So take it to court, part 1 of 3

June 6, 2024

Hi All,

Welcome to The Smart Edit. The newsletter that knows prayer is a legal transaction! So go to court!

Happy you’re in the mix. We’re questing to elevate our Christ-following, understand the times, and strongly impact our circles of influence for THE King.

In this issue:

• Kingdom dynamic: prayer petitions before the Supreme Judge

• Higher thoughts: baptism is a marker, your faith is targeted, momentum is a good friend

• Word wealth: truth = reality

• Worldview: a healthy worldview has the same shape as reality

• And more

🎧️  Listen: Appeal to Heaven: Assert Your Legal Rights in Prayer (Ep 314)

See P.S. — today is the day

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KINGDOM DYNAMIC
Boldly present your prayer petitions before the Supreme Judge

I think this can really move the needle in earth-born situations — I’m beginning to realize there is an aspect of prayer which is legal in nature.

We can come before the Throne Over All with bold prayer petitions, claims asserting our standing in Christ.

Jesus used a teaching-narrative (a parable) to show there is a legal nature to prayer — see Luke 18:1-8.

“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart …” (Luke 18:1).

Jesus tells us about a widow who kept coming to a judge SEEKING LEGAL PROTECTION from her opponent. She was saying, “Give me justice!”

This judge was wicked and rebuffed her. He even self-identified as not fearing God nor respecting man.

But the widow did not shrink back. She kept showing up.

The judge eventually rendered a decision and gave her justice. If for no other reason than she was wearing him out!

Prayer is about justice

Jesus then says:

“Now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?

“I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8 NASB).

So Jesus is using a teaching-narrative — a story about a legal matter — to show us that we ought to pray in faith at all times.

You see, prayer is about justice. It's aligning with the Father's design and will, engaging with the Ultimate Judge to sort things out and set them aright.

However, we must actively exercise our faith and sometimes assert our case in prayer in a legal way.

Friend, this is the first in a 2 or 3-part mini-series. Continued next week.

Q4U: Have you framed prayer as a legal action in your life? What’s that #1 Prayer Petition you need to present before the Supreme Judge right now?

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Trending

• Awakening? Pentecost conference sees 63K glorify God. In the Netherlands! Missiologists have long considered Europe to be post-Christian.

• Least happy. Those in middle age used to be the least happy, with youth and seniors the most happy. Not anymore. Young people are now the least happy. Takeaway: inspire young adults with fresh vision and horizons for their lives.

• The “New Morality.” 60% of Baby Boomers and 70% of Gen Z believe it’s “morally acceptable” to have “consensual sex amongst unmarried adults.” (American Worldview Inventory 2024) Takeaway: Families, churches, private education teach worldview.

• Birth dearth. U.S. birth rate hits record low since the government began keeping statistics in the 1930s. Why is this happening?

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RENEWING THE MIND
Higher thoughts

Baptism is a marker. Water baptism is a strong declaration. It is a marking in the unseen spiritual realm following authentic spiritual regeneration (“born again” in John 3.3-8). It’s an act of obedience to the Lord which seals the past and opens into the new.

Your faith is targeted. Know that in everything, what the Evil One is really after is your faith. Faith awakens God’s pleasure: “Without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11.6 NKJV). And this from Jesus: “When the Son of Man comes, will he really find faith on the earth” (Luke 18.8 NKJV).

Momentum is a good friend. There’s a momentum that’s right for you in the right Kingdom relationships for you. Run with the right people. 💨 

WORD WEALTH
Truth = REALITY

“Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jesus in John 4.24 NKJV).

Aletheia, the New Testament Greek word for truth, comes from "a" (negative) and "lanthano" (latent or hidden), so truth is the opposite of fiction or falsity.

It stands for what is real, accurate, and true. Interestingly, the Greeks didn't have a separate word for reality. For them, aletheia was reality itself.

Embrace aletheia (Jesus said he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life), and uncover the essence of reality in everything.

Let’s pray and affirm together: Jesus, I acknowledge that truth is sourced in you — you are the One Truth. Holy Spirit, lead me into all truth … teach me everything I need to know for my life and ministry. Thank you. Amen.

STELLAR QUOTE
Plead the promise

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) began his pastoral journey at just nineteen, leading the New Park Street Chapel in London.

Through his leadership, the church grew into the 6,000-seat Metropolitan Tabernacle where he served faithfully until his passing at 58.

He was an amazingly prolific preacher and writer.

WORLDVIEW
Healthy worldview: the same shape as reality

J. Budziszewski (University of Texas, Austin) said, “Your worldview has to have the same shape that reality does.”

Our worldview is crucial—it's how we perceive and interpret everything around us.

It's the internal lens through which we understand the world. The saying "perception is reality" seems true, at least for the perceiver.

But, if our worldview doesn't align with reality, we are deceived at some level. Negative outcomes are guaranteed. We can’t create our own reality.

Here’s Jesus …

“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear (healthy), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad (evil, wicked), your whole body will be full of darkness.” (Matt. 6:22-23 NASB).

Jesus is saying that if our “eye” — our perspective, vantage point, our worldview — is clear and healthy, our personal world will be full of light.

Here’s 2 negative examples from the world that ram reality:

• Sex is fine between consenting adults before or outside marriage.

• The gender of children can be transitioned.

Here’s a positive example in a Kingdom worldview:

• I prove my love for God by loving my neighbor.

Clarity about REALITY is advantageous and will bring success in life.

Ultimate Reality … any other shape is a lie.

Want to go a little further with this?

Appreciate you