Hear Us from Heaven

Adam could neither deny nor excuse his sin; but instead of manifesting penitence, he endeavored to cast the blame upon his wife, and thus upon God Himself: "The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." He who, from love to Eve, had deliberately chosen to forfeit the approval of God, his home in Paradise, and an eternal life of joy, could now, after his fall, endeavor to make his companion, and even the Creator Himself, responsible for the transgression. So terrible is the power of sin.  (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 57).  

Observation:  When we blame others we are blaming God.  In order to receive God's forgiveness we must take personal responsibility for our sin; we must confess.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 NKJV)

It is impossible to receive something you don't want or that you don't think you need.  And the blaming one doesn't desire or believe they need forgiveness.

Application:  To often in my marriage and my parenting I have resorted to blame.  And this morning I have been confronted with the need to change.  The need to confess to Christ my sinfulness.  I need to ask Him to forgive me for blaming and putting my sins on the shoulders of my wife or children.  The only one who can bear my sins is Jesus.  Not because He is responsible for them, but because He "good, and ready to forgive," (Psalms 86:5 NKJV).  All He is waiting for is my confession.  All He is waiting for is an acknowledgement of both my guilt and my need.

Prayer:  Lord I am so in need of You today.  I am so in need of Your forgiveness and grace.  I have had a calloused heart toward my kids.  I discipline and correct too often without compassion.  I fail Lord Jesus to think of their vantage point or to put myself in their shoes when I am relating to them.  Jesus I cut them off when they are trying to explain themselves and I speak with harsh tones and ugly words.  I do the same to my wife.  When we were in Washington DC I spoke with very ugly words to her in front of her mother.  

Lord I pray that You would grant me repentance today.  As I confess my sins to You, forgive me, cleanse me, turn my life around according to Your promise Lord Jesus.  I pray that You will not only turn my life around, but Father I ask on behalf of my family and church, turn us around.  Hear from Heaven Father, forgive us, cleanse us, revive us, and restore us.

Hear Us From Heaven

by Jared Anderson

Lord, hear our cry

Come heal our land

Breath life into these dry and thirsty souls

Lord, hear our prayer

Forgive our sin

And as we call on your name

Would you make this a place

For your glory to dwell

Chorus:

Open the blind eyes

Unlock the deaf ears

Come to your people

As we draw near

Hear us from heaven

Touch our generation

We are your people

Crying out in desperation

Bridge:

Hear us from heaven,

Hear us from heaven,

Hear us from heaven (4x)

My Disability Disappears

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find." (Romans 7:18 NKJV)

If you've ever seen the story of Team Hoyt, the Father and Son pair who run marathon's and triathlons... If you've ever seen Dad Dick pulling, pushing, carrying, and lifting his quadriplegic Son Rick, than you have witnessed the reality of Romans 7:18 being played out in Ricky's life.  For truly Ricky is a man with the will to do, but his disability prevents him from accomplishing that which he longs for.

Enter Dad, because of Dick, his disabled Son Rick can swim, and run, and race with the best of them.  Which is why Ricky Hoyt said to his father not long after they began racing many years ago... "Dad, when we're running I feel like my disability disappears."





I praise God that when my Father in Heaven is pulling, pushing, carrying, and lifting my spiritually dead limbs...  Why, my disability disappears.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)

I have experienced the disabling power of sin in my life.  I have felt the shame and worthlessness of falling for the hundredth time... or not even being able to get off the floor of my sin and shame.   But I praise God that Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2).  I praise Jesus that He will finish the good work He has begun in me (Phillippians 1:6).  

O friend, you and I have nothing to fear, no regrets when we are running with our Father.  His strength is perfected in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength." (Isaiah 40:28–29 NKJV)

Afterglow:  Here are some passages of hope and promise about the Resurrection power available to you and me as we put our faith, confidence, and trust in the living Christ!

"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him," (Romans 6:8 NKJV)

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1–2 NKJV)

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11 NKJV)

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

(Ephesians 1:13–14 NKJV)

"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20–21 NKJV)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3–5 NKJV)

"There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him." (1 Peter 3:21–22 NKJV)