Dr. Wesley l. Duewel: Importunity is as essential in the spiritual realm as it is at times in secular life. It is probably even more effective...
with God than with man.
When Abraham began his bold and respectful yet importunate intercession for Sodom, God did not resent it, even though Sodom was most sinful (Gen. 18:16-33).
Every time Abraham pressed another point, God conceded. The merciful heart of Abraham blended with the merciful heart of God. Was the limit of God's mercy revealed when Abraham stopped interceding? Could Abraham have pressed further?
God longs to extend his mercy. How often He is limited by our inadequate importunity. Abraham became the friend of God in an even more intimate sense through his importunity.
Press importunate intercession for others to the greatest spiritual bounds if you would be the friend of God.
We have yet such an incomplete vision of what God desires from our praying. God demonstrates His eagerness to be prevailed upon by bold, selfless intercession.
Never does He rebuke one of His children for being inappropriately importunate at His throne of grace. God has given us immense spiritual responsibility and has placed tremendous initiative in our hands.
God put a limit on Moses' asking for himself (Deut. 3:26), but He put no limit on Moses' importunity in asking for sinning Israel. God cried out, "Leave me alone," to Moses, but this was a test of Moses' character (Exod. 32:10).
Moses' desire and zeal for God's people was so strong that he refused to let God alone. He reasoned and argued and pleaded with God. He offered to expose himself vicariously to God's wrath and take Israel's place of punishment.
Such substitution was, of course, impossible, but it demonstrated that Moses had the same passion as did our Lord when He took our place at Calvary. It was holy, noble, and glorious before God. It confirmed him as a friend of God (33:11).
There are limits on importunity—the limits of the will of God. The more closely we walk with God, the more intimately we understand His unspeakable longing for the salvation of human kind and for all spiritual blessing for His people.
He longs to bless with health and to supply essential needs and as much prosperity as is not spiritually harmful.
It is always God's basic will to bless. We do not persuade God to be merciful—He is already merciful. We do not need to persuade Him to manifest love—His very nature guarantees that He will always love to the limits of what is best.
We only ask God to manifest what He so infinitely already is.
Yet God has ordained to limit much of His working to the intercession of His people. Our importunity is God's opportunity. He longs for us to give Him the opportunity to manifest His nature.
God thus honored Moses' importunity and drew so near that Moses' face carried the radiance of God back to needy Israel.
In Bounds's words,
"He prays not at all, who does not press his plea.
Cold prayers have no claim on heaven, and
no hearing in the courts above. Fire is the life of
prayer, and heaven is reached by flaming
importunity rising in an ascending scale."
(Necessity of Prayer, p.68)
(Google image and my emphasis)
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana
#47 Importunity is Essential in the Spiritual Realm
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 82-84)) Zondervan
Father, please increase our desire and zeal for Your intervention in the various situations that burden our hearts.
We know that You desire to bless those who have given their lives and futures to You, so we ask for them, within Your will, to be prospered in their walk with You.
We thank You for Your mercies that are new every morning, as well as Your Kind Heart towards us.
I ask this in the precious name of Jesus, to be glorified in and through our lives. Amen.
We know that You desire to bless those who have given their lives and futures to You, so we ask for them, within Your will, to be prospered in their walk with You.
We thank You for Your mercies that are new every morning, as well as Your Kind Heart towards us.
I ask this in the precious name of Jesus, to be glorified in and through our lives. Amen.
Today's Bible verse-
(Zech. 10:12) "And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD."
Today's quote-
"When Jesus brings a thing home by His word, don't shirk it. If you do, you will become a religious humbug. Watch the things you shrug your shoulders over, and you will know why you do not go on spiritually. First go—at the risk of being thought fanatical you must obey what God tells you." Oswald Chambers
Our thought today-
"The more closely we walk with God, the more intimately we understand His unspeakable longing for the salvation of human kind and for all spiritual blessing for His people." Dr. Duewel
Our questions today-
What's your excuse for not seeking to walk more intimately with the Lord? Have there been people who've hurt you, and now you're holding back from seeking God? Pray for His guidance, please, and speak to someone of faith who can help you restore your relationship with Him.
Upcoming posts-
How to Grow in Faith
18th- Saturday's post by Merlin Crothers
Have You Ever Wondered?
19th- Sunday evening's post by Jean Oathout
#49 God Delights In Your Holy Boldness
21st- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#50 The Role of Importunity
23rd- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
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