Call-In Classic Christianity Radio – Bob George P696 (12-17-21)
Pray in the Spirit is Listening First to the Holy Spirit
The topic of prayer comes up in conversation with people many times today. People are told to pray this or pray that in corporate settings. Some are even telling people on television or radio to send their money in for their prayers to be heard by God, as though God is going to answer your prayers based on you sending money to someone else. Different groups of people have different ideas about prayer too. Most everyone today is focused on getting their prayer requests answered by God, and not listening to what God has to say to them in the first place. They are becoming their own god, as though they can push God’s buttons to do something based on something they say or do themselves. Bob sets the record straight on all this gobbledygook about prayer.
For many years, Bob George the creator and host of People to People, a daily radio broadcast, connected with listeners across the continent on his live, daily radio broadcast, Bob offered real answers for real life as he addressed common questions as well as the tough issues of today, directing callers to the centrality of “Christ in you, your only hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
These calls are just as relevant today as they were yesterday. Listen in as Bob teaches truth from the word of God.
Ephesians 6:18
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
The first caller, Ewening called from Vancouver British Columbia. He had a question about prayer in a group setting. He had heard Bob speak of how God is the initiator and we are the responders and was asking for Bob to expand on this. Bob speaks of the fact that we have two ears and one mouth and should be doing more listening than talking. All these different groups of people (lost and saved) are praying for this or for that yet very few are listening to the voice of God speaking to them and then responding to His voice.
You have praying in the spirit and praying in the flesh. Praying in the Spirit is the Spirit of God talking to your spirit. Praying in the flesh is not listening to the Spirit of God but trying to get God to do what “I” want God to do.
Understand also that the Holy Spirit indwells believers and He is always there and will never leave you nor forsake the believer. And we know that believers are not in flesh but in the Spirit. So we need to focus on Christ in us and His Spirit talking to our spirit teaching us what He wants to teach us and for what He wants us to focus on.
Romans 8:9
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
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The second caller, Carl called from Fayetteville Georgia. He was inquiring about 2 John 1:1,2 and wanted to know if that was an actual lady that was spoken of in the verse.
2 John 1:1,2
1 The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:
Bob tells him that it is an actual lady. When scripture is clear like this, you don’t spiritualize a verse but instead take it as a literal and natural meaning.
Also at the end of the book, we see that an actual person is being spoken of because greetings are sent their way.
2 John 1:13
13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.
We are not told in scripture who this actual lady is. However, we are indeed told that it is an actual person that the letter is written to.
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The third caller, Elio called from Exeter California. He had a question in regards to celebrating the holidays at a certain time of the year.
Bob points out that we are not do get involved in disputable issues. If someone doesn’t want to celebrate themselves the birth of Jesus on a certain day, then so be it. But don’t let someone tell you not to celebrate the birth of Jesus on a particular day. If someone wants to celebrate the birth of Jesus on another day, then let them do that. But to say to someone else not to celebrate on certain day, that is just foolishness.
Colossians 2:16
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
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Another caller Derrick called from Vallejo California in regards to not having to keep on asking for forgiveness. For he has been taught all his life that he should keep asking God for forgiveness when he sins and he wanted Bob to clarify this teaching for him. He had a difficult time letting go of this idea that he needed to keep on asking for forgiveness by God.
Bob points out that the bible clears this up completely and he himself has to put it to rest. The Apostle Paul and Peter nor any of the Apostles or the writers of the New Testament ever tells anyone to go ask for forgiveness of God. Without faith it is impossible to please God. To keep asking God to do what He has already done is not faith. Faith says thank you.
The bottom line is, to keep on asking for God to do what He has already done will keep you from growing if a person really is in Christ Jesus. Because that person is not resting in Truth.
Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
And do not lean on your own understanding of these teachings. Man’s forgiveness is not like God’s forgiveness. Rest in what He has done for you. Quit denying that He forgave all of your sins on the cross and making a public disgrace of the cross [Hebrews 6:6] by continually asking God to forgive you. For when we trust in what seems right to us, we are trusting in the flesh, and not exercising faith in Him. We end up crucifying Jesus over and over again in our own minds or even in public when we do it publicly.
We suggest ordering the little booklet, What About 1 John 1:9 where this is explained in greater detail. We offer free shipping in single booklet form. It’s an excellent booklet to hand out to others too that are struggling with this ongoing forgiveness issue.
Proverbs 3:5
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
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Another caller, Brandon called from Gretna Louisiana. He wanted to encourage and commend Bob and the radio ministry. He recently started listening to the teaching and he himself has been encourage by the teaching of the ministry.
Bob thanked him for calling and pointed out that everything we have comes from Christ Jesus. When we abide in Christ Jesus, everything comes from him.
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Order Born Free today.
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