Friday Morning Prayer:)… April 6, 2017

April 6, 2017 - 8 minutes read
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear! 
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
 
It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.
 
Dear Name, the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace![1]
“…we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”[2]
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Beloved in Christ,
Jesus, God incarnate.  We believe and proclaim this truth with boldness and conviction, relying on Scripture.  Jesus the God-man was totally dependent on the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Empowered to pray, to do miracles, to express the love of the Father, and ultimately to die for the sins of mankind.  As Jesus modeled total dependence on God for everything, how much more my need for the power of God to live my life in Christ.    
 
How do I get this power, truly power without measure?  I want to bear fruit, increased hunger to know God, greater intimacy with God and strengthened with all power!  Yes!  According to his might, so you and I can live out our Christian life with great endurance and essential patience in every context.  Oh yes! Joyfully, joyfully giving thanks as the Spirt empowers us!  This kind of Spirit led life is the outcome of God’s mercy and grace.    You, sister, brother, have been qualified to share this glorious inheritance with one another in the kingdom of light!  Awesome!    
 
How do I get this power I so desperately need every day?  I continue in my “…faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.”[3]  The only answer is the gospel!  Through Jesus, we have been reconciled “by Christ’s physical body through death to present [us] holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”[4]   Be encouraged by the gospel!  “…the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”[5]  Beloved, struggle with all his energy, which so powerfully works in and through you… me too!  Triumph by way of the cross!
 
In Christ you know the reality of the power of God.  Just recently I was talking with Pastor Mark of the necessity to spend time with our gracious God.  I get depleted, so do you with the rigors of this life, the stressful news, the loss, pain, change, O God I desperately need Thee.  Therefore, we pray without ceasing.  In great reverence before our holy, holy, holy God we ask, seek, knock, continually.   Our need for secret prayer!  Brother Tom, and his family experienced significant loss, his mom, our sister Audrey passed into glory this week.  I heard our brother has sought refuge for a couple days with our gracious God.  Time alone with Jesus, the God of all comfort, yes, in the power of the Holy Spirt.  We too pray and mourn with our brother Thomas Bolz.
 
Many times I do not have because I do not ask.  I fail to wrestle with God in prayer.  God is sovereign, he knows all things, beginning to end.  However, Sovereign calls me to pray actively, to be a watchman and be bold, in reverence and humility, continually before my Father, through our Lord Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  We pray with biblical understanding, knowing our God intimately and longing for greater depths of love, power, and joy in the Holy Spirit.  From the heart my mouth speaks.  O God I need you, a continually softened, filled with grace heart that desires to love, serve, comfort, and encourage others, especially those in the family of Christ.
 
By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.
 
Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
O Prophet, Priest and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.
 
Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.
 
Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy Name
Refresh my soul in death!
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Sisters are meeting to pray!  First Baptist.  1912 Arnold Way.  Alpine.  0900.
Intercessory prayer is hard work!  In the power of the Holy Spirit it is accomplished to God’s glory.   You are invited.  If you are a sister in Christ, and have an hour or so to pray with like-minded gals… to check it out.    Thank you faithful sisters in Jesus!
 
Brothers are meeting too!  Grace Fellowship.  2225 W. Victoria Dr.  Alpine.  0730. 
Brother!  You are invited.  Join faithful, humble, brothers who love Jesus and one another.  Don’t hesitate to join for a sweet hour of prayer.  Actually we fellowship for 15 min or so… as the Spirit leads us we intentionally pray until 0830.   It is a joy to experience men who love our Lord.  Moreover, it is a blessing to pray for brothers, our churches, our community, etc.,   We worship and pray as the Spirit leads.    Thank you for your support through prayer.
 
Band of Brothers.   Bethel Assembly 1929 Arnold Way. Alpine.  6 dinner 7 worship/teaching.  April 6, 2017.
I heard through the grapevine that Band of Brothers is meeting this Thursday night.  As you need encouragement and a time to fellowship, share a meal, truly a time of enjoying brothers in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, check it out!
 
 
Peace!
 
Randall:)…