Has God Just Busted Our Britches?
Johnny Cash told me he was asked to do a big benefit at which the First Lady Mamie Eisenhower would be in attendance. He had a new tight fitting suit made with dangles and spangles all over it. On stage before he could hit the first note he dropped his guitar pick. When he squatted to pick it up he heard a rip in the crotch. He did a number and stormed off stage. In the dressing room he tore off the suit, threw it on the floor, and screamed as he jumped up and down on it. June started laughing uncontrollably. He asked what was so funny.
She said, ”You have the number one song, just starred in a movie, got your own TV program, and God done busted yo britches.”
She knew he needed to be humbled in order to get right with God.
To say God might have just allowed the busting of our national britches is a crude, but understandable way of putting it.
We have told Him we don’t need Him in our schools, courts, and society.
Could it be God is saying what you are experiencing is what life is like without Me when things don’t go well? Now humble yourselves, and pray, and seek my face and I will show you a way out and what life can be like. He will sew up our britches. Crude but true.
Equal vs Equivalence
Sometimes two words have very little difference, but that little difference makes a big difference. Two such words are equal and equivalent.
Much is said about equality in our society. Many things said to be equal are not, but they are equivalent. Consider the difference.
Equality is a noun, the plural of which is equalities. It means the state or quality of being equal in quality, degree, value, rank, or ability.
Equivalent, is an adjective which means to be of equal value, measure, force, effect, or significance. It means equal to, but not the same as.
Equivalence means the value is the same. For example 4 is equal to 4, but 4 is not equal to 8/2 although it is equivalent. The difference between equality and equivalence is that when you say that two things are equal you are saying they are the same or that there is no difference between them.
Equality means the type and the value are the same, while equivalence means that while the types are not the same, the value is the same.
To say some things are equivalent is to indicate they are of the same worth, value, class and dignity, but not identical.
Equivalent things are not equal because they are not identical, but they are of the same value, worth, class, and dignity.
When two things are the same in some specific way, but not identical, they are said to be equivalent.
Two propositions are equivalent only if they mean the same thing. Two is less than four means the same thing as four is greater than two, although the two expressions aren’t equal, identical, that is.
Move Mountains
“…if you say to this mountain, ‘Be cast into the sea, it will be done.”
The meaning of this expression is more meaningful than if it were literally true. “Mountain” in the Bible era was often a popular figure of speech for any insurmountable problem. Jesus is saying God can solve any problem.
“The phrase about removing mountains was a quite common Jewish phrase. It was a regular, vivid phrase for removing difficulties.” (Barclay)
Unresolved issues and difficult problems were figuratively spoken of as a “mountain.” Persons with the capacity to resolve issues and solve problems were called “mountain-removers.” Jesus was teaching that prayer is the means of solving that which seems unresolvable.
This promise of God’s answer to the prayer made in faith is made to disciples, not to the multitude. “Nor should we interpret Mark 11:24 to mean, ‘If you pray hard enough and really believe, God is obligated to answer your prayer no matter what you ask.’ That kind of faith is not faith in God; rather it is nothing but faith in faith, or faith in feelings,” wrote Wiersbe.
Christians need to be cautious how their faith in God is expressed. To simply pray about a thing and then declare God is going to do it can be confusing to some.. To say, “God is going to do a certain thing” in the mind of the unbeliever obligates God. It is better to say, “My God is able. I trust Him with the result.”
The Old Testament account of the Hebrew children being put in the fiery furnace is an example. They did not say, “God is going to deliver us.” They said, “Our God is able to deliver us.” They trusted God and relied upon His will. It is not that we trust God to do it, but rather that we trust God (period). We trust God to do what His loving will determines is best.
Our asking must be according to the many qualifications noted in Scripture.
Two or Three Agreeing In Prayer
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)
This verse is not to be understood in isolation. Alone it has been broadly misunderstood to mean all one has to do is get someone to agree on a topic of prayer and God has obligated Himself to fulfill the request. It must be applied in the context of the several conditions for prayer.
For example, all prayers must be in accord with James 5:16 which states, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Following are things that keep prayers from being effectual and are unanswered.
*Selfishness
“You ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3).
*Carnality
*Failure to exercise faith.
“Whatever you ask in prayer believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22).
”If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18).
*Lack of Compassion
“Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard” (Proverbs 21:12).
*Lack of Domestic Tranquility
“Likewise you husbands, dwell with them with understanding, give honor to your wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (I Peter 3:7c).
*Pride
“They cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men” (Job 35:12-13).
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
*Lack of Obedience
“Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (I John 3:22).
*Failure to be in Fellowship
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).
*Failure to Comply With God’s Will
“If we ask anything according to His will He hears us” (I John 5:14-15).
It is important to know every reason for God not answering prayer affirmatively is on our end of the line. Don’t accuse Him of failure.
You might find it helpful to keep this list and check your prayer life by it occasionally.
Get-Er Done
Tomorrow is the chain that binds people to loathsome habits. Tomorrow is the barred and bolted door that shuts people out of the house of their dreams. Tomorrow is the downward path that leads people into the land of regret. Tomorrow is the siren’s song that seduces people from the path of duty. Tomorrow is the sleep that paralyzes the energies of people. Tomorrow is the sword of self-destruction on which people fall. Tomorrow is the word carved over the door of the realm of the lost.
Today is God’s time for action.
“Today if you hear My voice…”
“Boast not yourself of tomorrow.”
“Behold NOW is the accepted time…”
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. You might enjoy it so much today you will want to do it again tomorrow.
Albert Schweitzer, who had four PhDs, said, “The only one among us who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
There is a difference in choosing to serve and choosing to be a servant.
When we choose to serve we are in charge.
When we choose to be a servant our Master Jesus is in charge.
“Service to any just cause rewards the worker with more real happiness and satisfaction than any other venture in life.” -Carrie Chapman Catt
Consider the spirit of those who might well have been dispirited as described in the Phillips Translation of II Corinthians 6:10 & 4:8,9:
We are penniless, and yet in reality we have everything worth having … We are handicapped on all sides, but never frustrated; we are puzzled, but never in despair. We are persecuted, but we never have to stand alone; we may be knocked down, but we are never knocked out!”
What confidence! What courage! What determination!