Encouragement ~ Prayer:). January 14, 2015
January 14, 2015 - 10 minutes readOH, VICTORY IN JESUS,
MY SAVIOUR FOREVER
HE SOUGHT ME
AND HE BOUGHT ME
WITH HIS REDEEMING BLOOD
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15: 1-5
Prune me! Father, holy, holy, holy God… You alone adored, worshiped, praised… from unworthy lips, a self- centered disposition, constant struggle to overcome sin: resist ever emerging flesh, dismiss thoughts, and forfeit judgment… a daily struggle! I confess my faults… “…Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over me….” Nothing but the blood of Christ cleanses my sin. Only through the cross – with your servant David I cry out – “Have mercy on me, O God according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” O Lord, for those struggling through seemingly overwhelming circumstances, physical ailments, emotional pain, the many who can’t find the joy… I pray for Your gracious renewing and a steadfast spirit that only You can accomplish, especially as one abides constantly in You. Yes! We pray without ceasing, to our only true God… “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me…. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” Amen. Psalm 19:12b-13a, 51:1-2, 10,12.
Beloved In Christ!:).
Rejoice! Rejoice! I say it again rejoice! You have good reason to be joyful, especially as you contemplate your vital connection to the “true vine.” As we abide In Christ, our God cares for us, nurtures, feeds, protects, prunes and cultivates so that we will produce genuine and acceptable fruit. Indeed! Although it may be painful, I want to be pruned, so do you! Why? Through love and genuine concern for our being, life, maturity In Christ, God cleanses, even purifies… so we can be healthy and productive fruit bearers to His glory! How? Jesus said, “Already you are clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” v. 3.
The Living Word, our Bible…whichever reputable translation you enjoy… through reading, meditating, memorizing, we find therein sin exposed and condemned. Moreover, we are motivated, even inspired to pursue holiness through the Word of God. The study of and reflecting on the Word promotes our maturity and growth in our shared faith, especially as we abide with God therein.
We are dependent on the constant flow of life from Christ! A constant, constant, constant union with Jesus we proclaim! He is our vital source of fruitfulness! Without Jesus we are dead wood prone to disease and decay. No! Abide In Christ! In fact, as we abide In Christ, we will certainly produce fruit. Tenney (1981) said, “Uniformity of quantity and quality are not promised. But if the life of Christ permeates a disciple, fruit will be inevitable.”
Should I expect “fruit” (e.g., love, joy, peace, patience, kindness…etc.,) from myself? Absolutely, especially in relation to others! I abide In Christ! Should I expect fruit from those who profess Christ as Lord? Absolutely! Jesus said, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” v. 5. Tenney said, “Jesus left no place among his followers for fruitless disciples” (p. 152).
Be encouraged! You can’t, but Christ can! “Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever…” As we read through chapter 15 we see that obedience and prayer maintains our connection. How do we abide? We rely on God’s Word to learn, even experience the heart of God and we pray, pray, pray… a constant communion with our merciful, gracious, holy God.
I love what Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” Jn. 14:23. Furthermore, when we pray… O man, humble… we ASK… may our prayers be related to a definite need or object Jesus himself would desire. Anything outside of “according to God’s will” is certainly presumptuous. Therefore, we ask, seek, and knock… a continuous crying out for “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
I certainly pray for your healing brother and sister! However, I do not know what our sovereign God is doing; I know it is always good though! He might be allowing certain ailments, depression, suffering… pruning hurts! I don’t always understand, most of the time I just don’t. Therefore, I trust… and pray… Lord, heal, comfort, relieve the pain… help me to trust more, love more, be more compassionate, even through less than favorable circumstances.
Brothers and Sisters In Christ, I thank you for allowing me to reflect with you. It truly does my soul good! If you need prayer, email. Please continue to pray for Alpine Youth Center, Outreach to schools-Higher Ground, our churches in Alpine and the surrounding communities: our Pastors, Elders, Leaders. We are excited about gifted folks, those abiding In Christ, desiring to bear much fruit coming together to build the body of Christ. May we pray this happens more and more through churches, Bible studies, gatherings, times of worship, prayer groups, outreaches spreading the gospel…. However, this looks, let’s rejoice and join… unify in whatever context God allows you!
Finally, I was corresponding with a brother over at Calvary Chapel. He and his team go faithfully to the Alpine Treatment Center on Sundays to share the gospel and worship our God. Praise God! Thank you for your faithfulness Joe! He expressed to me in response to my inquiry about how he’s expressing his gifts… “Thank you for asking; it’s something we all ought to consider often. I find The Parable of the Talents rather frightening. Better to be asked in this life by brothers who have no power over your destiny than to be asked by the Master who has all power over everyone’s destiny.”
I HEARD AN OLD,
OLD STORY
HOW A SAVIOUR CAME
FROM GLORY
HOW HE GAVE HIS LIFE
ON CALVARY
TO SAVE SOMEONE LIKE ME
I HEARD ABOUT
HIS GROANING,
OF HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD’S
ATONING
THEN I REPENTED
OF MY SIN
AND WON THE VICTORY
HE LOVED ME
ERE I KNEW HIM
AND ALL MY LOVE
IS DUE HIM
HE PLUNGED ME TO VICTORY
BENEATH THE
CLEANSING BLOOD
I HEARD ABOUT HIS
HEALING,
OF HIS CLEANSING POW’R
REVEALING
HOW HE MADE THE LAME
TO WALK AGAIN
AND CAUSED THE
BLIND TO SEE
AND THEN I CRIED
“DEAR JESUS,
COME AND HEAL
MY BROKEN SPIRIT”
AND SOMEHOW JESUS
CAME AND BROUGHT
TO ME THE VICTORY
OH, VICTORY IN JESUS,
MY SAVIOUR FOREVER
LoVe You! Much!
ABIDE In Jesus!
Randall:).
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