Rusty Kuhn's Blog - Posts Tagged "trust"
Praying in Faith
“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. 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. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8 NASB
How often have you thought a situation was past the point of no return? It is hopeless. It is a lost cause. It is irreversible. Many times throughout the years I have had people come to me and say something similar to, “Pastor, can you pray for my loved one? He is beyond hope but I would appreciate it if you would pray for him.” If he’s beyond hope why should I waste my time praying for him? However, if I believe in a God of whom nothing is impossible there is always hope.
Some also have the mentality since God doesn’t heal all the time they will not trust Him to heal any of the time. There are a few instances in scripture where God clearly chose not to heal. However, the great majority of the time God does heal.
The request of prayer James mentions is a request of wisdom. However, any request can be entered into this scripture with the principle requirement of faith remaining the same. When we know in our mind that God is almighty yet, come up with a multitude of reasons why He won’t answer our prayer we have become the double minded man that James warns us about. “For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord”
When we stand in need and have a burden to see God move on our behalf we need to become unwavering in our faith and set in our heart to prevail in prayer until we see heaven moved. We are not twisting God’s arm to move on our behalf. We’re not even remotely strong enough to do that. However, scripture is clear, God is almighty, there is nothing impossible for Him, and all things are possible to those who believe. We are singularly minded, standing in faith, knowing He is able, and He is willing. Rusty Kuhn
How often have you thought a situation was past the point of no return? It is hopeless. It is a lost cause. It is irreversible. Many times throughout the years I have had people come to me and say something similar to, “Pastor, can you pray for my loved one? He is beyond hope but I would appreciate it if you would pray for him.” If he’s beyond hope why should I waste my time praying for him? However, if I believe in a God of whom nothing is impossible there is always hope.
Some also have the mentality since God doesn’t heal all the time they will not trust Him to heal any of the time. There are a few instances in scripture where God clearly chose not to heal. However, the great majority of the time God does heal.
The request of prayer James mentions is a request of wisdom. However, any request can be entered into this scripture with the principle requirement of faith remaining the same. When we know in our mind that God is almighty yet, come up with a multitude of reasons why He won’t answer our prayer we have become the double minded man that James warns us about. “For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord”
When we stand in need and have a burden to see God move on our behalf we need to become unwavering in our faith and set in our heart to prevail in prayer until we see heaven moved. We are not twisting God’s arm to move on our behalf. We’re not even remotely strong enough to do that. However, scripture is clear, God is almighty, there is nothing impossible for Him, and all things are possible to those who believe. We are singularly minded, standing in faith, knowing He is able, and He is willing. Rusty Kuhn
Praying God’s Will
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
All too often as Christians we get frustrated with the ways of the world. We stand at a loss as to what we should do to counteract the rampantly increasing immorality in this world and the blatant disrespect of God. Everywhere we look we discover this world is slipping further away from our Lord’s glorious grace. In the same way we become frustrated with many of our church folk who seem to care less about the spiritual condition of the world and are often caught up in the world themselves.
In frustration we ask ourselves, “Where do we draw the line?” The answer to that question is simple. We draw the line on the altar of grace and put or knees on it, seeking God in prayer. He alone has the power to change the heart of the wicked and bring revival to the stagnant. Therefore, it is to Him that we call upon in prayer for the repentance of the sinner and revival of the saints.
In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus gives us an example prayer. Not a prayer we should meaninglessly quote or chant, but an example of how we should pray and things we should pray for. In this prayer Jesus tells us to pray for God’s will to be done, one earth as it is in heaven. What is His will? His will is for God’s kingdom to come.
Many people misinterpret, “Your kingdom come,” as the second coming of Christ. Although the second coming of Christ is something all Christians should long for, that is not what Jesus was talking about.
When John the Baptist came as the forerunner of the Christ, announcing one was coming who was greater than he, John proclaimed, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:3). He was referring to Jesus. Jesus, who came to usher in the kingdom of heaven upon this earth. Jesus ushered it in through His death, burial, and resurrection, and those who have accepted His salvation are living within that spiritual kingdom.
We should pray daily that God’s kingdom would come, and that His will is done, on earth as it is in heaven, right now, today, at this very moment. As Christians we should pray daily for the kingdom of heaven to consume this dry and parched land. We should pray daily for the lost, calling them out by name for God to get a hold of their lives and transform them. Pray for your city, town, community, neighborhood, county, and state that God would stir revival in their midst. Although I have never been to Detroit, I pray that God would stir a major revival there and restore that city for His glory. Just think of what an amazing testimony it would be of the power and grace of God. Remember, there is NOTHING impossible for God!
We should also pray daily for our churches and our pastors. Whether they’re healthy or not they need our prayer. You might say, “My church is a dead,” or “My pastor is no good.” Isn’t that all the more reason to pray for them? Criticism won’t produce revival; however, committed Christians praying will. Paul requested prayer for himself as he proclaimed God’s Word. (Ephesians 6:19). Just think how mighty our missions, ministry, outreach, evangelism, worship, and preaching might be if we prayed-Your kingdom come, Your will be done, one earth as it is in heaven.
Rusty Kuhn
All too often as Christians we get frustrated with the ways of the world. We stand at a loss as to what we should do to counteract the rampantly increasing immorality in this world and the blatant disrespect of God. Everywhere we look we discover this world is slipping further away from our Lord’s glorious grace. In the same way we become frustrated with many of our church folk who seem to care less about the spiritual condition of the world and are often caught up in the world themselves.
In frustration we ask ourselves, “Where do we draw the line?” The answer to that question is simple. We draw the line on the altar of grace and put or knees on it, seeking God in prayer. He alone has the power to change the heart of the wicked and bring revival to the stagnant. Therefore, it is to Him that we call upon in prayer for the repentance of the sinner and revival of the saints.
In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus gives us an example prayer. Not a prayer we should meaninglessly quote or chant, but an example of how we should pray and things we should pray for. In this prayer Jesus tells us to pray for God’s will to be done, one earth as it is in heaven. What is His will? His will is for God’s kingdom to come.
Many people misinterpret, “Your kingdom come,” as the second coming of Christ. Although the second coming of Christ is something all Christians should long for, that is not what Jesus was talking about.
When John the Baptist came as the forerunner of the Christ, announcing one was coming who was greater than he, John proclaimed, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:3). He was referring to Jesus. Jesus, who came to usher in the kingdom of heaven upon this earth. Jesus ushered it in through His death, burial, and resurrection, and those who have accepted His salvation are living within that spiritual kingdom.
We should pray daily that God’s kingdom would come, and that His will is done, on earth as it is in heaven, right now, today, at this very moment. As Christians we should pray daily for the kingdom of heaven to consume this dry and parched land. We should pray daily for the lost, calling them out by name for God to get a hold of their lives and transform them. Pray for your city, town, community, neighborhood, county, and state that God would stir revival in their midst. Although I have never been to Detroit, I pray that God would stir a major revival there and restore that city for His glory. Just think of what an amazing testimony it would be of the power and grace of God. Remember, there is NOTHING impossible for God!
We should also pray daily for our churches and our pastors. Whether they’re healthy or not they need our prayer. You might say, “My church is a dead,” or “My pastor is no good.” Isn’t that all the more reason to pray for them? Criticism won’t produce revival; however, committed Christians praying will. Paul requested prayer for himself as he proclaimed God’s Word. (Ephesians 6:19). Just think how mighty our missions, ministry, outreach, evangelism, worship, and preaching might be if we prayed-Your kingdom come, Your will be done, one earth as it is in heaven.
Rusty Kuhn
Asking with the Wrong Motives
“You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:2, 3
Is there anything wrong with asking God for personal needs? Of course not! Jesus Himself said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7). God is our Father, and He wants to bless us. However, He, and He alone deserves glory. When we ask of God selfishly, for the purpose of bringing glory to ourselves, we are asking with wrong motives; that prayer will go unanswered. Yet, when we are in need and we ask God to provide for us our need, we give Him glory because we are trusting in Him with full dependency.
In Luke 19:10-14, Jesus told a story about a Pharisee who had these wrong motives. Jesus said, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Notice, Jesus said the Pharisee “stood and was praying this to himself.” This was an all about me prayer; a prayer that is abominable to God. The Pharisee had no desire to give God glory for His life. He only desired to bring glory to himself.
On the other hand the tax collector didn't even feel worth to lift his head before a holy God. Yet he trusted in God, depended on God, and called upon God. He knew he had no hope apart from an almighty, all-merciful God.
What is the motive of your heart today? Is it to bring glory and exaltation to you? Or, is it to bring glory and exaltation to God?
Is there anything wrong with asking God for personal needs? Of course not! Jesus Himself said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7). God is our Father, and He wants to bless us. However, He, and He alone deserves glory. When we ask of God selfishly, for the purpose of bringing glory to ourselves, we are asking with wrong motives; that prayer will go unanswered. Yet, when we are in need and we ask God to provide for us our need, we give Him glory because we are trusting in Him with full dependency.
In Luke 19:10-14, Jesus told a story about a Pharisee who had these wrong motives. Jesus said, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Notice, Jesus said the Pharisee “stood and was praying this to himself.” This was an all about me prayer; a prayer that is abominable to God. The Pharisee had no desire to give God glory for His life. He only desired to bring glory to himself.
On the other hand the tax collector didn't even feel worth to lift his head before a holy God. Yet he trusted in God, depended on God, and called upon God. He knew he had no hope apart from an almighty, all-merciful God.
What is the motive of your heart today? Is it to bring glory and exaltation to you? Or, is it to bring glory and exaltation to God?
Preparing our Heart for Prayer
“We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” I John 3:20-22 NASB
In reality there is only one way to prepare your heart for prayer and that is having a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. I Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Jesus is the one and only link between God and man. If we pray to or through anyone else we are wasting our time and blaspheming the very name of Jesus who paid the price for us to have relationship with God. James 5:16 tells us, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” This now presents to us a major problem because the bible tells us, “There is no one righteous not even one.” (Romans 3:10). As a result of this problem we see our great need of Jesus.
Romans 3:22 tells us the righteousness of Jesus is applied to our lives when we place our faith in His sacrifice and Romans 3:26 lets us know, we are justified, (made righteous), through that same faith. Because of this amazing truth our prayer life is not dependent upon us, our abilities, or our righteousness-it is solely dependent on Jesus. When we pray, we pray through Jesus and His righteousness knowing that Jesus is personally carrying our prayers to the throne of the Father.
This does not however, give us a license to live as we choose and expect Jesus to be our errand boy at our beck and call. He is Lord! We need to live, breath, walk, talk, think, and exist with Him as our Lord. He died so we may live. The lives we live are to bring glory to Him and not ourselves. The prayers we pray to Him and through Him should honor Him.
Now, when the devil comes bringing about his lies and accusations condemning your heart, telling you that you are not worthy to pray, simply say back to him, “Your right devil, I’m not worthy, but Jesus is, and it is through Him I pray.” Satan doesn’t want you to pray because he knows a prayer warrior is destructive to his kingdom.
Therefore Christian, I challenge you to be the prayer warier that God has called you to be. Don’t stand in condemnation but in confidence knowing that your prayers are righteous through Jesus and will accomplish much.Rusty Kuhn
In reality there is only one way to prepare your heart for prayer and that is having a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. I Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Jesus is the one and only link between God and man. If we pray to or through anyone else we are wasting our time and blaspheming the very name of Jesus who paid the price for us to have relationship with God. James 5:16 tells us, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” This now presents to us a major problem because the bible tells us, “There is no one righteous not even one.” (Romans 3:10). As a result of this problem we see our great need of Jesus.
Romans 3:22 tells us the righteousness of Jesus is applied to our lives when we place our faith in His sacrifice and Romans 3:26 lets us know, we are justified, (made righteous), through that same faith. Because of this amazing truth our prayer life is not dependent upon us, our abilities, or our righteousness-it is solely dependent on Jesus. When we pray, we pray through Jesus and His righteousness knowing that Jesus is personally carrying our prayers to the throne of the Father.
This does not however, give us a license to live as we choose and expect Jesus to be our errand boy at our beck and call. He is Lord! We need to live, breath, walk, talk, think, and exist with Him as our Lord. He died so we may live. The lives we live are to bring glory to Him and not ourselves. The prayers we pray to Him and through Him should honor Him.
Now, when the devil comes bringing about his lies and accusations condemning your heart, telling you that you are not worthy to pray, simply say back to him, “Your right devil, I’m not worthy, but Jesus is, and it is through Him I pray.” Satan doesn’t want you to pray because he knows a prayer warrior is destructive to his kingdom.
Therefore Christian, I challenge you to be the prayer warier that God has called you to be. Don’t stand in condemnation but in confidence knowing that your prayers are righteous through Jesus and will accomplish much.Rusty Kuhn
