Face Up

John.17:¹ “After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father…” (emphasis added).

When Jesus wants to talk to God, Jesus faces Him. When you want to talk to God, face Him. And because God is on His throne in heaven, that means to face up. Like we said yesterday, you may not do this all the time. However, the posture of your heart is more important, and it mostly will reflect on the physical. Luke 9:¹⁶ “Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people.” (emphasis added).  Jesus had an almost impossible situation; how do you feed five thousand men with five loaves and two fish? Jesus faced God and blessed it. Very instructive!

John 11:^40-41 “Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So, they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me.” (emphasis added).  This is the story of Lazarus that we looked at a few weeks ago. Jesus faced God first before He faced the situation, Jesus spoke to God first before He spoke to the dead situation. When you face God, you can face the problem. When you turn your face to God in prayer, you can turn your face to the problem in victory. When you turn your face to God in prayer, you can turn your face to your position in victory.

Mark 7:^3-35 “Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone… Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!” (emphasis added). Looking up to God and facing God, Jesus could change something that was totally physically impossible. Jesus looked up to God and it is a huge lesson for us. When you face a situation at work, in your business, in your career, or in your health, look to God. Shift your focus to God and God will fill your mouth with laughter and your tongue with singing.

As God’s children, we have the privilege of going to Him willingly. A time will come when those that are not with God will have to bow to Him compulsorily. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Every knee will bow; is it going to be voluntary bowing or is it going to be mandatory bowing? What will it be, will you bow voluntarily now, or would you be compelled to bow? You decide because every knee will bow. When people become arrogant towards God, God knows how to humble them until they recognise that He is God. There is no one that God cannot humble. People have made very arrogant statements at God and when God is done with them, by themselves, they will lift up their eyes to heaven and say, there is God in heaven. A classic example is Nebuchadnezzar in Dan.4:34 [please read].

Prayer: Father, I come willingly, lifting up my eyes to You and bowing my knees to You in worship, in total dependence on You, in Jesus Name. Amen!