Re: POWER of PRAYER- No Matter Which Faith You Follow=GOD is With You
Do You Doubt God's Love?
Let me give it to you straight. There is no beating around the bush and no soft-pedaling. The sin that makes God cry is being committed daily, not by pagan workers of iniquity but by multitudes of Christians. It is the sin of doubting God's love for his children.
Do you think it makes God sound too human and vulnerable to say he cries? Ask yourself how a God of love could not cry when his own people doubted his very nature.
Jesus Christ was God in the flesh, and according to the book of John, he wept when those closest to him doubted his love and concern. That was God incarnate at the tomb of Lazarus, crying over friends who failed to recognize who he was.
Time and time again, Christ's dearest associates doubted his love for them. Think of the disciples in a storm-tossed boat that was taking on water. Jesus was in the stern of the boat, sound asleep. Fearing for their lives, his followers shook him awake and accused him of outright unconcern. "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" (Mark 4:38, NKJV).
How their accusation must have grieved the Lord. That was God Almighty in their boat! How could he not care? However, doubt always takes over whenever men take their eyes off the Lord and concentrate instead on their circumstances. Jesus was astounded and said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (Mark 4:40).
Christians today grieve the Lord in this matter even more. Our unbelief is a greater affront to him than the unbelief of Mary, Martha, and all the disciples; our sin is committed against greater light. We stand on a higher mountain and see more than they could ever see. We have a completed Bible with a full and detailed record of God's trustworthiness. We have the written testimonies of almost twenty centuries of Christians, generation after generation of godly fathers who have passed down to us unshakable proofs of God's love. We have countless personal experiences that testify to God's tender love and affection for us.
Beloved, let us look for his exceeding mercy and love, admit the sinfulness of our unbelief, and recognize who he is!
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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
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