The Gist Podcast

Proverbs 1:7…. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. This scripture does not recommend that we should be afraid of the Lord but rather we should be in awe of Him. We should respect the Lord and at the same time have a healthy dread of displeasing Him. With this attitude we will know Him and do what is right. This knowledge, once attained, will develop into heavenly wisdom and Christ-like discipline. We would be fools not to pursue and attain such qualities. Heavenly wisdom is the Godly application of the knowledge that comes from knowing God. Knowing God is having the intimate insights into God that come through our holy reverence and deep love for Him. The wisdom that comes out of this relationship is the manifestation of the character of Christ in us. What a high and attainable goal. Thank you Jesus. To see this scripture in context, please visit: http://www.thewaycm.com/mckenzie.html

Romans 8:26……We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. As we read this portion of scripture, we discover that there are times when we do not know how to pray as we ought. On those occasions, instead of waiting for the Holy Spirit to lead us into prayer, we often start to pray what we think we should and let-loose an eruption of meaningless words that gush out of our mouths, ricochet off the walls and disappear into the air having achieved nothing. As we continue to speak incessantly with great determination, we build an impregnable wall of words that nothing and no-one can penetrate. We fail to hear God’s gentle whisper as He vainly attempts to communicate His will to us. We are so caught-up in our frenzied barrage that we get lost in a forest of shifting shadows where, sadly, we cannot see the wood for the trees. Skirting around the peripheries of Spirit-led prayer we miss the point. We end up ineffective, frustrated and exhausted. If we would just stop and wait, if we open-up ourselves to hear what the Holy Spirit wants to say, not only will we begin to pray effectively, but He will progressively lead us deeper into prayer that words cannot express. In the deeps with God is where He prays through us; groaning, travailing and interceding. We touch His heart and enter into a phenomenal revelation of His will. It is no longer our words but His, sometimes in our language, sometimes in God’s language, sometimes beyond words. We are caught-up with the Lord in a tremendous place, in the very throne room of God, where His sovereign will for earth is revealed and declared through us, so that, His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching us to pray the way you do. Amen. Go to McKenzie Visits the Fourth Dimension: http://www.thewaycm.com/mckenzie.html