Friday Morning Prayer:)… August 4, 2022
August 4, 2022 - 7 minutes readThanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a mem’ry,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!
Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare![1]
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”[2]
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Paul thanks God for the churches at Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, etc., represented by changed and changing lives in Christ. In light of our redemption, having believed, you and I have been “…marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance….”[3] The evidence of this great redemption is living dynamic faith in the Lord Jesus and overflowing love for others, especially the saints of God. Therefore, Paul, knowing and experiencing this supernatural power, wrote, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” We follow Paul’s example, praying for one another, excited about what God is doing through Holy Spirit-filled, changed, and empowered lives in Christ. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better.”
Lord, as we strive, by your empowering grace, to know you better, help us to pray with genuine thankfulness as we remember our brothers and sisters next door, across the street, in our diverse fellowships, and around the world, where the gospel is preached, and living faith worked out. Paul thanked God for believers at Philippi every time he remembered them. Prayers of joy! “…I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”[4] Joy in and through our prayers because of our partnership in the gospel!
To the church at Colosse, Paul always thanked God because he heard about their faith and love being manifest. Be ye encouraged that you, in Christ, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, share in this faith and love by God’s mercy through the gospel. Amazing grace! “All over the world, this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.”[5] The Spirit of God indwells, and others see God through you! Epaphras affirmed the believers’ “…love in the Spirit.”[6] Beloved, I pray for myself and you that we remain in gospel partnership, daily “…being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that [we] may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified [us] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”[7]
Thanks for roses by the wayside,
Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,
Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,
Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,
Thanks through all eternity!
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I am thankful to our gracious God for Friday Morning Prayer! Join us if your schedule allows.
First Baptist Church 1912 Arnold Way, Alpine.
Brothers! You are missed. Join us for an hour from 0730 to 0830
Sisters are meeting too! 0900
Brother Mark Mueller was sharing at Wednesday night Bible study about Polycarp, “the twelfth martyr at Smyrna…” a disciple of the Apostle John and the Bishop of the church at Smyrna referenced in the book of Revelation.
In reference to Polycarp by the arresting authorities and Polycarp’s response,
“Why did we go to so much trouble to capture a man like this?” Immediately he called for food and drink for them, and asked for an hour to pray uninterrupted. They agreed, and he stood and prayed, so full of the grace of God, that he could not stop for two hours. The men were astounded and many of them regretted coming to arrest such a godly and venerable old man.[8]
Very cool! God’s indwelling power and Polycarp’s faithfulness to prayer and reliance on God. Amazing!
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Diverse Brothers! :)… Join us this Saturday morning… August 6, 2022
Men’s Breakfast @ Mt. View Bible 2710 Alpine Blvd. Alpine.
0800
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Saturday Evening Service! August 6, 2022 @ 6:30 pm Refuge! 1912 Arnold Way, Alpine
Thank you, Pastor Robert, in partnership and faithful servant! Please pray for this ongoing fellowship that many would hear the gospel, believe, and be forever changed to God’s glory!
[1] https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Thanks_to_God/
[2] 1 Corinthians 1:4
[3] Ephesians 1:13-14
[4] Philippians 1:4-6
[5] Colossians 1:6
[6] Ibid v. 8
[7] Colossians 1:11-12
[8] https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/polycarp
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