Friday Morning Prayer:)… April 8, 2022
April 8, 2022 - 6 minutes readAbide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.[1]
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”[2]
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O the necessity, we plead, humble before our Lord Jesus, prayerfully the regenerate heart sings, Jesus, abide with me. The darkness deepens; the love of the saints is valued, helpful, and necessary. The Spirit indwelling compels us to encourage and build each other up more and more. Nonetheless, ‘help of the helpless is our state.’ Therefore, oh, gracious mighty God, who changest not, abide with me. Yes, ‘I need Thy presence every passing hour.’
In talking with a brother tonight at the ‘Band of Brothers,’ I was thankful David extended himself—an evident love for brothers. We talked about the joy of the Lord, his indwelling power to keep us excited about one another’s life in Christ. His life, the words spoken from his heart reflected the words of the hymn, “I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Our brother has suffered in his life, even advised to consider a heart transplant. Yet, ‘Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? Indeed! I pray I, and you too, know, experience, at the hand of our gracious God, through cloud and sunshine, with greater and greater intensity, certainty, ‘I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.’
Beloved, the old hymns resonate because of, ‘gospel truth’ therein. The cry for God to abide is a demonstration of our total dependence on him to live the Christian life. Christ is our life—we live to please him, and God abides to help us glorify him. Amazing! “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” Jesus died and rose again. And, through his redeeming sacrifice, God has appointed those who truly believe to receive salvation. The joy experienced always, the call to pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances is God’s will. He sanctifies you, and me too, through and through. Yes! In Christ, you are set apart, made holy! We grow in this truth. “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
We need our abiding God! ‘Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?’ I rely on Jesus, and fight daily to: ‘…not put out the Spirit’s fire; to not be contemptuous toward a prophetic word; to test everything. Hold onto the good. And, avoid every kind of evil.’[3] Be ye encouraged to join with the saints at every opportunity given. Why? That you might encourage others struggling and be encouraged and spurred on toward love and good deeds, especially for those in the family of God. Moreover, God is glorified as he strengthens our hearts through fellowship with brothers & sisters in Jesus.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
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Friday Morning Prayer:)…
First Baptist Church 1912 Arnold Way, Alpine
Gals, in Christ, meet at 0900
Brothers meet at 0730.
Join us if your schedule allows.
[1] https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/abide-with-me/
[2] 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
[3] 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
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