might have feared for my salvation a few times, LoL. Now if you mean in general, maybe. In general, the child of God no longer desires to sin. But there are times when he or she will most certainly still want to. Do you agree?

Thanks for the response, and hope you are having a good day!

 

[Hidden In Him]

I agree with you what this clothed upon is, however, I'd go further to say that we are not "covered", we are justified.

I can tell we'll be at this one awhile, LoL (which would be nothing new for us).

This might be a long road to cover, but in my view justification comes through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as a visible sign of His having forgiven us our sins.

Now, what the world sees, that will have a lot to do with what they want to see at least to some degree. But may God move so they will see Him through us!

Actually, in my theology, to some extent even the unrighteous cannot help but see the power of God operating in our lives. They can deny it and say it isn't there, but they cannot deny the change that has taken place, and the fruit of the Spirit, and the manifestations of His power.

But yes, we're essentially in agreement there : )

Mostly, what I pray along these lines is, to have a strong faith in God. Adversity is up to Him to decide. I pray for a peaceful life. But whatever He wants is good.

Ah! Here we would strongly disagree. See what you would say to Post #35 I wrote to TLH. I think we are in a bad place in our mentality personally, and that only if we ask Him for the opportunity to endure hardships in this present time will we. The church in the West is not enduring much persecution yet, and many of us lead a "blessed" life compared to our New Testament counterparts, and know little of what it meant to suffer for Christ's sake.

 

[marks]

Persecutions and afflictions were the most commonly understood outward version of what the Lord was referring to in Revelations 3:18.

Revelation 3:18
18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

I think that can be one interpretation. Personally, I think the most interesting part is where Jesus speaks of purchasing from Him. I find that a VERY provocative statement.

Gold tried in the fire, this also reminds me of 1 Corinthians 3, of the gold and silver and precious stones that are tried by fire, burning away the wood and hay and stubble. These are the righteous acts we do to build up each other.

Jesus counseling the messenger to the church to buy gold from Him, this could also lead me to think of this leader trying to build a church but in his flesh, and now Jesus tells him to build rightly, from the Spirit.

Much love!

 

[Hidden In Him]

It may burn away at the first, but not completely. When a person has been moved away from the lust of the eye and the lust of the flesh and sees himself as doing so well in God then the danger of the pride of life, that is pride in his own life or the glorifying of self, is there ready to slip back in to the forefront.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." I John 2:15-16

Agreed!

But then I do think sufferings have a way of burning this away as well. When severe enough, they lay the heart low, and crucify the soul. They create a contrite heart, that only cries out to God for mercy.

Hope you're having a great day!

 

[Hidden In Him]

For any like myself who pray in tongues, God can put the right requests in our mouth when our heads are unable to understand what is needed. We know many times what we want, but as someone, I believe, already suggested... is that equal to what we need? God knows better than we do.

Oh glory to God for bringing this up. Circumvents the whole need to worry, doesn't it? LoL.

Yes, He knows what we need most and what the deepest longings of our hearts are, and prays in accordance with the heart's cry. But now, that's just it. Do we understand with the mind well enough that the heart is informed of what it should truly desire from God? I think that was part of my motivation in creating the thread. To refocus on what I believe the Spirit is saying is most important to Him.

Whoa! Who has not been so tried? Some more than others but is it not a necessity for us to be persecuted? Are the fires of adversity not included in that persecution?

"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." John 15:20

Should we, however, pray that we undergo adversities in order for our faith to be tried? I would certainly hesitate to say that because it could easily lead us into tempting God.

"into tempting God..." I read this statement several times but I can't seem to understand the point you are making. Try rephrasing this for me if you can. I'm having trouble.

How do we look to those who see us? Would we hide what we are before men? Would we be ashamed to show ourselves to others as we are?

Oh no. Not the point I was after, John. Simply that our forgiveness is made manifest before men in that the Spirit has been poured out upon us in confirmation of it. Not an attempt to "hide" anything from anyone, or even an intent on our part to do anything. More of an acknowledgement by God that He considers our sins forgiven.

We had certainly better be praying for this one...

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:.." Prov 29:18

"Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." John 9:24-25

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." I Cor 13:12

Agreed.

 

[marks]

I can tell we'll be at this one awhile, LoL (which would be nothing new for us).

I'm looking forward to it!

This lead sentence is where we part company. I agree that ultimately our sins get increasingly left behind as we crucify the flesh and its desires, but being born again does not take away the desires for evil things. If it did, I think I might have feared for my salvation a few times, LoL. Now if you mean in general, maybe. In general, the child of God no longer desires to sin. But there are times when he or she will most certainly still want to. Do you agree?

Yes and no. We feel the desires for sin, but those desires are actually flesh desires, and not our own. As children of God, we do not desire evil things.

This goes towards the renewing of the mind, as we come to realize that sin no longer lives in us, and we don't actually want it.

Ephesians 4:20-24
20) But ye have not so learned Christ;
21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Much love!